Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor are also both eligible on the defensive side of the ball.
The modern-era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 were announced on Wednesday, and there are plenty of former Seattle Seahawks on the list.
Headlining the first-time nominees are Marshawn Lynch and Earl Thomas, neither of whom has played in the NFL since 2019.
Lynch began his career with the Buffalo Bills and was a Pro Bowl running back with them, but his massive success and iconic plays with the Seahawks made him a household name. Lynch is one of just 31 running backs to eclipse 10,000 yards, and more than half are either in the Hall of Fame or, in the cases of Frank Gore and Adrian Peterson, are virtual locks for inclusion when they’re eligible.
Thomas was the first member of the famed Legion of Boom secondary, having been drafted by Pete Carroll and John Schneider with the No. 14 overall pick back in 2010. It shouldn’t be lost on anyone that this was the Denver Broncos’ first-rounder from a previous trade, so thanks again to the Broncos for their business! Earl was a phenomenal free safety with elite ball skills and ridiculous range, earning seven Pro Bowl selections and five All-Pro nominations. Gruesome injuries and a highly publicized contract dispute ended his Seahawks career on a sour note, and his career ended disastrously with the Baltimore Ravens before the start of the 2020 season. Thomas’ post-career off the field issues have been well documented, almost exclusively for negative reasons.
Without being cheeky regarding “Seahawks legends” who were only with the team after they were clearly past their primes, here are all of the Class of 2025 nominees. Their years with the Seahawks are in parentheses.
Seahawks nominees
RB Shaun Alexander (2000-2007)
RB Marshawn Lynch (2010-2015, 2019)
RB Ricky Watters (1998-2001)
RB Chris Warren (1990-1997)
S Earl Thomas (2010-2018)
S Kam Chancellor (2010-2017)
S Eugene Robinson (1985-1995)
LB Julian Peterson (2006-2008)
K John Kasay (1991-1994)
P Jeff Feagles (1998-2002)
Honorable mention to former Minnesota Vikings star and one-year Seahawks defensive tackle Kevin Williams (2014). I guess we should shout out former New Orleans Saints guard Jahri Evans, who was on Seattle’s preseason squad in 2016 and let go because he was an actual good lineman and that made him overqualified for the job.
Of the 167 modern-era nominees, a total of 20 finalists will be presented to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee during its annual selection meeting.