Ranking the Eight Seattle Seahawks Head Coaches

3. Chuck Knox

There are three coaches in Seattle Seahawks history who have made the postseason. Chuck Knox is one of them. In nine seasons with the team, Knox compiled an 80-63 record, winning three of his seven playoff games. He coached Seattle from 1983 until 1991, winning the Coach of the Year award twice and winning an AFC West title in 1988. He turned a mostly moribund franchise into a contender, or at least more than an afterthought.

Knox is fondly remembered by veteran Seahawks fans as “Ground Chuck” for his insistence on running the ball constantly. He is also fondly remembered because he took the Seahawks to their first-ever playoff game. In his first season, 1983, the Seahawks pounded the Denver Broncos 31-7 in the Wild Card round. They then upset the Miami Dolphins at the Orange Bowl 27-20 and headed to their first-ever AFC Championship game. Unfortunately, the dream season of 1983 ended against the Los Angeles Raiders in a 30-14 loss.

Knox was the first coach in Seattle Seahawks history who kept the team consistently competitive throughout his tenure. He coached several other franchises during his long career in the NFL, finishing with a 186-147-1 record. He was inducted into the Seahawks’ Ring of Honor in 2005 and comes under consideration for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame every year.

Knox was the first consistently successful coach in franchise history and laid the groundwork for the success of future teams. Up next is the man who took the Seahawks to their first-ever Super Bowl and started a run of divisional dominance that would characterize the team for the ensuing decade.

Next: 2. The Walrus