Seahawks football helmet
Seahawks football helmet (Photo by dean bertoncelj on Shutterstock)
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Best Seahawks Players: Top 5 Seattle Athletes, According To Sports Experts

August 21, 2023
by Alan Corona

The Seattle Seahawks soundly defeated the Denver Broncos in the 2014 Super Bowl, and they continue to be strong competitors in the NFL today. First established in 1974, the Seahawks have a supercharged fan base that set the world record for loudest fans on two separate occasions during the 2013 season. Our list of the top five best Seahawks players might provide some insight into what all the shouting is about.

The team was initially founded as an expansion franchise in the NFL, and since then, they have had a rich history that includes both triumphs and challenges. They gained prominence in the 1980s under the leadership of head coach Chuck Knox and reached their first conference championship game in 1983. However, it was during the mid-2010s, with the “Legion of Boom” defense and the guidance of coach Pete Carroll, that the Seahawks won their first Super Bowl in 2014, solidifying their status as a competitive and iconic franchise in the NFL.

The Seahawks have seen a parade of exceptional players grace their roster over the years. From the iconic leadership of quarterback Russell Wilson to the unstoppable defensive force of Richard Sherman, the team has cultivated a legacy of standout athletes. These remarkable individuals have not only contributed to the team’s success but have also become beloved figures in the hearts of football fans worldwide.

To explore the many legacies that this Seattle team has harbored throughout sports history, we turned to the experts to compile our list of the best Seahawks players of all time. Let us know who your favorite athlete is in the comments below!

a football stadium filled with lots of people
Seahawks stadium (Photo by Caleb Woods photo on Unsplash)

The List: Best Seattle Seahawks Players, According to Fans

1. Steve Largent

As a clear front-runner with our sources, Steve Largent is lauded as the number one Seahawk of all time. His NFL career ran from 1976 to 1989 and includes some of the Seahawks greatest plays. Seahawks Wire gushes, “Was there any question who would be No. 1 on this list? Largent is the most iconic and historically relevant player in Seahawks history. As a member of the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade team, the sure-handed Largent is one of the best receivers to ever play the game. When Largent retired from the NFL, he was the league’s all-time leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns, and the first player ever to catch 100 touchdown passes.”

Blitzalytics lauds Largent’s achievements, “Steve Largent, also known as ‘Yoda,’ was able to make any play you could imagine. He was undersized, too slow, didn’t have gloves, but still was able to finish off his career with all major receiving records imaginable. Being able to boast all those records before retiring is a feeling few were able to lay claim to, and although Jerry Rice broke those records, he did it in a way that not many could replicate.”

Clutch Points raves, “Largent played every regular season snap of his career with the Seahawks. The Tulsa product spent 14 seasons in Seattle, amassing seven Pro Bowls, a First-Team All-Pro bid in 1985, and four Second-Team All-Pro selections. When he retired following the 1989 season, Largent held NFL records with 819 receptions, 13,089 receiving yards, and 100 receiving touchdowns. He made the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 1st Team All-1980s alongside Jerry Rice.”

2. Walter Jones

Walter Jones was also aggressively ranked as one of the Seahawks all-time greats. Our sources listed his numerous NFL achievements. 12th Man Rising writes, “Jones might be the best offensive tackle to ever play the game. Jones was four times a first team All-NFL member. He made nine Pro Bowls. He teamed with guard Steve Hutchinson to form arguably the best left-side combo in NFL history. Jones helped running back Shaun Alexander rush for 27 touchdowns in 2005. The Seahawks made their first Super Bowl in 2005 and would not have had Jones had not been playing.”

“Walter Jones played offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks beginning in 1997 and ending in 2009. He played his entire career with the Seattle-based team. During his lengthy career, Jones managed to amass a truly impressive amount of awards and accolades. Chief among them would be his four appearances on the First-Team All-Pro list, which is one of the highest honors a player can receive in the National Football League,” explains Rookie Road.

“At one point he was named the best player in the NFL, and many experts consider him to be the best LT of all time. He was elected to nine Pro Bowls, made the 2000s All-Decade Team, the Seahawks 35th Anniversary Team, and had his jersey retired last season. Walter Jones will be remembered as the prime example of a LT, and for that he earns [the] top spot for the Greatest Seahawks Players,” according to B/R.

3. Russell Wilson

Wilson might no longer be a member of the Seahawks, but he left his mark. During his tenure, Wilson was commonly named as a talented dual-threat quarterback. Pro Sports Outlook states, “Exceeding all expectations as a rookie 3rd round pick was just the beginning for Russell Wilson who went on to break Seahawks records, lead them to their first Super Bowl, and changed the franchise forever.”

Russell Wilson plays against the Carolina Panthers in 2018
Russell Wilson plays against the Carolina Panthers in 2018 (Photo by Grindstone Media Group on Shutterstock)

“Wilson led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory over the Broncos in 2018, becoming just the second player in NFL history to win multiple championships with two different teams. He has also been selected for nine Pro Bowls and holds several franchise records, including the most career passing touchdowns… In 2020, Wilson received Walter Payton Man of the Year honors from The Associated Press after leading his team to another championship appearance despite injuring his knee late in the season,” posits Metro League.

Not In Hall Of Fame reckons that “Russell Wilson was the 2008 ACC Rookie of the Year, and four years later, he was the NFL Rookie of the Year with the Seahawks, who had drafted him in the Third Round that year.”

4. Cortez Kennedy

Cortez Kennedy is a larger-than-life NFL star in the literal sense. Kennedy’s stature and stopping power have made him a force on the gridiron. Fan Nation chimes in with, “Boasting a personality as large as the man himself, Kennedy wasted little time living up to his No. 3 overall selection in the 1990 NFL Draft. After only starting two games as a rookie, he made his first Pro Bowl in 1991, posting 73 tackles and 6.5 sacks, a precursor to one of the best seasons by a defensive tackle in NFL history.”

“Kennedy completely redefined the defensive tackle position during his career with the Seahawks. It took Kennedy only three years to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year… becoming only the second Seahawk to ever win the award. He finished his career with 58 sacks, eight Pro Bowl trips, three first-team All-Pro honors, two second-team All-Pro honors, 11 forced fumbles and three interceptions,” as stated by Seahawks Wire.

“From 1991 to 1996, Kennedy made six consecutive Pro Bowls. After missing half of the 1997 season with a broken ankle, Kennedy made two final Pro Bowls in 1998 and 1999. The imposing defensive tackle earned First-Team All-Pro honors three times in his career… Kennedy spent his entire 11-year career with Seattle, and the team eventually retired his number,” offers Clutch Points.

5. Bobby Wagner

Bobby Wagner is often compared to the strong silent type. The man didn’t need to talk when his statistics on the gridiron spoke for him.  Blitzalytics says “The 2012 draft class for the Seahawks produced both Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson. And ever since that moment, Bobby has moved in silence. His calm demeanor though isn’t enough to prevent fans from seeing the consistency he has exuberated [sic] since coming into the league and leading Seahawk defenses that have always been towards (if not the top) of the league.”

“Bobby Wagner played inside linebacker during the most successful era of Seahawks football to date. Wagner was one of the cornerstones upon which the 2013 Super-Bowl-winning team was built. The defense that year was known as the ‘Legion of Boom,’ thanks to their reputation for tough, physical football,” states Rookie Road.

“Bobby Wagner has not only been a tackling machine but also the leader of Seattle’s defense throughout its most successful period. His six 1st Team All-Pro’s show how dominant he was in Seattle history and across the NFL at the LB position,” offers Pro Sports Outlook.

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