I thought it would be to fun to see which players in Seahawks history were best by jersey number. So hypothetically, if someone had enough time and money and wanted a wardrobe of the best player at each number, this is the collection of jerseys they should have. I tried to even it out and not do too many of a particular position. Also, since I've only seen Seahawks games since the late 90's I will be a tad biased towards more recent players.
1. Warren Moon, QB
Easy. No one else is close.
2. Todd Peterson, K
Again, easy. Next closest would be Trevone Boykin, who was a backup for a couple seasons.
3. Russell Wilson, QB
Easy, but not for a complete lack of competition. Russ takes it easily over Josh Brown and Rick Mirer.
4. Stephen Hauschka, K
Boy did I want to go with Michael Dickson but six years of great kicking beats a year of any kind of punting. Also Trent Dilfer, but Hausch takes it.
5. Ruben Rodriguez, P
There's literally no one else. Mainly backup QB's that never lasted long like BJ Daniels, Alex McGough, and Charlie Frye.
6. Charlie Whitehurst, QB
There's literally no one else. Clipboard Jesus at least won us a game that allowed BeastQuake to happen.
7. Jon Kitna, QB
Jon had a decent career and was our starter a few years. Only competition was Tarvaris Jackson.
8. Matt Hasselbeck, QB
How many QB's are we going to get? I don't think this will be the last. Hass lead us to our first Super Bowl and led a team that made it to the playoffs quite often, something we hadn't seen since the early 1980's. Still holds quite a few team passing records.
9. Jon Ryan, P
This one was my first really tough one. Jon barely beats out Norm Johnson. I went with Jon because he's more recent and because we already had two kickers on here, but only one punter.
10. Jim Zorn, QB
Easy choice. Next closest were Jeff Feagles and Paul Richardson.
11. Percy Harvin, WR
We keep going from easy choice to hard choice now. There haven't been a whole lot of great players to wear #11 for the Hawks. For this number there was also Deon Butler, Brock Huard, and Kelly Stouffer. And SeaBass. But Percy gets it mainly because of his kick return for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
12. The Fans
Who else? Sam Adkins? Ha!
13. Chris Matthews, WR
Yikes! Not much here, either. Keary Colbert? That's laughable. Chris gets this for his onside kick recovery in the NFC Conference Championship game against the Packers.
14. Rick Tuten, P
He's the only somewhat legit candidate. I vaguely remember him as our punter. Rick "Pooten" Tuten my dad used to call him. Hopefully D.K. Metcalf will be able to claim this number before too long.
15. Jermaine Kearse, WR
Did you know Doug Baldwin wore this number in his first year? I had almost forgotten. Jermaine was a key part of many playoff runs. Next closest was Seneca Wallace.
16. Tyler Lockett, WR
This wasn't that close. Lockett is now the Hawks #1 after Baldwin's retirement/release. Next closest was our former punter Tom Rouen.
17. Dave Krieg, QB
Another that wasn't close. Dave Krieg held virtually all the Seahawks passing records until Hass and Russ came long. Next closest was big Mike Williams, whose jersey I actually own.
18. Sidney Rice, WR
A lot of fringe receivers have worn this number. Sidney wast the best, though, helping us get to Super Bowl XLVIII. Next closest was D.J. Hackett.
19. Tanner McEvoy, WR
We literally haven't had anyone better. Fabian Bownes? Bryan Walters? Keenan Reynolds? Pro Football reference gives an approximate value for each player I'm looking up, and Tanner had the highest. Barely. Somehow. What the heck.
20. Jay Bellamy, S
Surprised you with this one? It was a close call, and between four guys. Jay was a decent safety for us for quite a while. He beats out backup running back and occasional starter Maurice Morris, nickel corner Jeremy Lane, and defensive back Terry Taylor from the 80s.
21. Paul Moyer, CB
This was yet another close one. It was either Moyer or Ken Lucas. I chose Moyer because he only played with us and has remained a part of the Seahawks being on the radio.
22. Dave Brown, CB
No doubt about this one. Dave is one of the best corners in team history (or so I'm told).
23. Marcus Trufant, CB
Speaking of best corners in team history, Marcus Trufant is as well. He was our #1 corner for 8, 9, 10 years? Helped us get to our first Super Bowl.
24. Marshawn Lynch, RB
If I had done this ten years ago, it would be Shawn Springs. However, Beast Mode made his mark here in Seattle and his jersey is still spotted around the Pacific Northwest, despite him no longer being a Hawk.
25. Richard Sherman, CB
Sherm gets this, no question. Still see his jersey a lot, too.
