Sports
Ranking the 10 Best Seattle Seahawks Players of All Time
The 
Seattle Seahawks have had a lot of ups and downs in their franchise history, but no matter how good or bad the team was, the roster always had some incredible players on it. From the earliest days of Steve Largent to the Russell Wilson era, the five best Seahawks players come from every decade of the team’s history.
In 1976, the Seahawks joined the 
NFL as an expansion team after 
Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson threatened to move his team there if his city didn’t help with a new stadium. That move never came, but when the league wanted to go from 26 to 28 teams, it added one in the Pacific Northwest.
Despite early and somewhat long-lasting struggles, the Seahawks always had standout players, even in bad times. In fact, they have been home to so many greats that players like Shaun Alexander, Bobby Wagner, Marshawn Lynch, and the entire Legion of Boom were left off this list.
While there are some big names left off, they simply couldn’t quite measure up to the five greatest Seahawks of all time, who are ranked below.
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1
Steve Largent (1976-1989)
The best player in Seahawks history could be one of several players below. But when you take into account the way a player excelled and the talent (or lack thereof) around him, it’s hard to pick anyone but Steve Largent.
From the time Largent and the Seahawks entered the NFL in 1976 to the time he hung it up in 1989, there was only one division crown, four playoff appearances, and 12 single-digit-win seasons. The one consistent highlight was the team’s star wideout.
The Houston Oilers actually drafted Largent in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft out of Tulsa, but the franchise traded him to the expansion Seahawks before the inaugural campaign began.
In his first two NFL seasons, Largent was good, not great, racking up 705- and 643-yard seasons as a youngster. However, his 10 touchdowns in 1977 hinted at what was to come.
As many receivers do, Largent broke out in his third year, grabbing 71 balls for 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns. That would set off a decade-long run with eight seasons over 1,000 yards, seven Pro Bowl nods, and five All-Pro selections. He would also lead the league in receiving yards twice, in 1979 and 1985.
Ultimately, Largent would experience more losses than wins during his illustrious 14-year career, but that shouldn’t dampen his greatness. The man who would one day serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma was a shining bright spot in the Seahawks’ dark early history.
2
Walter Jones (1997-2008)
While the ’70s and ’80s were tough for the Seahawks and the ’90s were even worse, things started to turn around at the turn of the century. And a lot of that is because of the offensive tackle the team drafted No. 6 overall in the 1997 NFL Draft.
The former Florida State Seminole missed four games with nagging injuries as a rookie, but then went on to start 168 of the next 176 games for the Seahawks over the next 11 seasons.
During that time, Jones made nine Pro Bowl squads and six All-Pro teams while being widely regarded as one of (if not) the best left tackles in the game. How can you quantify that?
How about the statistics that Jones allowed 23 sacks in his 180 NFL games and was called for just nine holding calls in his entire career?
Jones also helped turn backup Matt Hasselbeck into a star QB, led the way for Shaun Alexander to rush for 1,880 yards en route to winning NFL MVP in 2005, and assisted the Seahawks to their first-ever Super Bowl that same season.
3
Cortez Kennedy (1990-2000)
In the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets took Jeff George and running back Blair Thomas first and second overall, respectively. That left the Seahawks with Miami defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, who is the only one of those three to become a Hall of Famer.
At 6-foot-3 and 306 pounds, Kennedy was a dominating force in the center of the Seahawks defensive line for 11 NFL seasons. To be more specific, though, he was one of the most dominating defensive forces in the NFL during the 1990s.
As a defensive tackle, it’s hard to tell Kennedy’s story through stats. But in 1992, his numbers were so impressive that he won the Defensive Player of the Year Award on a Seahawks squad that finished 2-15. That season, “Tez” put up 92 tackles, 14.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He likely had a ton of tackles for a loss as well, but the NFL didn’t keep that stat until 1999.
The Seahawks fared even worse in the ’90s than they did in the ’70s and ’80s, with only one playoff appearance (1999) on their resume. However, a Hall of Famer like Cortez Kennedy is one thing Seattle fans from that era will always remember.
4
Russell Wilson (2012-2021)
Football historians — and his own defensive teammates — will long debate exactly how good and how responsible Russell Wilson was for the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win. No matter where you fall on the “Let Russ Cook” spectrum, you can’t argue the fact that he’s the only QB to lift a Lombardi Trophy in a Seahawks uniform.
Picked in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft to develop under the newly-signed Matt Flynn, Wilson took the Seahawks and the NFL by storm from the get-go. A Pro Bowler as a rookie, he threw for over 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns and then went on to make eight more Pro Bowls in his 10 seasons in Seattle.
Wilson led the league in passing TDs (34 in 2017) and passer rating (110.1 in 2015) once, but never earned a First-Team All-Pro selection and never finished in the top three in MVP voting or higher than third in Offensive Player of the Year voting.
Still, Wilson was 104-53-1 as a starter for Seattle in the regular season, made back-to-back Super Bowls, and should have won two if Pete Carroll had simply called a run play at the end of Super Bowl 49 against the New England Patriots.
The regular-season record and Super Bowl victory puts Wilson on this list despite some of his shortcomings.
