Seattle Seahawks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seattle Seahawks |
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| Basic info | |||||||||||||
| Established | June 4, 1974 | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | Lumen Field Seattle, Washington |
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| Headquartered | Virginia Mason Athletic Center Renton, Washington |
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| Colors | College navy, action green, wolf grey |
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| Mascot | Blitz, Boom, Taima the Hawk (Augur buzzard) | ||||||||||||
| Personnel | |||||||||||||
| Owner(s) | The Paul Allen Estate | ||||||||||||
| Chairman | Jody Allen | ||||||||||||
| President | Chuck Arnold | ||||||||||||
| General manager | John Schneider | ||||||||||||
| Head coach | Mike Macdonald | ||||||||||||
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| Team history | |||||||||||||
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| Home fields | |||||||||||||
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| League / conference affiliations | |||||||||||||
National Football League (1976–present)
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| Championships | |||||||||||||
League championships: 1
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Conference championships: 4
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Division championships: 12
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| Playoff appearances (21) | |||||||||||||
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The Seattle Seahawks are an exciting professional American football team from Seattle, Washington. They play in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division. Since 2002, their home games have been at Lumen Field in Seattle, a stadium known for its amazing fan energy! The team's name comes from the osprey, a type of bird also called a sea hawk.
The Seahawks joined the NFL in 1976. They started in the NFC West, then moved to the American Football Conference (AFC) West from 1977 to 2001, before returning to the NFC in 2002. For many years, they played in the Kingdome, a famous stadium in Seattle. Later, they moved to Lumen Field, which they share with soccer teams like Sounders FC and Reign FC.
Seahawks fans are known as the "12th man" because they are like an extra player on the field! They even set a Guinness World Record for the loudest crowd noise at a sports event in 2013. Their cheers were so loud they even registered on earthquake sensors! Since they are the only NFL team in the Pacific Northwest, fans from many states and even British Columbia, Canada, cheer them on.
The Seahawks have won many titles, including 12 division titles and four conference championships. They are special because they are the only team to have played in both the AFC and NFC Championship Games. Their most successful time was in the 2010s, with coach Pete Carroll and their famous "Legion of Boom" defense. This team won their first Super Bowl in 2014, beating the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. They won another Super Bowl in 2026, defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. The Seahawks also played in Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIX. They have won their division 10 times since 2002, most recently in 2025. They even set an NFL record by playing 95 games in a row without losing by more than 10 points!
Many amazing Seahawks players have been honored for their skills. Kenny Easley, Walter Jones, Steve Hutchinson, Cortez Kennedy, and Steve Largent are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Other great players and coaches, like Shaun Alexander and Pete Gross, are part of the Seahawks Ring of Honor.
Contents
Team History
Early Years (1976–1988)
The Seahawks started as a new team in the NFL in 1976. A group of Seattle leaders worked hard to bring a football team to their city. In 1974, the NFL agreed, and the Nordstrom family became the main owners.
In 1975, John Thompson became the team's first general manager. The name Seattle Seahawks was chosen from over 20,000 ideas submitted by the public! A "seahawk" is another name for an osprey, a powerful bird.
Jack Patera became the first head coach in 1976. The team picked players in a special "expansion draft" and chose Steve Niehaus as their second overall pick. The Seahawks played their first game in August 1976 at the new Kingdome stadium.
The Seahawks are the only NFL team to have switched conferences twice! They started in the NFC West, then moved to the AFC West for many years, before returning to the NFC. This was part of the league's plan for new teams. The Seahawks earned their first regular-season win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 1983, Chuck Knox became the head coach. The team had a great season, making their first playoffs! They beat the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins, but lost in the AFC Championship. The next year, 1984, was even better with a 12–4 record, and Coach Knox won the NFL Coach of the Year award.
Changes in Ownership (1988–1998)
In 1988, new owners Ken Behring and Ken Hofmann bought the team. The Seahawks won their first division title that year. However, the team struggled through most of the 1990s, with several losing seasons.