26. Ken Hamlin, S
I liked Ken Hamlin, he was an underrated safety. He was like a mix of Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Whenever I think Seahawks #26, I think Ken Hamlin.
27. Willie Williams, CB
This was a close one. Willie was a solid corner in the 90s that I vaguely remember. There's also Jordan "Big Play Babs" Babineaux and Patrick Hunter.
28. Curt Warner, RB
No question here. I mostly associate this number with Michael Boulware, who I remember playing, but Curt has to have this.
29. Earl Thomas, S
I don't even have to look at who else has worn this number in Seahawks history, but I will just to see if it was even a little close. Hmm... nope, just some DB named Dwayne Harper that I honestly have never heard of.
30. Bradley McDougald, S
Yep, Bradley's already made it. Ok, to be honest, a cornerback named Corey Harris from the mid 90's had a better Player Value score, but I don't remember him, and Bradley by playing in 2019 will have been a Seahawk longer than him.
31. Kam Chancellor, S
Three safeties in a row. There was never any doubt. Next closest was Kelly Herndon. I think he had an interception in Super Bowl XL. But that's nothing compared to what we got from Kam.
32. John L. Williams, FB
Even I've heard of John L. Williams. Possibly best FB in team history? It's either him or Mack Strong. Next closest was Ricky Watters, but he had more success on other teams.
33. Darryl Williams, CB
Darryl had the same player value score as RB/FB Dan Doornink. But I went with Darryl. I barely remember him, but remember him I do.
34. Thomas Rawls, RB
Not a whole lot of talent at this number. Thomas Rawls had a couple decent years taking over for Marshawn Lynch, which was no easy task. Next closest was Terreal Bierria. Yeah.
35. David Sims, RB/FB
No, not the David Sims that calls Mariner games. There was a running back David Sims who in 1978 ran for 14 touchdowns, which was a lot back then. DeShawn Shead was a close second, he just didn't have the stats to back it up.
36. Lamar Smith, RB
It was between Lamar Smith, 16th on the all time Seahawks rushing list, or Lawyer Milloy, who only played a couple years with us and was at the tail end of his career.
37. Shaun Alexander, RB
I don't even have to look at who else wore this number. Shaun was one of the best running backs of the mid 2000s, along with Jamal Lewis, Priest Holmes, and LaDanian Tomlinson.
38. Mack Strong, FB
No doubt about this one, either. Mack had the talent and the name to back up his stellar blocking abilities.
39. Brandon Browner, CB
Although he's now in jail, Browner was a part of the original Legion of Boom, meaning the entire Legion of Boom makes it on here, to no surprise.
40. Derrick Coleman, FB
Oh boy, we enter the 40's, where not many star players wear numbers. Derrick is my choice, although there wasn't much to choose from.
41. Eugene Robinson, S
I would hazard a safe guess by saying Eugene is the best player to wear a jersey number ANWHERE in the 40s. We''ll see.
42. Chris Warren, RB
I barely remember Chris, but he had a fairly long career for us for a running back. Then came Ricky Watters then Shaun Alexander.
43. Leonard Weaver, FB
Yet another full back. That's five full backs now. I did not expect to have that many on here. Leonard was a decent full back in the mid to late 2000s.
44. John Harris, CB
I don't remember John playing (before my time), but he's third in Seahawks history in career interceptions. That's good enough for me.
45. Kenny Easley, S
Well, I said earlier Eugene Robinson was probably the best to wear a number in the 40's in Seahawks history. I may have been wrong. I know it's been debated for a while who was the better safety. Let's just say they were both excellent safeties.
46. David Hughes, RB/FB
David Hughes, like Dan Doornink and David Sims (huh all "D" names) was another one of those running back/full back hybrids the Seahawks employed in the 80s. He had literally no competition.
47. Sherman Smith, RB
No contest. Sherman is 8th on the team in rushing yards.
48. Mike Morgan, LB
He mainly wore another number, but there's literally no one else. I do remember Morgan being a good player on special teams.
49. Clint Gresham, LS
Well this team needs a long snapper, doesn't it? And who better than the long snapper that was on two of our Super Bowl teams? Hopefully Shaquem Griffin will be with us long enough to give Clint a run for his money, or just beat him outright.
50. KJ Wright, LB
No question. Finally into the 50's and we should be seeing some decent players here (mostly linebackers).
51. Lofa Tatupu, LB
There's Lofa, there's Anthony Simmons, and there's Bruce Irvin. But Lofa was a star in the making in the early 2000s, until injuries and age ended his career. Everyone seemed to have a Lofa Tatupu jersey back then.
52. Kevin Mawae, C
We got our first offensive lineman! And Kevin just recently got into the pro football Hall of Fame. He didn't play for us too long, but long enough in the mid 90s.
