Explode Seattle Seahawks since 1974

The Seattle Seahawks have developed into one of the most marketed franchises in the NFL out of an expansion team that existed in the 1970s. They have a history of success and stability in the NFL, and that has been characterized by fanatical supporters, innovative coaching and overpowering defenses.

 

Origins & Formation (1974–1976)

• Establishment:

On June 4, 1974, Seattle Seahawks became the 28th team in the NFL after it was declared as an expansion team. The group was headed by Seattle businessman, Lloyd W. Nordstrom.

• Team Name & Identity:

In 1975, a contest was held in which more than 20,000 entries were received before the name Seahawks (the name of an osprey) was selected.

• First Season (1976):

In 1976, the team entered the field playing the first season in the NFC West under Jack Patera and the Kingdome as their home arena. In 1977, they moved to the AFC West where they remained until 2002.

• Early Struggles:

Such as with most expansion teams, the Seahawks experienced growing pains, as they went 2-12 in their first season.

1977–1982: Laying the Foundation

• Early Standouts:

The first stars of the franchise were quarterback Jim Zorn and wide receiver Steve Largent.

• Improvement:

The Seahawks recorded a decent 9-7 record by 1978.

• Lockout Year (1982):

The strike by the players reduced the season to 9 games stalling the progress.

1983-1988 Knox Era -Initial Taste of Success.

• Hiring Chuck Knox (1983):

The coach, Chuck Knox, through his tenure as Bills and Rams coach, introduced discipline and winning culture.

• Breakthrough Season (1983):

o Record: 9–7

o Made it to the AFC Championship Game where it defeated the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Raiders and lost to the Raiders in the final.

• Key Players:

o Steve Largent (Hall of Fame WR)

o Curt Warner (RB)

o Dave Krieg (QB)

o Kenny Easley (S) NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1984)

• Playoff Regular:

In 1983, 1984 and 1987, Seattle appeared in the playoffs and established themselves as a strong contender in the AFC West.

1989–1998: Decline & Transition

• Post-Knox Struggles:

The team has gone through coaches and had downtrodden seasons after Knox went in 1991.

• Ownership Change:

o 1988: Nordstrom died and left the business to his first owner.

o 1997: Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen purchased the team, which would have been relocated to Los Angeles.

• Bright Spots:

o 1992, Cortez Kennedy, a defensive tackle, earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year despite he and the team finishing 2-14.

o 1995: Left tackle Walter Jones was drafted and became a Hall of Famer by the Seahawks.

 

1999-2008: The years of Holmgren and Hasselbeck.

• Mike Holmgren Era:

In the year 1999, Mike Holmgren, former Green bay packer coach, was employed as a head coach and a GM.

• Key Players:

o Matt Hasselbeck (QB)

o Shaun Alexander (RB) 2005 NFL MVP.

o Walter Jones (LT)

• Division Switch:

Subsequently, the NFL realignment made the Seahawks re-enter the NFC West in 2002.

• Super Bowl XL Run (2005):

o Record: 13-3 (best in franchise history at that time)

o Beat Redskins and Panthers to appear in the Super Bowl XL, only to lose, 21-10, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a controversial referee call.

• Post-Super Bowl:

The team was also competitive but it started to fall after 2007.

 

2010-onwards: The Pete Carroll Era – Legion of Boom & Championship Glory.

2010: A New Beginning

• Pete Carroll Hired:

Pete Carroll, who had been the coach of the USC, was made head coach and VP of operations.

• John Schneider was hired as GM, making up an effective front-office tandem.
• Beast Quake Game:

Seattle topped the NFC west and defeated the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card despite a 7-9 record with the help of Marshawn Lynch and The legendary Beast Quake run.

2011–2012: Building the Legion of Boom

• Drafted key defensive stars:

o Richard Sherman (CB), Kam Chancellor (S), Earl Thomas (S), and Bobby Wagner (LB).

• Russell Wilson Drafted (2012):

The quarterback of the franchise was the third-round pick who also began his career as a rookie.

2013: Super Bowl XLVIII Champions

• Historic Defense:

The secondary of the Legion of Boom was the best in the NFL.

• Record: 13–3
• Playoffs: lost in NFC finals to the 49ers in a big game.
• Super Bowl: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 43-8, and gave Seattle its first Super Bowl victory.

2014: Heartbreak to Near Repeat and Super Bowl XLIX Heartbreak.

• Back to Super Bowl but lost to New England Patriots 28-24 on the last-minute goal-line interception.

2015–2019: Continued Contention

• None of this stopped the Seahawks who continued to be perennial playoff teams with Russell Wilson and yet the Legion of Boom slowly broke up through trades and injuries.
• Key highlights:

o 2016: NFC West champions

o 201819: Offense based team transition.

2020–2022: Post-Legion Transition

• Russell Wilson Era Ends:

Wilson was later on in March 2022 traded to the Denver Broncos following internal tensions.

• Geno Smith’s Rise (2022):

Smith rediscovered his playing career, and the Seahawks made it to the somewhat unexpected playoff and Smith won NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

2023–Present

• The Seahawks started a new era, with the youths such as Kenneth Walker III (RB), Tariq Woolen (CB) and Devon Witherspoon (CB) who could compete under Pete Carroll.

Stadium History

1. Kingdome (1976-1999) -Multi-purpose indoor stadium.
2. Husky Stadium (2000-2001) -Temporary stadium under construction.
3. Lumen field (previously CenturyLink field, 2002-Present) – Field boasts of crowd noise record and a culture of the 12th man.

 

Conclusion

The Seattle Seahawks have a history of overcoming, creativity, and change. Starting with a dismal expansion team in 1976, the franchise has endured both good times and bad through decades of success and setbacks as it developed into one of the most passionate fan teams in the NFL-the so-called 12 th Man. The franchise has ridden highs and lows and a series of great and bad players like Steve Largent and Walter Jones, Russell Wilson and the Legion of Boom, as well as innovating leaders like Paul Allen, Mike Holmgren, and Pete Carroll, who made the team a model of success.

Nowadays, they have a history of success and stability in the NFL , a new generation of young stars and a well-organized culture makes the Seahawks still strike the right balance between its rich history and the prospects of becoming a leading team reflecting the spirit of grit and unstoppable striving to become great in Seattle.

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