The Seattle Seahawks are arguably under-represented in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yes, legends such as Steve Largent, Walter Jones, Kenny Easley and Cortez Kennedy have been given their due respect, but I have been banging the drum for years that Shaun Alexander belongs in Canton.
Of course, a football team’s success isn’t just measured by those who take the field. The men who stand on the sidelines are just as important as well. On Thursday, it was announced two former Seahawks head coaches – Mike Holmgren and Chuck Knox – were among the semi-finalists for coaches to be inducted in the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.
Nine coaches were named today as semi-finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025:
🏈Bill Arnsparger
🏈Tom Coughlin
🏈Mike Holmgren
🏈Chuck Knox
🏈Dan Reeves
🏈Marty Schottenheimer
🏈George Seifert
🏈Mike Shanahan
🏈Clark Shaughnessy— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2024
Both men were instrumental in developing the Seahawks franchise and taking them to heights they’d never been before prior to their hirings. Chuck Knox began his career in Seattle in 1983, which was the first time the Seahawks had qualified for the playoffs. Not only did they earn a postseason berth, they won their first playoff game under him and even made it all the way to the AFC Championship. Seattle went to the playoffs four times under Knox, finishing with a record of 3-4. Until 2005, those were the only three playoff wins in Seahawks history.
Every great Seattle team has been defined by their ability to run the ball at an elite level, and it started with Knox. His commitment to the run earned him the nickname “Ground Chuck.” Knox finished his Seahawks career with a record of 80-63, and to this day is still the only coach to have won the illustrious “Coach of the Year” award, which he took home in 1984.
It’s no secret the Seahawks floundered for many years in the 1990’s, and did not find much stability until they hired the next coach on our list, Mike Holmgren. After a highly successful run in Green Bay, where he helped the Packers win Super Bowl XXXI, Holmgren became the first head coach owner Paul G. Allen ever hired. The decision immediately proved to be a great one, as he broke Seattle’s playoff drought during his first season in 1999.
Holmgren’s best years in the Pacific Northwest took place in the mid-2000’s when he took Seattle to their first Super Bowl appearance in the 2005 season – which ended unceremoniously in the highly controversial Super Bowl XL. Holmgren also continuously endears himself to the 12th Man by routinely reminding them they should have two Super Bowl banners at Lumen Field.
But the trip to the Super Bowl wasn’t the only success Seattle had during this stretch. From 2003-2007, the Seahawks had five-consecutive playoff appearances and four-consecutive division titles under Holmgren. Even under Pete Carroll, Seattle never took home four-straight NFC West crowns, nor did they ever exceed five-straight playoff appearances. Overall, Holmgren finished his tenure in the Emerald City with a 90-80 combined record.
Chuck Knox and Mike Holmgren are two of the best coaches in league history, not just with Seattle. Knox took three different teams to the playoffs (Rams, Seahawks and Bills), and won coach of the year three times total, one with each squad. At the time of his retirement, his 186 wins were sixth-all time and is still good enough for 10th currently. Including the playoffs, his win total was 193 games.
As for Holmgren, he is one of only seven head coaches to take two different organizations to the Super Bowl. He was also the first coach in NFL history to win at least 75 games with two different franchises, which helped contribute to his lofty 161-111 all-time record as well. Including the playoffs, Holmgren had 174 total wins.
To say these men are overdue to be enshrined in Canton is the understatement of the season.