53. Keith Butler, LB
Keith was a pretty good linebacker in the late 80s/early 90s, or so I'm told. He's now the Steeler's Defensive Coordinator. I have to give a shoutout however to Malcolm Smith, the only Super Bowl MVP winner in Seahawks history.
54. Bobby Wagner, LB
No question whatsoever. Bobby's not only the best #54 in team history, he might be the best linebacker in team history.
55. Michael Jackson, LB
This guy Beat It by edging out everyone else. Sure was a Thriller. Remember the time he played? Ok, I'm done with the MJ puns. There was also Frank Clark, and had he stayed a Seahawk a few more years he would've had it. Oh well.
56. Leroy Hill, LB
I know most people may want Cliff Avril here, but I liked Leroy. He had a better PV score and was a borderline Pro Bowler.
57. Tony Woods, DE/LB
I don't remember him, but he's 8th on the all time team list for career tackles. That's worth something.
58. Bruce Scholtz, LB
He played 7 years for us at linebacker in the 80s. That's all I have on him. There's not much else. Isaiah Kacyvenski, anyone?
59. Blair Bush, C
Blair was our center in the mid to late 80s, from what I see. Don't know how good he was. But who else am I going to choose here? Aaron Curry? Maybe Julian Peterson, but he had the bulk of his success with the 49ers.
60. Max Unger, C
Max was our center on the 2013/14 Super Bowl Teams, and he was a thumpin' good one. It's a shame we traded him away for a washed up tight end in Jimmy Graham.
61. Robbie Tobeck, C
Three straight centers! And the debate is, who is the best center in team history? I'd say this guy, Robbie Tobeck. He was an integral part of that offensive line that paved the way for Shaun Alexander.
62. Chris Gray, G
I never though of Chris Gray as a world class guard but he was with us for quite a while, from 1998-2007. He anchored that line along with Robbie. Pretty sure at least two of the others on that line will be here.
63. Nick Bebout, T
Never heard of him. He was a tackle with us for four years in the late 70s. But he's better than anyone else with this number.
64. JR Sweezy, G
Now I'll be honest, a tackle named Ron Essink had a better PV score than JR, but JR helped us get to a Super Bowl. And he played more recently, which helps.
65. Edwin Bailey, G
I honestly though this would be Chris Spencer, but he was the runner up. Edwin Bailey, meanwhile, was a guard for us for ELEVEN seasons. That counts for something.
66. Pete Kendall, G
Pete was a decent guard for us in the late 90s. He played for other teams more than us but he still played here five years.
67. Paul McQuistan, G
Wow, I can't remember the last time I had thought about Paul McQuistan. He was on our Super Bowl winning team and had the best PV score for this number. Beats out Rob Sims.
68. Justin Britt, G/C
Somehow, slowly, Justin Britt is climbing up the ladder of PV score for offensive lineman. I mean, he's already passed Chris Spencer and has almost caught Robbie Tobeck. Won't be long before he enters the conversation of best centers in team history.
69. Floyd Wedderburn, T
I barely remember big Floyd but I remember Mike Holmgren plugging him anywhere on the offensive line he needed to. There was also Clinton McDonald, but Floyd beat him in PV score.
70. Michael Sinclair, DE
Right when I started watching the Seahawks as a kid Michael Sinclair was always their leading sacker, getting sack totals in the teens. He's second in team history in career sacks. Easily takes this.
71. Walter Jones, T
So if the Hawks retired the number for you, there is ABSOLUTELY NO question in regards to this. Walt is just our best offensive lineman... ever. For years we never had to worry about our left tackle spot. Big Walt!
72. Joe Nash, DT
With respect to Michael Bennett, Joe Nash takes this. Joe has more sacks as a Seahawk than Michael Bennett, surprisingly.
73. Ray Roberts, T
Ray was our starting left tackle in the early 90s and that's all I know.
74. Manu Tuiasosopo, DT
Manu, father to Marques (formerly of the Huskies) and Matt (formerly of the Mariners) was a decent nose tackle in the early 80s for us.
75. Howard Ballard, T
Howard beats out Sean Locklear for this spot. Sean did help us to Super Bowl XL and was a part of that line for Shaun Alexander, but Howard Ballard had a better score in the same amount of years.
76. Steve Hutchinson, G
Here's a shocker. Hutch does not have the best PV score at this uniform number. That distinction belongs to Steve August, a tackle from the late 70s/early 80s. Steve August beats Steve Hutchinson 53 to 52. But August wasn't on a Super Bowl team and didn't pave the way for an MVP.
