The rich tradition, the stadium, and most importantly the 12th Man, made the Seattle Seahawks the franchise that it is today. However, the team's running back coup also gave them one of the most dynamic offenses in the league. Though there aren't many, this list still has the groundbreaking talents that can go against any other group out there.
Let's dive right into the list:
3. Curt Warner, 1983-1989
After being selected with the third overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, Warner went on to have a commendable career. He rushed for a league-best 1,449 yards and 13 touchdowns as a rookie and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors. Unfortunately, a torn ACL cost him his sophomore season, and injuries ultimately dampened his career.
Years after sustaining his injury, Warner bounced back in a big way. He managed to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark three additional times and earned All-Pro honors twice for the Seahawks. He set a new career-high with 1,481 rushing yards in 1986.
He concluded his tenure in Seattle with a total of 6,705 rushing yards and 55 touchdowns, which both currently rank third on the franchise’s all-time list. Warner retired in 1990 and became the fifth member of Seattle’s Ring of Honor in 1994.
2. Marshawn Lynch, 2010-2015, 2019
Marshawn Lynch was originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the 12th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He was traded by the Bills after the 2010 season, to the delight of Seahawks fans everywhere. He then made a name for himself as a member of the Seattle Seahawks.
“Beast Mode” evolved to be a transcendent talent and emerged as one of the most popular and equally controversial stars of his era. Lynch's hard-nosed and physical style of running routes wore down opponents. His highlight-reel plays also often fueled his offensive line's prowess. His famous “Beast Quake” run against the Saints in the 2010 NFC Wild Card round remains to be one of the most memorable plays in Seahawks history.
He amassed 6,381 total rushing yards which ranked fourth-best in Seahawks history and remains a distant second for rushing touchdowns, behind the man who places #1 on this list. As a Seahawk, Lynch put together four consecutive 1,000+ rushing yard seasons and recorded 85 touchdowns. And of course, the five-time First-Team All-Pro member also helped bring them their first Super Bowl XLVIII championship victory.
Beast Mode returned to the Seahawks in 2019 where he tallied 34 rushing yards, 2.8 rushing yards per attempt, and just one lone touchdown. Nevertheless, Marshawn Lynch has more than proven his worth for the Seattle faithful.
1. Shaun Alexander, 2000-2007
Alexander remains to be the most accomplished Seahawks running back, topping nearly every existing statistical category there is. Throughout his career, he owned numerous NFL and Seattle Seahawks' franchise records. He led everyone in rushing touchdowns (100), rush attempts (2,176), games with more than 100 yards rushing (37), and total touchdowns (112). He currently sits as the 8th all-time rushing touchdown leader in entire league's history.
In 2005, he shattered countless records and was a fantasy beast to boot. Alexander was the first running back to record 15 or more touchdowns in five consecutive seasons. He was also the first player to ever score 19 rushing or receiving touchdowns in just 10 games. His phenomenal season, during which he led the league in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, Pro Bowl votes, scored him a well-deserved MVP award.
Alexander carried the Seahawks offense on his back as he led the team to its first-ever Super Bowl appearance in 2006. Despite all his success, most people think Alexander deserved for recognition for his outstanding time as a Seahawk. He still remains to be one of the most underrated players in league history. He was officially elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February 2020.
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