In 1996, there was a plan to move the team away from Seattle, which made many fans upset. The NFL stepped in to keep the team in Seattle. Luckily, in 1997, Paul Allen, one of the founders of Microsoft, bought the team. He was a big supporter of the Seahawks and kept them in Seattle. The team continued to miss the playoffs until 1998.
Mike Holmgren Era (1999–2008)
In 1999, Mike Holmgren became the new head coach and stayed for 10 seasons. The Seahawks won another division title and made it to the playoffs.
New Division and Stadium (2002)
In 2002, the Seahawks moved back to the NFC West division. This was part of a big NFL plan to make the divisions more balanced. Also in 2002, the team opened its brand new home, Seahawks Stadium (now Lumen Field), after playing at Husky Stadium for a couple of years.
The 2005 season was one of the best in Seahawks history, with a 13–3 record! They crushed the Philadelphia Eagles 42–0 in a Monday Night Football game. They won the NFC Championship Game but lost Super Bowl XL to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This Super Bowl loss was a bit controversial due to some referee calls. Before 2005, the Seahawks had not won a playoff game in 21 years, but they ended that streak with a win over the Washington Redskins.
The Seahawks continued to win their division in 2006 and 2007, making it to the playoffs each year. After the 2008 season, Coach Holmgren left the team.
Pete Carroll Era (2010–2023)
Pre-Super Bowl Success (2010–2012)
In 2010, the Seahawks made history by reaching the playoffs with a 7–9 record, winning their division! They then surprised everyone by beating the defending Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints. During this game, Marshawn Lynch made an incredible 67-yard touchdown run, breaking many tackles. This play was so exciting that fans cheered so loudly it caused a small earthquake, nicknamed the "Beast Quake"!
The 2012 season started with a new quarterback, Russell Wilson. Despite some early doubts, Wilson and the Seahawks finished with an 11–5 record, their first winning season since 2007. They were undefeated at home! They won a playoff game on the road against the Washington Redskins, but lost a close game to the Atlanta Falcons. Russell Wilson won the Pepsi MAX Rookie of the Year award.
Super Bowl XLVIII Champions (2013)
The 2013 season was incredible! The Seahawks finished with a 13–3 record, tied for the best in the NFL. Six Seahawks players were chosen for the Pro Bowl, including quarterback Russell Wilson and running back Marshawn Lynch. They won two tough playoff games to reach Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos. On February 2, 2014, the Seahawks won their first-ever Super Bowl Championship, dominating the Broncos 43–8! Their defense that year was one of the best in football history.
Post-Championship Years (2014–2023)
In 2014, the Seahawks had another fantastic season, finishing 12–4 and earning the top spot in the NFC playoffs again. They won their playoff games and reached Super Bowl XLIX. However, they lost a very close game to the New England Patriots after an interception near the goal line.
The Seahawks made the playoffs in 2015 and 2016 but lost in the Divisional Round both times. In 2017, they missed the playoffs for the first time in six years due to injuries to key players. In October 2018, owner Paul Allen passed away.
In 2019, the Seahawks had a strong 11–5 record but lost in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The 2020 season saw them win their first five games, a team record! They finished 12–4 and won their division, but lost in the Wild Card round. The 2021 season was challenging, with a 7–10 record and missing the playoffs.
After the 2021 season, there were big changes. Quarterback Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos. Also, longtime star linebacker Bobby Wagner left the team. In 2022, the Seahawks surprised many by making the playoffs with a 9–8 record, but lost in the Wild Card round. Quarterback Geno Smith won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. The 2023 season ended with a 9–8 record, missing the postseason. Coach Pete Carroll left his head coaching role after the 2023 season.
Mike Macdonald Era (2024–Present)
Mike Macdonald became the new head coach in 2024. The team finished 10–7 in 2024 but did not make the playoffs.
The 2025 season was historic! Seattle achieved a 14–3 record, their best regular season ever, and won the NFC West. They went on to defeat the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs. This led to a rematch with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, which the Seahawks won 29–13!
Logos and Uniforms
When the Seahawks first started in 1976, their logo was a cool blue and green eagle or thunderbird head, inspired by Native American art. Their helmets and pants were silver, and their jerseys were royal blue or white with stripes.