78. Jeff Bryant, DE/DT
Jeff Bryant was a tremendous D Lineman in the 80s. He's 3rd in team history in sacks. He beats out Floyd "Porkchop" Womack.
79. Jacob Green, DE
The guy first in sacks in team history has to be on here. So he is. There's been some talk of the Hawks retiring this number in his honor, but it hasn't happened. His son-in-law, Red Bryant, was next best.
80. Steve Largent, WR
NO... QUESTION. I mean Jerry Rice DID wear #80 in 2004... nah just kidding. And they're the only two players to wear it in team history.
81. Koren Robinson, WR
This was a tough one. I wanted to go with Golden Tate, who was runner up, but his PV score was a bit lower than Koren Robinson's. And Koren wore another number for a year.
82. Darrell Jackson, WR
No contest here. Darrell Jackson was one of our best receivers, if not the best, of the 2000s.
83. Deion Branch, WR
Yeah I know, but we haven't had a really great receiver wear this number. Steve Raible wore #83 but he's most known as the voice of the Hawks.
84. Joey Galloway, WR
I know, Bobby Engram... but Joey was a more explosive receiver and at times carried our offense in the 90s. Bobby was a VERY close 2nd.
85. Mike Pritchard, WR
I vaguely VAGUELY remember this guy. More the name than anything. He had a few solid seasons for us in the late 90s. Really not much competition at this number.
86. Jerramy Stevens, TE
At the position, we have four solid tight ends in Seahawks history: Stevens, Christian Fauria, Zach Miller, and Mike Tice. Jerramy has the slight SLIGHT edge numbers wise and PV score wise. It was so close.
87. Ben Obomanu, WR
Ben was a solid and underrated WR in his time here in Seattle. Ben had a longer stay than our runner up for this number, tight end Charle Young.
88. Jimmy Graham, TE
It didn't take much for Jimmy to get this, did it? This, like #87, is primarily a number for tight ends. There was also Itula Mili, but he wasn't as good. Will Dissly has the number now; hopefully he can claim this as his number some day.
89. Brian Blades, WR
Boy this was a tough one. Doug Baldwin is a close 2nd. Brian played longer for us and got more yards and receptions. Had he played in today's higher scoring era he'd have more TD's. Doug almost very nearly took it from Brian Blades. But BB had a very good career here; most consider him the 2nd best WR in team history.
90. Terry Wooden, LB
I don't remember Terry, but he did have four seasons of over 100 tackles. He beats out current Seahawk Jarran Reed. Reed may take this title from Terry some day but he'll need a few more productive years.
91. Chris Clemons, DE
This wasn't too much of a contest. Chris helped our rise to NFC prominence and helped us win our first Super Bowl. He's also 8th on the team all-time sack list. Next closest to Clemons was Chartric "Chuck" Darby.
92. Brandon Mebane, DT
Mebane will go down as one of the best defensive tackles in team history. But not THE best. That guy's a bit later. Mebane was also a part of our Super Bowl runs. Next closest was Dave Wyman, now a Q13 FOX analyst for Seahawks games.
93. John Randle, DT
This was a very close one. It was either Randle or Phillip Daniels. Both played most of their careers elsewhere. But Randle edges out Daniels just barely.
94. Chad Brown, LB
Chad wins this easily. He was a very good linebacker for us in the late 90s and early 2000s. I just remember him being good at everything.
95. Dean Wells, LB
Dean Wells was a linebacker in the 90s I don't really remember. But he had the best PV score by a fair margin. LJ Collier has the number now; hopefully he can be here someday.
96. Cortez Kennedy, DT
The third on here to have his number retired. It's amazing how wide the disparity was between him and 2nd. Tez's PV score was TWENTY FIVE TIMES greater than 2nd place, which was Grant Wistrom. RIP Tez.
97. Rufus Porter, LB
The name Rufus Porter does ring a bell with me. He was a very solid linebacker in the late 80s and early 90s by gauging his stats. Next closest was Patrick Kerney.
98. Sam Adams, DT
Sam I Am was a very good nose tackle for us in the 90s. We had some players then, just couldn't put it all together.
99. Rocky Bernard, DT
And we conclude with Rocky Bernard, a nose tackle who was on the 2005 Super Bowl team. He was very solid as well. Fun fact about him: In the NFL 2K5 video game the commentators call him by his actual first name "Robert" even though his name on the roster is "Rocky". Also, Cortez Kennedy was the runner up, and he only wore #99 for ONE SEASON. Shows how dominant he was.
Well, there you have it! I'm thinking of doing one for the Mariners as well. This was time consuming! Many thanks to Pro Football Reference and their Player Index Tool to allow me to look up these numbers and stats easily.
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