5
Shaun Alexander (2000-2007)
Shaun Alexander had one of the best primes of any running back in NFL history.
Alexander rushed for over 1,300 yards in four of his nine seasons in the NFL, including an absurd 1,880-yard, 27-touchdown season in 2005, which earned him the NFL MVP award. He led the Seahawks to a 13-3 regular-season record and the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance that season, with Seattle ultimately falling short of a ring against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Alexander’s production fell off a cliff the following year, however, as injuries mounted and his career took a sharp decline. He left the NFL for good following the 2008 season at just 31 years old.
The Alabama product still owns franchise records for rushing yards (9,429) and touchdowns (100).
6
Kenny Easley (1981-1987)
Cortez Kennedy wasn’t the Seahawks’ first Defensive Player of the Year and Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas weren’t the first Seattle safeties who struck fear in the hearts of opponents. Both those honors first went to Hall of Famer Kenny Easley.
Easley played his entire all-too-short seven-year career in Seattle after the Seahawks picked him fourth overall in the 1981 NFL Draft out of UCLA.
“The Enforcer,” as he was known, finished fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and would have done even better if it weren’t for a few names you may have heard before who finished ahead of him, like Lawrence Taylor and Ronnie Lott.
After a solid rookie campaign, Easley made the Pro Bowl in five of the next six seasons and was a five-time All-Pro as well. His 1984 season, which included a league-leading 10 interceptions and two pick-sixes, led to his DPOY trophy.
Easley was also a leader of the players’ union in 1987 when the NFL suffered through a players’ strike. That took a toll on his career and his relationship with the Seahawks. But when the team tried to trade him, a physical revealed a kidney disease that led to his early retirement.
The tough end to his NFL tenure doesn’t negate how good Easley was for the Seahawks, but it does lead to “what could have been?” questions about the Legion of Boom’s ancestral archetype.
7
Bobby Wagner (2012-2021, 2023)
Bobby Wagner was the defensive leader for those memorable Seahawks teams of the 2010s, playing a pivotal role in Seattle’s Super Bowl conquest in 2013. Wagner blended an intimidating physical presence with elite intelligence, making him one of the most revered linebackers in the NFL in his day.
The Seahawks made the playoffs in eight of Wagner’s 11 seasons in Seattle, and went to back-to-back Super Bowls in 2013 and 2014. The Los Angeles native has made the Pro Bowl 10 times and is a six-time All-Pro.
The 35-year-old just wrapped up his 14th NFL season with the Washington Commanders.
8
Richard Sherman (2011-2017)
Richard Sherman was one of the shiniest hidden gems of the 2010s after being selected in the fifth round of the 2011 draft. Sherman quickly developed into one of the NFL’s premier shutdown corners, using his combination of length, intelligence and ball skills to terrorize opponents.
Between 2012 and 2016, the Stanford man led the league in interceptions (26) and was second in passes defended (75), making the Pro Bowl in each of those seasons.
One of the leaders of Seattle’s legendary Legion of Boom, Sherman was a big part of the Seahawks consecutive Super Bowl trips in 2013 and 2014. His bold personality and cockiness in front of a microphone made him one of the most entertaining players in the league at the time.
9
Marshawn Lynch (2010-2015, 2019)
When you mention the Seahawks to this generation of NFL fans, the first name many will mention is Marshawn Lynch.
Lynch was one of the most dominant running backs the game has ever seen, routinely embarrassing defenders with his aggressive, mean running style.
After playing his first three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Lynch was traded to Seattle in 2010 and established himself as a superstar with a tremendous four-season run between 2011 and 2014, during which he tallied 5,357 yards and 48 touchdowns.
Beast Mode will forever go down as one of the NFL’s all-time offensive forces.
10
Earl Thomas III (2010-2018)
Another centerpiece of the Legion of Boom, Earl Thomas III was one of the most revered safeties in football during his career.
His elite speed and football IQ made him a nightmare to plan for, covering the field from sideline to sideline with unparalleled ease. In nine seasons in Seattle, Thomas earned seven Pro Bowl appearances and three All-Pro nods.
The Orange, Texas native was one of the best tacklers in the open field in his day, collecting 664 tackles with the Seahawks, while also being a threat in the passing game with 28 interceptions.
All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless stated otherwise.
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Arsenal are active in the race to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Morten Hjulmand this summer, with an update emerging from A Bola on his future.
It has been a relatively quiet start to the summer transfer window for Arsenal, with it being clear that they only need to add a couple of players of real quality to improve a top team who are already Premier League champions and were a penalty shootout away from winning the Champions League.
While the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United have already made signings 10 days after the window officially opened, the Gunners are yet to complete their first new signing.
Piero Hincapie has completed his move to the Emirates on a permanent deal, but he was with the club already last season.
Arsenal have been in talks to sign 16-year-old Leicester City sensation Jeremy Monga, but they are yet to agree a fee with the League One outfit for the teenager’s services.
The Gunners are also expected to make an official move soon for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, who is currently representing England at the 2026 World Cup.
As well as the wings, it seems as though Arsenal are considering signing another central midfielder too.