In 1983, the uniforms got a small update. The team logo was added to the sleeves, and the helmet facemasks changed from gray to blue. In 1994, for the NFL's 75th Anniversary, the Seahawks wore special throwback jerseys that looked like their original ones.
In 2002, everything changed! The team moved to the NFC, and both the logo and uniforms were completely redesigned. The colors became a lighter "Seahawks Blue," a darker "Seahawks Navy," and bright lime green. The helmets also changed from silver to the new "Seahawks Blue." The new logo looked more aggressive.
In 2009, the Seahawks wore bright lime green jerseys for the first time, paired with dark navy blue pants. However, they decided to retire these green jerseys because they didn't win in them very often.
In 2012, Nike became the official uniform supplier for the NFL and created brand new designs for the Seahawks. These new uniforms introduced a new color, "Wolf Grey," along with "College Navy" and "Action Green." The uniforms have cool "feather trims" and twelve feathers on the helmet and pants to honor the "12th Man" fans. There are many different combinations of jerseys and pants they can wear!
The all-navy blue uniform is usually worn for home games. On the road, they often wear white jerseys with navy pants, which was the combination they wore when they won Super Bowl XLVIII. They also have an all-gray alternate uniform.
In 2016, the Seahawks introduced their "NFL Color Rush" uniform, which is an all-Action Green outfit. They still wear this bright green uniform as an alternate.
In 2023, the Seahawks brought back a special throwback uniform inspired by their 1983–2001 design. They wore these for a game against the Cleveland Browns. Also in 2023, the Seahawks wore white jerseys at home for the first time ever, celebrating the 10th anniversary of their first Super Bowl win.
In 2025, the NFL and Nike introduced new "rivalry uniforms" for some teams. The Seahawks' new "High-Decibel Zone" uniform is wolf grey and iridescent green. This special green color changes depending on the light! The jersey has a unique soundwave design to represent the loud cheers of the fans at Lumen Field. The helmet is also an amazing iridescent green with a metallic chrome finish.
Team Rivalries
Divisional Rivals
Los Angeles Rams
The rivalry with the Los Angeles Rams began in 2002 when the Seahawks moved to the NFC West. A memorable playoff game happened in 2004 when the Rams beat the Seahawks in Seattle. This rivalry became even more exciting in the 2010s as both teams were very strong. Seahawks fans now often see the Rams as their biggest divisional rival. As of the 2025 season, the Seahawks lead the series 30–28.
San Francisco 49ers
From 2011 to 2014, the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers were two of the best teams in the NFC, creating a fierce rivalry. The coaches, Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh, had a history of competition. The Seahawks beat the 49ers in the 2013 NFC Championship Game, then went on to win the Super Bowl. The Seahawks won many games against the 49ers for several years. As of the end of the 2025 season, the Seahawks lead the series 33–24.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals and Seahawks became rivals in 2002. This rivalry has become quite intense, especially in the mid-to-late 2010s, as both teams often fought for the NFC West title. The Seahawks lead the series 31–22–1.
Conference Rivals
Green Bay Packers
Since moving to the NFC, the Seahawks have had many exciting playoff games against the Green Bay Packers. Memorable moments include a game in 2003 where Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck made a risky play, and Russell Wilson leading a huge comeback win in the 2014 NFC Championship Game. As of the 2024 season, the Packers lead the all-time series 16–9.
Historic Rivals
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos were a big rival for the Seahawks from the 1980s until 2002. The Broncos lead the series 35–23, but the Seahawks won both of their playoff meetings. They also met in Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, where the Seahawks won big! In 2022, Russell Wilson was traded to the Broncos, and the Seahawks won their first game against him.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders and Seahawks played many times when they were both in the AFC West. Now that Seattle is in the NFC, they play less often. The Raiders lead the all-time series 30–26.
Team Headquarters and Training Camps
The Seahawks' main office and practice fields are at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC) in Renton. This amazing facility has four full-size practice fields, including three outdoors and one indoors. The team has held their training camps here since 2008.
