Seahawks say ‘Farewell’ to two franchise Icons

To say it’s the “end of an era” does not come close to capturing the loss that the Seahawks, and the 12th man, have endured in parting ways with Doug Baldwin and Kam Chancellor.

Thursday, the Seahawks made the painful and heartbreaking decision to cut Doug Baldwin and Kam Chancellor due to failed physicals, essentially ending the careers of both of these franchise icons – and I do not give that title lightly.

Seattle was already (mostly) prepared for the loss of Kam, who played his last game in a Seahawks uniform on 11/19/2017. Kam, or as he is also known “Bam Bam,” the enforcer was already expected to not make a return to the field after missing more than an entire season and never having been cleared for contact. That said, his official departure is hard to swallow, as memories of jarring hits and forced fumbles play in our minds. But Baldwin, who has been the heart and soul of the offense since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2011, comes as a surprise. Sure, he was banged up a bit last year, but I don’t think any fan anticipated the possibility that we had seen the last of number 89.

Baldwin is one of those players who’s impact is not summarized only by his statistics, although the stats certainly back up the love he has received from the 12th Man over the last eight years. According to Pro Football Reference , Baldwin finishes his tenure with the Seahawks with the third most receptions (493), third most receiving yards (6,563), and the second most receiving TD’s (49) in franchise history. Yes, his stats are impressive, but his innate ability to make the spectacular catch, the scramble drills that he and Wilson combined on that made you go “how did he do that?!” while laughing to yourself, are the on-the-field moments that the 12th Man will always remember.

Keep in mind, this has been a run-first offense for the entirety of Baldwin’s time in Seattle. Four of the last eight seasons, the ‘Hawks have had the highest run/pass ratio in the NFL, with only two of those eight seasons seeing the team finishing outside the top ten. To finish so highly in the team record books on a team that certainly did not feature the passing game in a league that is constantly moving that direction is remarkable.

89 hardly ever caused drama. He only once threw a fit on the sideline about not seeing enough targets, nor did he make his career all about him. His rise from undrafted free agent to the unquestioned number one target of Russell Wilson, acquiring two pro-bowl nods, two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl ring along the way, embodies the gritty work ethic of an entire organization. He brought that attitude, that tough, never-quit demeanor to a team that resonated with teammates and fans alike. I love him for that.

This finale feels too sudden, too unexpected for a man and an athlete that means so much to his team and this fan base. When the rumors started to swirl on the second night of the 2019 NFL Draft, I immediately went online and bought a Baldwin jersey. I know the type of legacy that Baldwin leaves behind, and I will always look at that white jersey with the blue #89 and remember the artistry and humble grittiness that Baldwin conducted himself with.

From his first catch to his last, this beautiful 22-yard sideline circus act, Baldwin’s career was riddled with superb catches that we were spoiled with regularly. I’ll leave you with this, poetry and perfection of a craft in full display on the last catch of his storied career. Baldwin will forever be an icon of the Seahawks organization.