The History of the Seattle Seahawks: From Proposal to Super Bowl Victory
The Seattle Seahawks, one of the most beloved franchises in the National Football League (NFL), have a rich and storied history that dates back to the 1970s. This article delves into the origins of the team, its journey from an initial proposal to becoming an NFL powerhouse, and the highlights of its illustrious career.
Expansion and Initial Proposal
One of the agreed parts of the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger was the expansion of the league from 26 to 28 teams. In this context, then Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson proposed a team for Seattle due to the decrepit stadium situation at War Memorial Stadium and the reluctance of Buffalo New York officials to replace it.
Ace of the Miami Dolphins and NFL Hall of Fame member Hugh McElhenny, a resident of Seattle and alumnus of the University of Washington, signed a contract with a group called the Seattle Sea Lions, hoping to bring an NFL franchise to the city. However, his plan ultimately failed. In June 1972, Herman Sarkowsky and Ned Skinner, Seattle business and community leaders, started Seattle Professional Football Inc. with the intention of acquiring an NFL franchise for Seattle. Just two years later, on June 4, 1974, the NFL awarded the group an expansion franchise.
Founding and Early Years
On December 5, 1974, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle announced the official signing of the franchise agreement on behalf of Lloyd W. Nordstrom, representing the Nordstrom family as majority partners for the consortium. Sadly, Nordstrom passed away from a heart attack on January 20, 1976, mere months before the Seahawks' first game.
On March 5, 1975, John Thompson, a former executive for the University of Washington, was hired as the general manager of the yet-unnamed team. The nickname Seahawks was selected on June 17, 1975, after a public naming contest that drew over 20,000 entries and over 1,700 different names. Nordstrom and his group chose the name, leading to its adoption for the team. The nickname was previously used by the All-America Football Conference Miami Seahawks.
Championing and Early Seasons
In 1976, the NFL expansion draft saw the Seahawks select 39 players from the other 26 teams. They began play in the NFC West division for the first season but switched conferences with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after one season and joined the AFC West. The 1976 draft saw the Seahawks draft defensive tackle Steve Niehaus with the 2nd overall pick.
The Seahawks took the field for the first time on August 1, 1976, in a pre-season game against the San Francisco 49ers in the newly constructed Kingdome.
Division Titles and Championship Success
The Seahawks are unique in their NFL history for switching conferences twice. In 1988 and 1999, the Seahawks won the AFC West title. They also won the NFC West titles in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2016. Additionally, they won the NFC Championship Game three times, in 2005, 2013, and 2014. They have appeared in the AFC Championship Game once, in 1983, resulting in a rivalry of being the only team to have appeared in both the AFC and NFC Conference Championship games.
On the national stage, the Seahawks have one Super Bowl victory in 2013. Prior to the 2005 season, Seattle held the longest drought of playoff victories in NFL history, dating from the 1984 season. The Seahawks ended this drought with a 20–10 win over the Washington Redskins in the 2005 playoffs. Since then, they have maintained a remarkable record in the postseason with an overall record of 12–12.