Seasons and Overall Records
The Seattle Seahawks have played in 50 NFL seasons since 1976. They have a regular-season record of 402 wins, 373 losses, and 1 tie. In the playoffs, they have 17 wins and 19 losses. Overall, they have 419 wins, 392 losses, and 1 tie.
The Seahawks have made it to the playoffs 20 times. They reached the Super Bowl in 2005, 2013, 2014, and 2025. They won Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014 and Super Bowl LX in 2026. In 2010, they became the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record (7–9) and then won a playoff game!
Players
Current Roster
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Seattle Seahawks roster
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
→ AFC rosters → NFC rosters |
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35th Anniversary Team (2010)
This team was chosen by fans on Seahawks.com in 2010. Bold names are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
| Seattle Seahawks 35th Anniversary Team (2010) | ||
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| Offense | Quarterback |
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| Defense | Defensive Line |
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| Special Teams | Kicker/Punter |
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Top 50 Players (2025)
To celebrate the Seahawks' 50th season, a list of the top 50 players in team history was announced in 2025. Fans, media, and team members voted for this list. Bold names are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Retired Numbers
The Seahawks have retired five numbers to honor special players and their fans.
| Seattle Seahawks retired numbers | |||||
| No. | Player | Position | Tenure | Retired | Ref. |
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| 12 | 12th man | FAN | 1976–present | December 15, 1984 | |
| 45 | Kenny Easley | SS | 1981–1987 | October 1, 2017 | |
| 71 | Walter Jones | OT | 1997–2009 | December 5, 2010 | |
| 80 † | Steve Largent | WR | 1976–1989 | 1992 | |
| 96 | Cortez Kennedy | DT | 1990–2000 | October 14, 2012 | |
- † Jerry Rice wore No. 80 for his 2004 time with the Seahawks, with Largent's permission.
- Many other players and coaches are honored in the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor.
Pro Football Hall of Famers
These players are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for their time with the Seahawks.
State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame
Team Ownership and Personnel
Team Owners
- Nordstrom estate & Herman Sarkowsky: 1976–1988
- Ken Behring & Ken Hofmann: 1988–1996
- Paul Allen: 1997–2018
- Allen estate, managed by Jody Allen: 2018–present
Current Staff
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→ Coaching staff |
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Previous Head Coaches
The Seahawks have had nine head coaches in their history.
Team Culture
The Seahawks are the only NFL team in the Northwestern United States. Their fans come from a huge area, including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and even British Columbia, Canada!
The 12s
The "12s" is what Seahawks fans are called. Their first stadium, the Kingdome, was known for being incredibly loud. Opposing teams even practiced with loud music to prepare for the noise!
Lumen Field, where the Seahawks play now, is also one of the loudest stadiums in the league. The stadium's design traps and amplifies the noise, making it very hard for opposing teams. This noise has caused many penalties for visiting teams.
Seahawks fans have twice set the Guinness World Record for the loudest crowd noise at a sporting event! They reached 136.6 decibels in 2013, and then 137.6 decibels later that year. The current record is held by the Kansas City Chiefs at 142.2 decibels.
Before every home game, the Seahawks honor their fans by raising a giant #12 flag. Players, coaches, and local celebrities have all helped raise this flag. The team even retired the #12 jersey in 1984 as a tribute to their amazing fans.
For a while, the team used the phrase "12th Man" with permission from Texas A&M University, who owned the trademark. After that agreement ended, the Seahawks started calling their fans the "12s" instead.
Team Mascots
Blitz has been the Seahawks' official mascot since 1998. Before the 2014 season, Blitz got a new look and a sidekick named Boom, who helps entertain younger children.
Since 2005, an augur hawk named Taima has flown around the stadium before the team runs onto the field. Taima is a real hawk and is a very cool part of the game day experience!
Cheerleaders
The Seahawks Dancers are a group of male and female cheerleaders who perform at home games and other events. They used to be an all-female squad called the Sea Gals, but they welcomed male members and changed their name in 2019.
