The 10 best defensive linemen in the history of the Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks have had great defensive linemen throughout the history of the franchise, and this list will compile the top 10.

With options from the Legion of Boom/Pete Carroll era, the Mike Holmgren era, and the Chuck Knox era all the way to the early days of the franchise, we'll use a deep, well-thought-out process to coming up with the best of the best. Tough decisions abound when it comes to the stars of the LOB era, including Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Chris Clemons, Bruce Irvin, and Brandon Mebane.

Will the list include players from Seahawks teams that were not as good? Yes. Individual success is going to be as important as overall team success, which means players such as Joe Nash, Jeff Bryant, Cortez Kennedy, and Jacob Green can still make the rankings, even if they never played in a Super Bowl in Seattle.

Criteria for selection

Picking the top 10 defensive linemen is based on statistics, importance to the team, leadership qualities, personal achievements, and loyalty to the team. The length of a career also helps determine whether they crack the top 10, as well as big performances in a single game and personal accolades such as Pro Bowl appearances.

The list will also span throughout the decades and eras of the Seahawks franchise while taking into consideration how important each of these players was to the success of their team. That said, defensive linemen who played on Super Bowl teams will not necessarily be ranked higher just because of team success.

Some are ranked higher because their individual accolades and achievements were better than those of others who played on the Seahawks' best teams. The goal, after all, is to pick the best defensive linemen in the history of the franchise and award those players on their overall success.

The top 10 defensive linemen in Seattle Seahawks history

10. DT Jarran Reed

Jarran Reed begins our list of the top 10 Seahawks defensive lineman as he continues to build on his legacy in Seattle.

Reed has 29 career sacks and 127 tackles over six seasons with the Seahawks and is entering his seventh year with the team. He has had a solid career and brings a veteran presence to a young defensive line, which will be valuable beyond his career stats.

Reed's best game came against the Carolina Panthers in 2023 when he sacked backup quarterback Andy Dalton twice and finished with five solo tackles (eight combined) in the Seahawks' 37-27 win.

9. DE Chris Clemons

At number No. 9 is DE Chris Clemons, who played for the Seahawks from 2010-13. He was a key player on the LOB-era teams over his four seasons with Seattle.

Clemons had three consecutive years with 11 or more sacks, finishing his Seahawks career with 38 sacks and 110 tackles. His best game came against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football in 2012 as he sacked Aaron Rodgers four times during a defensive battle in which the Seahawks prevailed, 14-12. He also helped the Seahawks make three playoff appearances and win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

8. DE Cliff Avril

Cliff Avril played a pivotal role on the Seahawks' Super Bowl teams after he was acquired during the 2013 offseason. He added a much-needed boost to the pass rush and took the LOB defense to new heights.

In his Seahawks career, Avril had 34.5 sacks and 130 tackles, and he helped the Seahawks win their first Super Bowl in franchise history. He had quite the memorable moment against the Saints on Monday Night Football in 2013 when he strip-sacked Drew Brees. Michael Bennett returned the fumble for a touchdown as the Seahawks demolished the Saints, 34-7.

7. DT Brandon Mebane

Just ahead of Avril is another LOB member in DT Brandon Mebane, who played for the Seahawks for nine seasons from 2007-15. He was the anchor of the defensive line and a veteran leader, aiding the 2013 Super Bowl efforts.

Mebane finished his Seahawks career with 229 tackles and 15.5 sacks. One of his best career games also came against the Packers on Monday Night Football in 2012 as he sacked Aaron Rodgers twice and came up with three tackles in the Seahawks' 14-12 win.

6. DE Michael Bennett

Michael Bennett's energy and fun style of play brought a high level of enthusiasm and excitement to the Seahawks' LOB defenses. He was an effective pass-rusher who gave the Seahawks' Super Bowl defenses another element.

He and Cliff Avril joined Seattle in 2013, and they shared a memorable moment later that year when Bennett recovered the fumble from Avril's strip-sack of Drew Brees for touchdown. Over his five years in Seattle, Bennett had 39 sacks and 126 tackles, helping the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship in the 2013 season.

5. DE Michael Sinclair

Coming in at No. 5 is defensive end Michael Sinclair, who played for the Seahawks for 10 seasons from 1992-2001. In addition to helping reach the playoffs in 1999, he finished his Seattle career with 73.5 career sacks (second-most in franchise history), three Pro Bowl appearances, and 273 tackles.

Sinclair had a particularly big game against the Chargers in 1993, sacking starting quarterback Stan Humphries twice and backup John Friesz once in the Seahawks' 31-14 romp.

4. DE Jeff Bryant

For those who do not know defensive end Jeff Bryant as well as the other names on this list, they should change that. He's one of the best pass-rushers in the history of the Seahawks.

Bryant is third on the franchise's all-time sack list with 63. He also played on several playoff teams during the '80s while spending his entire career (1982-93) with the Seahawks. His most memorable moment came in a 1984 game against Detroit in which he had three sacks as the Seahawks crushed the Lions, 38-17.

3. DT Joe Nash

Cracking the top three on this list is former Seahawks nose tackle Joe Nash, who played in Seattle from 1982-96. He was a key player on the Chuck Knox-era Seahawks teams that made the playoffs in 1983, 1984, 1987, and 1988.

Nash played his entire 15-year career in Seattle, finishing with 47.5 sacks and 743 tackles. His career was great, but did have a not-so-great moment against the Bengals in the 1988 playoffs in which he faked an injury to slow down the no-huddle offense — to no avail as Seattle lost 21-13.

Ironically, his most memorably positive moment also came against the Bengals. The year after the fake injury, he sacked Boomer Esiason 2.5 times in a 24-17 Seahawks win.

2. DE Jacob Green

Jacob Green is one of the best defensive players in the history of the Seattle Seahawks. He is the franchise's all-time sack leader with 115.5 quarterback takedowns.

Playing from 1980-91 in the Seahawks' Chuck Knox era, he logged snaps alongside Joe Nash and Jeff Bryant on four playoff teams. He was also a two-time Pro Bowler and was a defensive leader throughout his 12-year career in Seattle.

Green's biggest game came against the New York Giants in 1986 when he sacked Phil Simms four times as the Seahawks defense dominated in a 17-12 win.

1. DT Cortez Kennedy

Checking in at No. 1 on the list of the Seahawks' best defensive linemen has to be Hall of Fame defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, who is sixth in franchise history for tackles, fourth in sacks, and tied for third in forced fumbles. He was also a three-time All-Pro and the 1992 Defensive Player of the Year, and he made eight Pro Bowls.

Kennedy's big moment came against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football in 1999 when he sacked Brett Favre three times, had a forced fumble, and recorded three tackles for loss in Seattle's 27-7 blowout win.

Kennedy played his entire 11-year career for the Seahawks. Nicknamed "Tez," he was a true fan favorite and defensive leader of the 1990s Seahawks teams. He died at age 48 in 2017 due to pneumonia, but his legacy with Seattle still lives on. Kennedy was a standout teammate, pass-rusher, and run-stopper, and he was, by far, the best defensive lineman in Seahawks history.

The 10 best defensive linemen in Seattle Seahawks history by sacks

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