Seahawks: 15 best defensive backs in franchise history

Number 8: Seahawks cornerback Keith Simpson, 1978-1985

It might be easy to forget just how good Keith Simpson was in the early years of Seahawks football. Like Springs and Trufant, Simpson was also a first-round pick. He was taken 9th overall in 1978 out of Memphis State (now the University of Memphis). And he played his entire career in Seattle.

Simpson’s versatility and his ability to be a high-quality player at multiple positions are why he is number 8 on this list. He began as a safety and finished as a cornerback. But Simpson had multiple seasons with multiple interceptions at both spots. In his second season (1979), Simpson played strong safety and had 4 interceptions. In 1983 and 1984, while playing cornerback, Simpson had 4 interceptions each year.

But Simpson didn’t just pick off passes. He could also rush the quarterback. Simpson finished with 10 for his career and had a combined 5 in his final two seasons. He would have certainly come in handy on the 2022 team that has issues getting to opposing quarterbacks consistently.

In 8 years, Simpson had 19 interceptions (10th all-time for Seattle) while his 10 sacks are the most ever for a Seahawks defensive back. Simpson retired in 1985. He worked for FedEx for years after his career and currently lives in Houston, Texas.