Established
1976
City
Seattle
League History
1976 - Present / National Football League
Team History
1976 - Present / Seattle Seahawks
Nickname
Seahawks - The Seattle Seahawks are one of the most beloved teams in the NFL, and their nickname has become synonymous with success. But where did it come from? Let's take a look at how this iconic name came to be.
The nickname Seahawks resulted from a fan contest, and there were 1,700 unique names among the more than 20,000 submitted in a name-the-team contest in 1975, including Skippers, Pioneers, Lumberjacks, and Seagulls. About 150 people suggested Seahawks (a seahawk is another word for an Osprey).
In 1975, when the team was founded as an expansion franchise in Seattle, Washington, owner Lloyd W. Nordstrom wanted to create a unique identity for his new team to capture its location and spirit of adventure. After much deliberation, he settled on “Seahawks” – a nod to both Puget Sound’s maritime heritage and Native American culture (the term ‘seahawk’ is derived from two Northwest Coast tribes: Haida Gwaii people call them 'Gwawina' while Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations refer to them as 'Kwehkan').
The choice was immediately embraced by fans who quickly developed an affinity for their new mascot – which features prominently on all official logos and merchandise associated with the franchise today! It wasn't long before other teams began adopting similar namesakes, notably Atlanta Falcons (1976), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1977) Philadelphia Eagles (1978). In addition, many high school football programs have also adopted "Seahawks" or some variation thereof over time - further cementing this moniker into popular culture across America!
So there you have it: next time you cheer on your favorite NFL team, make sure you give credit where credit is due - thank Mr. Nordstrom for bringing us such an excellent nickname!
Championship
Super Bowl 1
2014
Stadium
2021 - Present / Lumen Field
2011 - 2020 / CenturyLink Field
2004 - 2010 / Qwest Field
2002 - 2003 / Seahawks Stadium
1976 - 1999 / The Kingdome
Owner
2018 - Present / Estate of Paul Allen
1997 - 2018 / Paul Allen
1988 - 1997 / Ken Behring
1976 - 1988 / Nordstrom Family
- 1976
- 1996
- 2002
- 2010
- 2013
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Seattle Seahawks Expansion
Per one of the agreed parts of the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger, the NFL began planning to expand from 26 to 28 teams. On June 15, 1972, Seattle Professional Football Inc., a group of Seattle business and community leaders started by Herman Sarkowsky and Ned Skinner, announced its intention to acquire an NFL franchise for Seattle. Almost 2 years later on ... -
Paul Allen Saves Seahawks from Moving
In January 1996, Seahawks owner Ken Behring announced that he was moving the franchise to Los Angeles, where the team would play at Anaheim Stadium. Behring claimed safety concerns (specifically the building’s structural integrity in the event of an earthquake) as his reason for breaking the team’s lease with King County. However, seismologists found Behring’s claims to be unproven. Also, ... -
New Seahawks Stadium
For the 2000 – 2001 seasons, the Seahawks moved to Husky Stadium while their new stadium was being built. Big changes were afoot in 2002. When the Seahawks left Husky Stadium at the end of the 2001 season they were part of the AFC West, but when they moved into Seahawks Stadium they were now part of the NFC West. ... -
Pete Carroll Era
Pete Carroll took over as the Seahawks head coach in 2010. On the morning of January 9, 2010, Carroll reportedly came to an agreement with the Seahawks on a 5-year contract that would appoint him as head coach. He was officially hired as the Seahawks head coach on January 11. Carroll’s fourth season, 2013, was his greatest level of success ... -
Super Bowl XLVIII Winner 2013
Super Bowl XLVIII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos and National Football Conference (NFC) champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2013 season. The Seahawks defeated the Broncos 43–8, the largest margin of victory for an underdog, and tied for the third-largest point differential overall (35) ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks have soared as one of the NFL's most successful teams since joining the league in 1976. Boasting three Super Bowl victories, nine playoff appearances, and five trips to the NFC Championship Game, their legacy is undeniable. The Seahawks have been piloted by some of the sport's greatest talents, including Hall-of-Famers Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy, and Walter Jones, with some even in contention for the title of NFL's Greatest Player.
The team’s first season was a success with an 8–2 record, but they failed to make it past the first round of playoffs due to quarterback Jim Zorn's inexperience that year. After two more seasons without making it into post-season play, head coach Jack Patera took over for Chuck Knox, who had left for Buffalo Bills after the 1977 season ended. The 1980s saw significant progress from both on and off the field as Pete Carroll took over coaching duties during the 1989–91 seasons, which included four winning records out of six years under his guidance; however, postseason appearances eluded them until 1984 when they advanced all way up through Wild Card game only to get eliminated at hands San Francisco 49ers 33–14 score line.
Fast forward a few decades later, the franchise is now owned by Paul Allen, who purchased them in 1997 - he then hired Mike Holmgren away Green Bay Packers became new Head Coach and General Manager in 1998; this move paid dividends immediately after Seahawks posted 9 wins and 7 losses went onto win AFC West Division Title 2000 while also advancing deep Playoffs before falling St Louis Rams 20 – 17 final score. This marked the beginning of “Glory Years” in Seattle, where they would compile seven consecutive winning campaigns between 2003 and 2011, including four trips to Conference Championships and two Super Bowl championships ( XLVIII 2013 XVI 2014 ).
Over its storied history, Seahawks have seen many legendary figures don blue-green jerseys like QB Russel Wilson, RB Shaun Alexander WR Bobby Engram, TE Zach Miller, OL Russell Okung, DL Michael Bennett, LB Brian Urlacher, CB Richard Sherman S Earl Thomas, name a few names that come mind. While the current roster may look different than those glory days past, there is no denying fact this organization remains built around the same core values of excellence, and commitment to community success, which makes them perennial contenders every single year regardless of how much personnel turnover occurs in the offseason.
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
12 / Seattle Fans
45 / Kenny Easley
71 / Walter Jones
80 / Steve Largent
96 / Cortez Kennedy
*Blue is this team’s history