ONE
In 1970, plans to merge the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) were set in motion. As a result, the league would expand to 28 teams. Soon, a group announced their intention to acquire an NFL team for Seattle, and on June 4 1974, the NFL awarded their 28th franchise to the city. Playing in the newly constructed Kingdome, the team’s name was chosen after holding a contest - one that included 20,365 entries and 1,741 different names. In June 1975, it was announced the team would be known as the Seattle Seahawks.
Old Seattle Seahawks Logo
TWO
Jack Patera was hired to be the Seahawks’ first-ever coach - even being named Coach of the Year for the 1978 season. Following the expansion draft, where Seattle and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquired unprotected players from all over the league, the Seahawks were awarded the second-overall pick in the 1976 NFL Draft. Seattle selected defensive tackle Steve Niehaus before trading a pick to the Houston Oilers for rookie wide receiver Steve Largent. The franchise’s first regular season win came against Tampa Bay in Week 6 of 1976, before the pair swapped conferences for the 1977 season.
THREE
After over six years at the helm, Jack Patera was fired mid-way through the 1982 season without ever reaching the playoffs. Patera’s teams were headlined by quarterback Jim Zorn and receiver Steve Largent - who became a franchise legend. Largent played in the NFL for 14 seasons, all with the Seahawks - being selected to seven Pro Bowls before retiring as the NFL’s all-time leader in catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Upon his retirement, Largent was elected as a member of the US House of Representatives for Oklahoma in 1994, and then inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
Steve Largent, Wide Receiver 1976-1989
FOUR
Following Jack Patera’s firing, Chuck Knox was hired as his full-time replacement in 1983. Seattle found instant success - recording their third-ever winning season and reaching the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, with the help of Hall of Fame safety Kenny Easly. The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins to reach the AFC Championship Game but lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the Los Angeles Raiders. Seattle followed their disappointing loss against the Raiders with a 12-4 regular season in 1984 - their best-ever at the time - and won their division for the first time in 1988, the same year the team was purchased by real estate developer, Ken Behring.
Chuck Knox, Head Coach 1983-1991
FIVE
Chuck Knox left the team after the 1991 season. Almost immediately, the Seahawks had their worst-ever season - finishing 2-14 in 1992 under new coach Tom Flores. Despite their record, defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy still won the Defensive Player of the Year award. The team continued to struggle, on and off the field, for most of the decade. Seattle wouldn’t return to the playoffs until the 1999 season, and, following a dispute over renovations to the Seahawks’ Kingdome stadium, Ken Behring made plans to relocate the team to Los Angeles in 1996. Behring’s vision did not convince the NFL, and he was forced to find a buyer. In stepped Paul Allen, who purchased the Seahawks for just under $200 million the following year and helped organise the construction of a new stadium. The Seahawks were staying in Seattle.
Paul Allen, Owner 1997-2018
SIX
Mike Holmgren was hired as the franchise’s fifth head coach in 1999 and would remain with the team for 10 seasons - leading the Seahawks to only their second-ever division title in his first season. Running back Shaun Alexander was drafted in 2000, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck joined from the Green Bay Packers in 2001, and in 2002, Seattle re-joined the NFC West as part of the NFL’s realignment plan. Additionally, in 2002 the Seahawks found their long-term home in the then-named Seattle Stadium - now known as Lumen Field. The stadium is synonymous with noise, with the team’s fans earning a reputation as one of the loudest in the league.
Mike Holmgren, Head Coach 1999-2008
SEVEN
Starting in 2003, the Seahawks reached the playoffs five seasons in a row and found their footing in the NFC. The 2005 season saw Seattle, powered by league MVP Shaun Alexander, win their first playoff game since the 1984 season. They also advanced to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history - reaching Super Bowl XL. Unfortunately for Seahawks fans, the Pittsburgh Steelers left with the Lombardi Trophy, courtesy of their 21-10 victory. Mike Holmgren’s team fought their way back into the playoffs in the next two seasons, but following a 4-12 season in 2008, he left the franchise. After Jim Mora’s one and only season in charge in 2009, Seattle looked towards college football for its next coach.
Shaun Alexander, Running Back 2000-2007
EIGHT
Pete Carroll, was hired ahead of the 2010 season. Although Seattle finished the season 7-9, they reached the playoffs in his first season behind running back Marshawn Lynch - whose touchdown in the Wild Card Round caused a minor earthquake, thanks to the cheers from Seahawks fans. By 2012, the Seahawks’ greatest-ever team had taken shape. On the offense, quarterback Russell Wilson joined Lynch and wide receivers Sidney Rice and Golden Tate, While on the defense, a hard-hitting secondary - nicknamed the ‘Legion of Boom’ - featured cornerback Richard Sherman and safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas. This defense powered Seattle to one of the most dominant Super Bowl wins in league history, as they embarrassed the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII to claim the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy. After a dramatic comeback in the following season’s NFC Championship Game, the Seahawks advanced to their second-straight Super Bowl to face the New England Patriots. 26 seconds remained in Super Bowl XLIX, the Seahawks trailed by four points and had the ball on the Patriots’ one-yard line. However, instead of running the ball with Lynch - considered one of the league’s best - Carroll opted to throw. Wilson’s pass was intercepted and Seattle lost, 28-24. The Legion of Boom disbanded over the following years as Wilson developed into one of the NFL’s finest quarterbacks - and biggest stars.
Russell Wilson, Quarterback 2012-2021
NINE
After nine Pro Bowl selections and breaking every major team passing record, Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos in 2022. Pete Carroll left his role as head coach in 2024 after 13 years and was replaced by Mike Macdonald to kickstart a new era in Seattle. With starting quarterback Geno Smith, wide receiver DK Metcalf, cornerback Tariq Woolen and running back Kenneth Walker III, Seattle have a young and talented roster looking to continue their ascension in the coming years.
DK Metcalf, Wide Receiver 2019-Present
BEFORE YOU GO
The Seattle Seahawks remain the only team to have competed in both the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship Games.
Seahawks fans are known as the "12th Man" due to their enthusiastic support and deafening roars. In fact, the fans have set multiple records for crowd noise over the years.
According to Forbes, the Seattle Seahawks are valued at $5.00 billion as of 2023.