Band
Since 2004, the Seahawks have had their own drum line called Blue Thunder. They play at every home game and at other events in Seattle.
Team Achievements
Super Bowl Appearances
| Season | Super Bowl | Head coach | Location | Stadium | Opponent | Result | Record |
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| 2005 | XL | Mike Holmgren | Detroit, Michigan | Ford Field | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 10–21 | 15–4 |
| 2013 | XLVIII | Pete Carroll | East Rutherford, New Jersey | MetLife Stadium | Denver Broncos | W 43–8 | 16–3 |
| 2014 | XLIX | Glendale, Arizona | University of Phoenix Stadium | New England Patriots | L 24–28 | 14–5 | |
| 2025 | LX | Mike Macdonald | Santa Clara, California | Levi's Stadium | New England Patriots | W 29–13 | 17–3 |
Individual Awards
Bold names are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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NFL All-Decade and Anniversary Team Selections
Bold names are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Pro Bowl Selections
These Seahawks players were chosen for the Pro Bowl, an all-star game for the best players in the NFL:
- QB Sam Darnold, Matt Hasselbeck (3), Dave Krieg (3), Warren Moon, Geno Smith (2), Russell Wilson (9)
- FB Michael Robinson, Mack Strong (2), John Williams (2)
- HB Shaun Alexander (3), Bobby Joe Edmonds, Marshawn Lynch (4), Curt Warner (3), Chris Warren (3)
- LT Duane Brown (2), Walter Jones (9), Russell Okung
- LG Steve Hutchinson (3)
- C Robbie Tobeck, Max Unger (2)
- RG
- RT
- TE Jimmy Graham (2)
- WR Doug Baldwin (2), Alex Bannister, Brian Blades, Steve Largent (7), Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf (2), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2)
- DE Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett (3), Jacob Green (2), Patrick Kerney, DeMarcus Lawrence, Michael Sinclair (3)
- DT Cortez Kennedy (8), John Randle, Joe Nash, Leonard Williams (2)
- LB Chad Brown (2), Julian Peterson (3), Rufus Porter (2), Lofa Tatupu (3), Bobby Wagner (9), KJ Wright, Fredd Young (4)
- CB Dave Brown, Brandon Browner, Shaquill Griffin, Richard Sherman (4), Shawn Springs, Marcus Trufant, Devon Witherspoon (3), Riq Woolen
- SS Jamal Adams, Kam Chancellor (4), Kenny Easley (5)
- FS Quandre Diggs (3), Julian Love, Eugene Robinson, Earl Thomas (6), Darryl Williams
- PK Norm Johnson, Jason Myers
- P Michael Dickson, Rick Tuten
- ST Nick Bellore, Rashid Shaheed
First-Team All-Pro Selections
These Seahawks players were named to the Associated Press (AP) first-team All-Pro, meaning they were considered the best at their position in the entire NFL:
- QB
- FB Michael Robinson, Mack Strong
- HB Shaun Alexander, Bobby Joe Edmonds, Marshawn Lynch
- LT Walter Jones (4)
- LG Steve Hutchinson (3)
- C Max Unger
- RG
- RT
- TE
- WR Steve Largent, Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- DE Patrick Kerney
- DT Cortez Kennedy (3), Joe Nash
- LB Lofa Tatupu, Bobby Wagner (6), Fredd Young
- CB Richard Sherman (3)
- SS Kenny Easley (3)
- FS Earl Thomas (3)
- PK Norm Johnson
- P Michael Dickson
- ST Tyler Lockett
Radio and Television
The main radio stations for the Seahawks are KIRO 710 kHz and KIRO-FM 97.3 MHz. You can hear games on 47 stations across five western states and Canada! The broadcasts are called the "Bing Radio Network." Former Seahawks players Steve Raible and Dave Wyman are the current announcers.
Preseason games are shown on local TV, often on KING-TV or KCPQ-TV. Kate Scott became the announcer for Seahawks TV preseason games in 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Seattle Seahawks para niños
| Calvin Brent |
| Walter T. Bailey |
| Martha Cassell Thompson |
| Alberta Jeannette Cassell |
