A handful of Seahawks Legends are part of the 128 modern-era players eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026. Last year, Earl Thomas, who was in his first year of eligibility, and Ricky Watters were named semifinalists for the Hall of Fame. It was Watters’ fifth time making it to the semifinalist stage of the selection process.
Another Seahawks Legend who is eligible again this year is Marshawn Lynch. He was in his first year of eligibility last year, but did not advance past the final 50.
More Seahawks Legends eligible in 2026 are safety Kam Chancellor, running back Shaun Alexander, tight end Zach Miller, kicker John Kasay, receiver Brandon Marshall, tight end Greg Olsen and defensive tackle Kevin Williams.
Thomas, Lynch, Chancellor and Alexander were all named as Top 50 Players this year in honor of the Seahawks’ 50th season. The four Seahawks Legends along with other Top 50 Players will be honored at a game in October.
Lynch rushed for 10,413 yards and 85 touchdowns in his career and was named first team All-Pro in 2012 and was a second-teamer in 2014. He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2013 with 12, and in 2014 with 13. A premier NFL running back in the 2010s, Lynch was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team and he was a Pro Bowler every year from 2011 to 2014.
Thomas was an integral part of the Legion of Boom defense, and he finished his Seahawks tenure with 664 tackles, 67 passes defensed, 28 interceptions and 11 forced fumbles. His dominance throughout the 2010s was recognized as he was named a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s. After being named a Pro Bowler in his only season in Baltimore, Thomas retired from the NFL following the 2019 season.
Chancellor thrived in Seattle with the Legion of Boom defense, setting the tone with his intimidating, physical play. The author of some of the most memorable hits in franchise history, Chancellor was the alpha in a locker room full of them, and one of the few players who Pete Carroll said ever maxed out on the “competitor scale” he and John Schneider used to help evaluate players.
“There’s great players, then there’s guys who tip the field through their presence,” said former News Tribune Seahawks beat reporter Mike Sando, who is now an NFL senior writer for The Athletic. “They have a presence that’s different than just being excellent at their position, and Kam Chancellor was one of those guys… To be 6-4, 220, to be the leader that he was, the voice that he was where you were kind of afraid of him, short list of players like that.”
Alexander is the only player to win NFL MVP honors in franchise history. He was a three-time Pro-Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro who rewrote the franchise record books during his eight seasons in Seattle. He rushed for 9,429 yards while scoring 112 total touchdowns. He also holds the franchise records for rushing yards in a season (1,880), rushing yards game (266) touchdowns in a season (28), touchdowns in a game (5), 100-yard games (37), 1,000-rushing yards seasons (5), career carries (2,176), and single season carries (370).
The list of modern-era eligible players will be reduced to 15 finalists later this year and then the 2026 Hall of Fame class will be announced ahead of Super Bowl LX in February.
