The Seattle Seahawks recently announced some of their plans for celebrating their 50th season this year. They’re also likely deep into their preparations for the upcoming NFL Draft. What a perfect opportunity to combine them and look at some of the best Seahawks draft picks for each decade of existence!
This week, we’re going all the way back to the 1970s to see which players helped lay the foundation for years to come. Since this is only a partial decade, the criteria may be a bit relaxed for this one.
Let’s get to it!
Dave Brown, CB – 1976 Expansion Draft
Is it fair to include the Expansion Draft?
Well, Dave Brown was so damn good that I had no choice!
Brown, a cornerback, was selected from the Pittsburgh Steelers one year after being selected at No. 26 overall in the 1975 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan. He rewarded the Seahawks by starting 159 games over 11 seasons in Seattle, racking up 50 INTs and five defensive TDs. Brown’s 50 INTs are still the Seahawks franchise record. It’s a crime that he only made 1 Pro Bowl in his career but at least that happened as a member of the Seahawks in 1984.
Sherman Smith, RB – 1976 NFL Draft Round 2, Pick No. 58
Sherman Smith was the leading rusher for Seattle in their inaugural 1976 season and is still among the top 10 for Seahawks career rushing yards with 3,429. He proved during his Seattle career that he wasn’t merely a rushing threat, finishing with 5,771 total yards and 38 TDs. Smith also returned to the team as the running backs coach from 2010-2017, helping Marshawn Lynch unleash Beast Mode on the rest of the NFL.
November 16, 1981#Seahawks Fake Field Goal on MNF
Trick plays on special teams — a #Seattle calling card during the late-’70s and early-’80s
Here, placekicker Efren Herrera acts as a pitchout decoy while holder Jim Zorn throws a shovel pass to Sherman Smith for a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/ysHzyOzT0P
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) November 17, 2024
Steve Raible, WR – 1976 NFL Draft Round 2, Pick No. 59
With back-to-back picks, the Seahawks selected 2 players who may have had just as much, if not more, impact on the franchise after their playing careers were over – unquestionably so with Steve Raible. While his on-field performance may not have raised the needle, Raible is undoubtedly a franchise icon, as he became part of the Seahawks radio broadcast team in 1982 and is still going strong today as the play-by-play voice. Holy Catfish!!
Keith Butler, LB – 1978 NFL Draft Round 2, Pick No. 36
Butler never made the Pro Bowl or All-Pro teams but he was a model of consistency in Seattle playing in 146 games from 1978 to 1987. His 813 total tackles were the franchise record when he retired, and he still ranks 4th in franchise history. He was most recently the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinators, having won two Super Bowls with them as linebackers coach.
John Harris, FS – 1978 NFL Draft Round 7, Pick No. 173
John Harris joined Dave Brown (and others) to create one of the most ball-(sea)hawking secondaries ever seen in the NFL. Harris played in 119 games over eight seasons in Seattle, contributing 41 INTs, which ranks 3rd in franchise history. Not bad at all for a seventh-round pick out of Arizona State! Harris never made a Pro Bowl or All-Pro but was a PFWA All-Rookie selection in 1978.
Honorable Mentions
Steve August, OT – 1977 NFL Draft, Round 1, No. 14 pick (spent eight of nine seasons with Seahawks and started 90 games at right tackle)
Keith Simpson, DB – 1978 NFL Draft, Round 1, No. 9 pick (played entire eight-year career with Seahawks and racked up 19 interceptions)
Manu Tuiasosopo, DT – 1979 NFL Draft, Round 1, No. 18 pick (won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers)
Michael Jackson, LB – 1979 NFL Draft, Round 3, No. 57 pick (spent entire eight-year career with Seahawks)
Check back next week for the full rundown of the top Seahawks draft picks from the 1980s, the decade in which Seattle established itself as a playoff team!
