Facts and information about the Seattle Seahawks

• The first former Seahawk in the Professional Football Hall-of-Fame was former Steeler great Franco Harris who finished his career in Seattle.

• The Seahawks first season in the NFL was 1976; they entered the league as an expansion team along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

• Long time Quarterback Dave Krieg’s alma mater, Milton College, no longer exists.

• The first jersey number retired by the Seahawks was the number 12 which was retired to honor the Seahawks consistently loud fans that are often referred to as the 12^th man.

• There was an earlier use of the mascot Seahawks in professional football, in 1946 the Miami Seahawks played in the All-American Football Conference.

• The team has used the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium as home field during three different seasons; 2000 & 2001 while awaiting their new stadium to be built, and for part of the 1994 season due to repairs needing to be done on the Kingdome.

• The Seattle Seahawks were the first, and so far only, team to have played in both the AFC Championship Game and the NFC Championship Game.

• The Seattle Seahawks first draft pick in franchise history was used on Defensive Tackle Steve Niehaus.

• The Seahawks played their first season in the NFL as members of the NFC West Division; they then switched to the AFC West Division for their second season and stayed there through the 2001 season. Before the 2002 season, the Seahawks were switched back to the NFC West during a time when the NFL realigned their divisions.

• In 2006, Running Back Shaun Alexander became the first Seattle Seahawk to win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award.

• In the Seahawks entire history (through the 2006 season), they have never worn their white jerseys at home. Only one other team can say that, their rivals the Oakland Raiders.

• The first Seahawk known for his career in Seattle to be voted into the Hall-of-Fame was former Wide Receiver Steve Largent.

• The Seahawks won their first two playoff games in franchise history (1983) and then won another playoff game in 1984; they wouldn’t win another playoff game until 2005.

• In 1989, Defensive Lineman Joe Nash blocked three Field Goals in one season.

• In 1989, Quarterback Dave Krieg fumbled the ball 18 times.

• In 2005, Running Back Shaun Alexander gained over 100 yards rushing in 11 of the 16 regular season games.

• During Running Back Curt Warner’s rookie season (1983), he scored 14 Touchdowns.

• In 2004 the Seahawks signed legendary Wide Receiver Jerry Rice, he wore jersey #80 even though it had previously been retired to honor former Wide Receiver and Hall-of-Famer Steve Largent.

• Mike McCormack is in the Hall-of-Fame based on his playing days with the New York Yanks and Cleveland Browns. During his time as an executive with the Seahawks, he served as Head Coach, President, and General Manager.

• As of 2007, three players known for playing and making the Hall-of-Fame with other teams had played near the end of their careers with the Seattle Seahawks; Defensive Lineman Carl Eller (Vikings), Running Back Franco Harris (Steelers), and Quarterback Warren Moon (Oilers). Wide Receiver Jerry Rice will soon join this group.

• The first player inducted into the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor was Wide Receiver Steve Largent in 1989. The second player inducted came in 1991 when former Quarterback Jim Zorn joined the honor roll.

• Former Running Back, and third down specialist, “Doctor” Dan Doornink went to medical school while playing professional football.

• Former Head Coach Dennis Erickson’s son played football for Central Washington University; during a visit to watch him play, Erickson caught sight of a young small college Quarterback who showed some promise. The Seahawks went on to sign Quarterback Jon Kitna after he completed his collegiate career as a CWU Wildcat.

• The Seahawks have had two Head Coaches who have won Super Bowls with previous teams; Mike Holmgren (Packers) and Tom Flores (Raiders).

• Paul Allen, who bought the Seahawks in 1997, is one of the original founders of the Microsoft Company.

• After a home game in 2005 against the New York Giants in which the Giants were called for 11 false start penalties due to excessive crowd noise, the Seahawks presented the game ball to their fans who they felt had helped win the game.

• The 20,000^th completed pass in Monday Night Football history was thrown by Seahawk Quarterback Seneca Wallace and caught by Wide Receiver Deion Branch during the 2006 season.

• Former Wide Receiver and Hall-of-Famer Steve Largent also served in the House of Representatives from the State of Oklahoma from 1994 to 2002.

• Hall-of-Fame Wide Receiver Steve Largent was initially selected in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers. He played in four preseason games and was projected to be cut from the team; instead he was traded to the Seahawks for an eighth round draft pick.

• Steve Largent’s #80 jersey was the first jersey retired by the Seahawks for a former player (#12 had been retired for the fans).

• Steve Largent was the first Seattle Seahawk to be named to the Pro Bowl team.

• Wide Receiver Steve Largent and Quarterback Jim Zorn were among the few NFL players that did not join in the league-wide union strike. They cited religious beliefs as the reason to honor the contracts they had signed.

• Former Seattle Seahawks All-Pro Safety Kenny Easley was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 1981 NBA Draft (10^th round).

• When Steve Largent retired he held many NFL career receiving records, including most consecutive regular season games with a reception (177).

• Prior to the 1988 season, the Seahawks traded All-Pro Safety Kenny Easley to the Phoenix Cardinals for Quarterback Kelly Stouffer. The trade was reversed after Easley failed a physical and was forced to retire due to a kidney condition.