Back in 2014, the Seahawks dominated Peyton Manning and the Broncos 43-8 to claim a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. This past season, Seattle fell to the Dallas Cowboys 24-22 in the Wild Card round. The roster has changed drastically over the past five seasons, with only seven players from the Super Bowl-winning squad remaining on the team this past year. Let’s compare both rosters.
* = on team both years
Quarterbacks
2013-14: Tarvaris Jackson, Russell Wilson*
2018-19: Brett Hundley, Russell Wilson*
Similar depth at the quarterback position in both season, as they only carried two quarterbacks. Wilson started Super Bowl 48 and remains Seattle’s starter to this day.
Running Backs
2013-14: Derrick Coleman, Marshawn Lynch, Christine Michael, Robert Turbin, Spencer Ware
2018-19: Chris Carson, Mike Davis, J.D. McKissic, Rashaad Penny, C.J. Prosise, Bo Scarbrough
Marshawn Lynch was one of the most forceful running backs in the NFL when he was on the Seahawks. He retired, then returned to the league and signed with the Raiders. He hasn’t been as much of a force in Oakland, and Seattle has yet to find another back of his caliber. Penny was their first-round draft pick this past season, with the hope of him turning into an every-down running back; however, Chris Carson had the more productive year for the team.
Fullbacks
2013-14: Michael Robinson
2018-19: Tre Madden
Robinson, a fullback for the 49ers and Seahawks over the course of his career, made the Super Bowl the last game of his career and retired after it. Madden was brought onto the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2016.
Wide Receivers
2013-14: Doug Baldwin*, Percy Harvin, Jermaine Kearse, Ricardo Lockette, Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Bryan Walters
2018-19: Doug Baldwin*, Jaron Brown, Amara Darboh, Tyler Lockett, David Moore
Despite the team having more depth at the position back in the 2013-14 season, the skillsets of their receivers are similar. Doug Baldwin, part of the team for both years, has been Wilson’s top receiver throughout the years. Percy Harvin, a veteran in 2013, was the team’s speedster receiver and talented kick returner. Young Tyler Lockett functions similarly now.
Tight Ends
2013-14: Kellen Davis, Anthony McCoy, Zach Miller, Luke Willson
2018-19: Ed Dickson, Will Dissly, Nick Vannett
No tight ends on the team this past season were on the team for Super Bowl XLVII. Kellen Davis and Anthony McCoy are both out of the NFL now, while Zach Miller is playing for the Bears and Luke Willson is with the Detroit Lions.
Offensive Linemen
2013-14: Alvin Bailey, Michael Bowie, James Carpenter, Caylin Hauptmann, Breno Giacomini, Lemuel Jeanpierre, Paul McQuistan, Russell Okung, J.R. Sweezy*, Max Unger
2018-19: Justin Britt, Duane Brown, George Fant, D.J. Fluker, Joey Hunt, Germain Ifedi, Jamarco Jones, Elijah Nkansah, Ethan Pocic, Jordan Simmons, J.R. Sweezy*
Guard J.R. Sweezy has been a Seahawk for both seasons. As a seventh-round selection of Seattle back in 2012, he stayed on the team until 2015. He joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a brief stint and eventually returned to Seattle this past season. Otherwise, the offensive line has been a revolving door and a position of weakness for years in Seattle.
Defensive Ends
2013-14: Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Kenneth Boatwright, Red Bryant, Chris Clemons, Bruce Irvin, Benson Mayowa, Greg Scruggs
2018-19: Ricky Ali’ifua, Frank Clark, Rasheem Green, Branden Jackson, Dion Jordan, Jacob Martin
The three top defensive ends for Seattle back in the 2013-14 season were Avril, Bennett, and Irvin. Avril retired in 2017, Bennett joined the Philadelphia Eagles last offseason, and Irvin became a member of the Atlanta Falcons mid-season this year.
Defensive Tackles
2013-14: Jordan Hill, Tony McDaniel, Clinton McDonald, Brandon Mebane, Jesse Williams
2018-19: Poona Ford, Quinton Jefferson, Nazair Jones, Jarran Reed, Shamar Stephen
A group of veterans led the Seahawks defensive tackle corps back when they won the Super Bowl. However, it is now led by a group of young, talented defensive tackles.
Linebackers
2013-14: Heath Farwell, Mike Morgan, O’Brien Schofield, Malcolm Smith, Bobby Wagner*, K.J. Wright*
2018-19: Emmanuel Beal, Austin Calitro, Emmanuel Ellerbee, Shaquem Griffin, Mychal Kendricks, Barkevious Mingo, Bobby Wagner*, K.J. Wright*
Wagner and Wright have been the lead linebackers for Seattle for many seasons, and therefore it is no surprise to see that they were members of the team for both seasons.
Cornerbacks
2013-14: Brandon Browner, Chandler Fenner, Jeremy Lane, Byron Maxwell, DeShawn Shead, Richard Sherman, Tharold Simon, Walter Thurmond
2018-19: Justin Coleman, Tre Flowers, Shaquille Griffin, Akeem King, Kalan Reed, Neiko Thorpe
The Seahawks cornerbacks group were outstanding and among the best in the league back in the 2013-14 season. An important deflection by Richard Sherman in the NFC Championship that year led to an interception by linebacker Malcolm Smith. He was released by Seattle last offseason and eventually signed with San Francisco. Seattle’s cornerbacks are no longer dominating the NFL, and are now gaining experience and improving.
Safeties
2013-14: Kam Chancellor*, Jeron Johnson, Chris Maragos, Earl Thomas III*
2018-19: Maurice Alexander, Kam Chancellor*, Delano Hill, Shalom Luani, Bradley McDougald, T.J. Mutcherson, Earl Thomas III*, Tedric Thompson
Chancellor and Thomas were two other dominant pieces of Seattle’s defense back in 2013. Chancellor suffered a neck injury in 2017 and is no longer playing, while Thomas is expected to leave the Seahawks in free agency this year.
Kickers
2013-14: Steven Hauschka
2018-19: Sebastian Janikowski
Veteran Steven Hauschka now kicks for the Buffalo Bills, and the 40-year-old Janikowski, a free agent this offseason, has an uncertain future in Seattle.
Punters
2013-14: Jon Ryan
2018-19: Michael Dickson
Jon Ryan retired last offseason after playing his final year with the Bills. Dickson was drafted in the fifth-round this past season and was selected to go to the Pro Bowl after a great rookie year.
Long Snappers
2013-14: Clint Gresham
2018-19: Tyler Ott
Harvard product Tyler Ott has been a member of five teams in the NFL since 2014 and has been long snapping for Seattle since 2016.
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