The Top 10 Seattle Seahawks of All Time

The Seattle Seahawks are one of the NFL’s most unique franchises. Born in 1976, they spent years searching for an identity before finally forging one built on defense, physicality, and controlled aggression. From the Legion of Boom to record-setting offensive players, the Seahawks’ greatest stars didn’t just win games — they changed the perception of the franchise.

This list ranks the 10 greatest players in Seahawks history, based on:

• Production and dominance as a Seahawk

• Longevity and consistency

• Championship impact

• Defining moments that shaped the franchise

10. Earl Thomas (FS, 2010–2018)

Earl Thomas was the heartbeat of the Legion of Boom. As the free safety, Thomas provided elite range, anticipation, and leadership, allowing Seattle’s defense to play aggressively underneath.

Thomas was a seven-time Pro Bowler, three-time First-Team All-Pro, and central to Seattle’s Super Bowl XLVIII championship. His ability to erase deep passes changed how offenses attacked the Seahawks.

Without Earl Thomas, the Legion of Boom doesn’t function.

Earl Thomas Big Hit on Rob Gronkowski

9. Marshawn Lynch (RB, 2010–2015, 2019)

Marshawn Lynch didn’t just run the ball — he changed Seattle’s identity. “Beast Mode” embodied physicality, attitude, and intimidation.

Lynch rushed for 6,347 yards and 57 touchdowns as a Seahawk, earning four Pro Bowl selections and anchoring Seattle’s Super Bowl XLVIII championship team. His iconic “Beast Quake” run against New Orleans remains one of the most famous plays in NFL history.

Lynch made Seattle feared.

Top 5 Marshawn Lynch Runs

8. Richard Sherman (CB, 2011–2017)

Richard Sherman was the mouthpiece and shutdown corner of the Legion of Boom. A three-time First-Team All-Pro, Sherman led the NFL in interceptions in 2013 and was the league’s most feared press corner.

Sherman’s intelligence and physicality allowed Seattle to dominate the perimeter defensively. His performance in the 2013 NFC Championship Game against San Francisco sealed Seattle’s Super Bowl berth.

Sherman’s confidence and production defined an era.

Richard Seymour Highlights

7. Bobby Wagner (LB, 2012–2021, 2023)

Bobby Wagner is the greatest linebacker in Seahawks history. A six-time First-Team All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler, Wagner was the defensive quarterback for over a decade.

He recorded 1,383 tackles with Seattle, excelling in coverage, run defense, and leadership. Wagner’s consistency and football IQ made him the glue of elite defenses.

Few players sustained dominance longer.

36 Minutes of Bobby Wagner Highlights

6. Shaun Alexander (RB, 2000–2007)

Shaun Alexander was the engine of Seattle’s offense during its first Super Bowl run. In 2005, Alexander rushed for 1,880 yards and an NFL-record 28 touchdowns, winning NFL MVP.

He finished his Seahawks career with 8,823 rushing yards and 100 touchdowns, earning three First-Team All-Pro selections. Alexander’s vision and patience behind a dominant offensive line made him devastating in short-yardage and red-zone situations.

His 2005 season remains one of the greatest by a running back in NFL history.

Shaun Alexander: The Best Running Back You Forgot About | NFL Films Presents

5. Cortez Kennedy (DT, 1990–2000)

Cortez Kennedy is the most dominant interior defensive lineman in Seahawks history. Despite playing on several poor teams early in his career, Kennedy’s individual excellence was undeniable.

In 1992, he won NFL Defensive Player of the Year, recording 14 sacks as a defensive tackle — an extraordinary feat. Over his career, he earned eight Pro Bowl selections and three First-Team All-Pro honors.

Kennedy’s power, agility, and relentless motor made him the rare defender who could control games regardless of support.

Cortez Kennedy: Lived to Let Others Know They Are Cared For | NFL Films Presents

4. Russell Wilson (QB, 2012–2021)

Russell Wilson delivered the greatest era in Seahawks history. As a third-round pick, he exceeded all expectations, leading Seattle to nine playoff appearances, two Super Bowls, and one Lombardi Trophy.

Wilson threw for 37,059 yards and 292 touchdowns as a Seahawk, combining efficiency, mobility, and late-game brilliance. His ability to extend plays made Seattle nearly impossible to finish defensively.

Wilson’s prime coincided with the franchise’s golden age.

Russell Wilson ll Hall of Fame ll Highlights

3. Kenny Easley (S, 1981-87)

Kenny Easley belongs on any Seattle Seahawks Top 10 list because he was the most dominant defensive player in franchise history during his peak. From 1981 to 1987, Easley redefined the safety position with a rare blend of size, speed, intelligence, and physicality. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he played like a linebacker in run support and a cornerback in coverage, erasing tight ends, delivering punishing hits, and jumping passing lanes with elite instincts.

Easley was a five-time Pro Bowler, a four-time First-Team All-Pro, and the 1984 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, the only Seahawk ever to win that honor. That season, he recorded 10 interceptions, returning two for touchdowns, while serving as the unquestioned leader of one of the best defenses in the league.

Though his career was tragically cut short by kidney disease, Easley’s impact was so profound that he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His dominance, leadership, and influence on modern safety play cement his place among Seattle’s all-time greats.

The Enforcer | Kenny Easley | The Craziest Moments In Seahawks History

2. Steve Largent (WR, 1976–1989)

Steve Largent was the Seahawks’ first true superstar and remains one of the most respected receivers in NFL history. Drafted in the fourth round out of Tulsa, Largent became the face of the franchise during its formative years, retiring as the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.

As a Seahawk, Largent recorded 819 receptions for 13,089 yards and 100 touchdowns, earning seven Pro Bowl selections and one NFL Offensive Player of the Year award (1978). He wasn’t fast by NFL standards, but his route running, hands, and football intelligence were elite.

Largent established credibility for a young franchise and set a standard of professionalism that still defines Seattle’s culture.

Steve Largent Spectacular Catch 1984 vs Chicago

1. Walter Jones (LT, 1997–2009)

Walter Jones is the greatest Seahawk of all time and one of the best offensive linemen in NFL history. A nine-time Pro Bowler and six-time First-Team All-Pro, Jones allowed just 23 sacks in 180 career starts.

He dominated elite pass rushers and set the standard for left tackle play. Seattle’s offense, regardless of era, succeeded because of Jones’ reliability and excellence.

Great franchises have pillars. Walter Jones was Seattle’s.

Walter Jones Ultimate NFL Career Highlights

Final Thought

The Seahawks’ greatest players weren’t flashy by accident — they earned their reputations through dominance, toughness, and winning. From Steve Largent’s hands to Walter Jones’ protection, Seattle’s legacy is built on excellence at the game’s most demanding positions.