Arsenal ‘Active’ in Morten Hjulmand Pursuit
According to A Bola, the pathway for Hjulmand to make a move to the Premier League season is ‘active’, with his chances of returning to Serie A narrowing because of the price involved for a transfer.
There had been links with a move to AC Milan for the Denmark international following the appointment of his former boss Ruben Amorim at the San Siro, but the Serie A giants are currently prioritising other positions.
Juventus have also pulled out of the race, leaving Inter Milan and Napoli as the only clubs who would be able to afford the 27-year-old, who has an €80m (£70m) release clause.
However, Arsenal are considering a move for the ‘absolute monster’ midfielder, while Manchester City and their sporting director Hugo Viana, who used to be at the Portuguese outfit, are big fans of the player.
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Hjulmand Wants to Join Arsenal
A Bola state that Hjulmand would fulfill a ‘childhood dream’ by playing for Arsenal, and it would be no surprise if they are his number one pick given where the club is right now too.
Not only would the 27-year-old significantly strengthen Arsenal’s central midfield depth given his stature and quality, but he is also known for his leadership skills as he currently captains Sporting.
Arteta is renowned for wanting the right type of character when he is making signings, and the Dane is a player who would seemingly give everything in an Arsenal shirt.
The Gunners may be able to land Hjulmand for a fee lower than his release clause too, with Sporting said to be ready to sell him for a fee of between €40-50m thanks to a personal pact made between the parties last summer.
Manchester City have now made contact to sign a player who’s already agreed to join Arsenal this summer.
While their Premier League rivals have sprung into action, it has been a quieter start to the summer transfer window for Arsenal and City.
City are still yet to confirm Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s successor at the Etihad, but they have been hard at work behind the scenes trying to complete a mega agreement to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, Arsenal probably only need to make some tweaks to their squad after such a successful season, but Mikel Arteta will be looking to add players to his squad that can take them to yet another level next term as they look to defend their Premier League title and go one better in the Champions League.
The Gunners look set to add numbers to their attack this summer, with the north Londoners being linked with moves for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez in recent weeks.
Arsenal are also working to find an agreement with Leicester City to sign 16-year-old sensation Jeremy Monga, but it is unclear whether he would be competing in the first-team yet or not if a deal went through.
The Gunners have also been looking at midfield additions for Arteta.
Man City Make Manu Kone Enquiry
According to journalist Damiano Er Faina, posting on X on Thursday evening, Manchester City have now made over signing French midfielder Manu Kone from AS Roma.
Even though are now closing in on an agreement to sign England star Anderson, it is being widely reported that they want another central midfielder too, with Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United another name mentioned.
Arsenal themselves are looking to reinforce that position with a lack of quality in depth shown last season when they lost players to injury, with Kone emerging as a target.
Reports from Italy earlier this month suggested that the Gunners were closing in on a deal to sign the 25-year-old with personal terms already agreed for him to move to the Emirates.
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Which Other Midfielders Are Arsenal Targeting?
Kone isn’t the only name reportedly on Arsenal’s central midfield radar this summer, with Alex Scott of Bournemouth someone they like a lot.
GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed the Gunners’ interest in the £80m-rated England international, who the Cherries are desperate to tie down to a new contract with his current deal set to expire in 2028.
Reports in Portugal claim that they are also considering making a move for Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand, whose boyhood dream was to play for Arsenal.
Whether the Gunners firm up their reported interest in Kone or not, Arteta and Andrea Berta certainly seem to have other names on their shortlist should Man City swoop in and bring him to the Premier League themselves.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has long been one of England’s most talented full-backs, but his international career hasn’t always run smoothly under successive Three Lions managers, resulting in his lack of presence at the 2026 World Cup
That awkward relationship with his national side has led some fans down an unusual rabbit hole: could he have actually represented a different country altogether?
The question resurfaced after the Real Madrid man opened up about his family background in an interview, revealing a transatlantic connection that surprised plenty of supporters.
How Trent Alexander-Arnold Was Eligible for Another Nation
The discussion stems from comments back when he was a Liverpool player in 2023. Speaking to Men in Blazers about his mother, who was born in the United States. He explained his fondness for the country, saying:
“The connection is just that my Mum’s American really! I love America, I absolutely love America.”
That maternal link meant Alexander-Arnold was technically eligible to play for the US under FIFA’s nationality rules, which allow players to represent a country through a parent or grandparent’s birthplace, provided they haven’t already been capped elsewhere in a competitive fixture.
Had he picked the USMNT, Trent could be playing a pivotal role in Mauricio Pochettino’s side, rather than watching the competition from home. He’d certainly be a popular figure and the talisman in the American squad.
Why Trent Can’t Switch Allegiance Now
Despite that eligibility, the door is firmly shut. Alexander-Arnold has appeared for England in numerous competitive fixtures, which permanently ties him to the Three Lions under FIFA’s switching regulations. Had his only appearances come in friendlies, a U-turn would theoretically have remained possible, but that ship sailed long ago.
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There’s an intriguing family thread running through all this, too. Alexander-Arnold’s mother, Dianne, was born in the United States to his grandmother, Doreen Carling, who was once in a relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson before relocating to New York and marrying there.
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