The 1978 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's third season in the National Football League (NFL). The Seahawks won nine games, giving the franchise its first winning season. Head coach Jack Patera won NFL Coach of the Year and general manager John Thompson was named NFL Executive of the Year at seasons end.
Led by the third ranked offense, the team had some achievements. David Sims led the AFC in total touchdowns – 15, including 14 rushing – and the team had 28 rushing touchdowns, number two in the league. Steve Largent made his first Pro Bowl with 71 receptions and 8 touchdowns. Quarterback Jim Zorn earned his sole All-Pro honor of his career by making the second team. This would be the only All-Pro by a Seahawks quarterback until Russell Wilson was selected in 2019. The defense, however, lagged far behind ranking 26th.
Season highlights included defeating the Oakland Raiders twice and a last-second win over the Minnesota Vikings. Also a memorable game was a 20–17 loss in overtime to the Denver Broncos. Following an interception of a Jim Zorn pass off of a deflection, in overtime, the Broncos drove to the 1 yard line, but could not punch it in for a touchdown. Jim Turner missed an 18-yard field goal attempt, but the Seahawks were penalized for having 12 men on the field and the Broncos made the second kick. A 37–10 defeat in San Diego in week 15 eliminated the Seahawks from playoff contention, but a 23–19 win at home against Kansas City gave the team their first winning season.
Offseason Draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1978 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeJerome CarterCornerbackDelaware StateJon ClemonsGuardArkansas TechRufus CrawfordRunning backVirginia StateGene DalesLinebackerOregon StateTim EberleLinebackerCanisiusRickey EllisWide receiverCal State FullertonSteve FeferDefensive tackleTexas A&ILance GarrettWide receiverSouth CarolinaElton GrossTight endGuilfordMarcus HatleyTight endTulsaKerry JustinCornerbackOregon StateTrever KennerdKickerNorthern AlbertaMike KorvasPunterWeber StateRob LoweKicker/PunterIdahoBill McCaddenSafetyCal PolySteve MidboeDefensive endMinnesotaChris MooreDefensive endVirginia StateMike O'BrienSafetyCaliforniaTim OchsGuardWashington StateScott PalmerQuarterbackAndersonBrian PeetsTight endPacificJeff SaltaFullbackPortland StateRich SorensonKickerChico StateMark SteflDefensive endLong Beach StateFrank StephensSafetyUCLAHoward StuddardWide receiverUSCSkip TaylorRunning backOklahoma StateJeff TisdelQuarterbackNevadaBruce TimmierQuarterbackTrinityJoe VolinskyDefensive endPenn State
Personnel
Staff
Final roster
Starters in bold. (*) Denotes players that were selected for the 1979 Pro Bowl.
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Recap 1 San Diego Chargers W 17–9 1–0 Kingdome Recap 2 at San Francisco 49ers W 20–6 2–0 Candlestick Park Recap 3 Los Angeles Rams L 7–26 2–1 Kingdome Recap 4 Chicago Bears W 16–7 3–1 Kingdome Recap
Source: Seahawks Media Guides1978 Seahawks Media Guide, accessed February 14, 2015.1979 Seahawks Media Guide, accessed February 14, 2015.
Regular season With the start of a 16-game season, inter-conference play began a rotating schedule. Divisional matchups had the AFC West playing the NFC Central.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Recap 1 September 3 San Diego Chargers L 20–24 0–1 Kingdome Recap 2 September 10 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–21 0–2 Three Rivers Stadium Recap 3 September 17 at New York Jets W 24–17 1–2 Shea Stadium Recap 4 September 24 Detroit Lions W 28–16 2–2 Kingdome Recap 5 October 1 at Denver Broncos L 7–28 2–3 Mile High Stadium Recap 6 October 8 Minnesota Vikings W 29–28 3–3 Kingdome Recap 7 October 15 at Green Bay Packers L 28–45 3–4 Milwaukee County Stadium Recap 8 October 22 Oakland Raiders W 27–7 4–4 Kingdome Recap 9 October 29 Denver Broncos L 17–20 4–5 Kingdome Recap 10 November 5 at Chicago Bears W 31–29 5–5 Soldier Field Recap 11 November 12 Baltimore Colts L 14–17 5–6 Kingdome Recap 12 November 19 at Kansas City Chiefs W 13–10 6–6 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 13 November 26 at Oakland Raiders W 17–16 7–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 14 December 3 Cleveland Browns W 47–24 8–6 Kingdome Recap 15 December 10 at San Diego Chargers L 10–37 8–7 San Diego Stadium Recap 16 December 17 Kansas City Chiefs W 23–19 9–7 Kingdome Recap
Bold indicates division opponents. Source: 1978 NFL season resultsSeattle Seahawks 1978 Schedule1978 NFL season results, NFL.com, accessed February 14, 2015.
Standings
Game summaries
Preseason
Week P1: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week P2: at San Francisco 49ers
Week P3: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week P4: vs. Chicago Bears
Regular season
Week 1: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 2: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 3: at New York Jets
Week 4: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 5: at Denver Broncos
Week 6: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 7: at Green Bay Packers
Week 8: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 9: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 10: at Chicago Bears
Week 11: vs. Baltimore Colts
Week 12: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
Week 14: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 15: at San Diego Chargers
Week 16: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
References
External links
1978 Seattle Seahawks season at ESPN 1978 Seattle Seahawks season at Pro Football Reference (pro-football-reference.com) 1978 Seattle Seahawks Statistics at jt-sw.com 1978 Seattle Seahawks Schedule at jt-sw.com