The 1979 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's fourth season in the National Football League (NFL). The Seahawks had a winning record for the second consecutive year, matching their 9–7 record from 1978.
Starting off the season with a 1–4 record, the Seahawks rallied to finish 9–7. Season highlights included a sweep of the Oakland Raiders for the second straight year, and winning both of their Monday Night Football contests on the road against the Atlanta Falcons and at home against the New York Jets, where Jim Zorn completed 13 passes in a row in a 30–7 victory. The team also enjoyed their first victory over the Denver Broncos 28–23 on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Zorn to Largent in the final minutes.
Season lowlights included a 37–34 loss in Denver, after leading 34–10 midway through the 3rd quarter. The Los Angeles Rams shut out the Seattle Seahawks 24–0, holding the Seahawks to −7 yards total offense, and only one first down. The team lost twice to the Kansas City Chiefs, including a 37–21 defeat in week 14 that eliminated Seattle from playoff contention. The team also lost running back David Sims, who led the AFC in touchdowns in 1978, to a career-ending injury.
The 1979 season was the franchise's last winning season until 1983 when new coach Chuck Knox led the Seahawks to their first playoff berth and Championship game appearance.
Offseason
Draft
Undrafted free agents
Personnel
Staff
1979 Seattle Seahawks staff | | Front office Head coaches Offensive coaches | | | Defensive coaches Special teams coaches Strength and conditioning - Head trainer – Bruce Scott
- Assistant trainer – Jim Whitesel
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Final roster
[1]
- Starters in bold.
- (*) Denotes players that were selected for the 1980 Pro Bowl.
Schedule
Preseason
- Source: Seahawks Media Guides[2][3]
Regular season
Divisional matchups have the AFC West playing the NFC West.
- Bold indicates division opponents.
- Source: 1979 NFL season results[4]
Standings
Game summaries
For the second straight year, the Seahawks missed the playoffs by one game. Season highlights included sweeping the Oakland Raiders for the 2nd straight year, and defeating the Denver Broncos for the 1st time in team history in a comeback thriller 28–23 at the Kingdome, and winning the team's first appearance on MNF over the Atlanta Falcons, 31–28. The team started out 3–5, and had a 6–2 finish. A 37–21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in week 14 knocked them out of playoff contention, but rebounded to end their season repeating 1978 at 9–7.
Preseason
Week P1: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Preseason Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle
Week P2: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Preseason Week Two: Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle
Week P3: at Los Angeles Rams
Preseason Week Three: Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco
Week P4: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Preseason Week Four: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle
Regular season
Week 1: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Diego Chargers – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - SD – Rolf Benirschke 22-yard field goal, 3:41 (SD 16–10)
- SD – Clarence Williams 13-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 0:00 (SD 23–10)
Fourth quarter - SD – Mike Thomas 1-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 5:09 (SD 30–10)
- SD – Rolf Benirschke 23-yard field goal, 1:56 (SD 33–10)
- SEA – Sherman Smith 6-yard run (PAT failed), 0:24 (SD 33–16)
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - SD – 217 – 139 – 356 – 1
- SEA – 153 – 181 – 334 – 6
| |
Week 2: at Miami Dolphins
Week Two: Seattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Orange Bowl, Miami
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - SEA – Steve Raible 23-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 9:26 (SEA 10–9)
- MIA – Uwe von Schamann 31-yard field goal, 1:00 (MIA 12–9)
Fourth quarter - MIA – Norm Bulaich 7-yard pass from Bob Griese (Uwe von Schamann kick), 9:08 (MIA 19–10)
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers - SEA – Sherman Smith: 7 rec, 80 yds
- MIA – Duriel Harris: 5 rec, 117 yds
Team – – – – - SEA – 226 – 119 – 345 – 4
- MIA – 198 – 117 – 315 – 2
| |
Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week Three: Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - SEA – Efrén Herrera 46-yard field goal, 6:50 (SEA 10–0)
Third quarter - OAK – Rich Martini 12-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Jim Breech kick), 10:41 (SEA 10–7)
- SEA – Efrén Herrera 20-yard field goal, 6:37 (SEA 13–7)
- SEA – Steve Largent 21-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 6:15 (SEA 20–7)
Fourth quarter - OAK – Jim Breech 37-yard field goal, 13:05 (SEA 20–10)
- SEA – Sherman Smith 7-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 0:00 (SEA 27–10)
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - OAK – 329 – 102 – 431 – 4
- SEA – 316 – 103 – 419 – 0
| |
Week 4: at Denver Broncos
Week Four: Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – Game summary
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
- Date: September 23
- Game time: 2:00 pm local
- Game weather: clear, 81 °F (27 °C), 16% humidity, wind SW 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
- Game attendance: 74,879
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Mike Haffner
- Gamebook
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - DEN – Jim Turner 27-yard field goal, 12:43 (SEA 10–3)
- SEA – Dan Doornink 5-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 8:09 (SEA 17–3)
- DEN – Otis Armstrong 2-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 7:34 (SEA 17–10)
- SEA – Efrén Herrera 22-yard field goal, 0:38 (SEA 20–10)
Third quarter - SEA – Sam McCullum 13-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:08 (SEA 27–10)
- SEA – Sherman Smith 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 9:28 (SEA 34–10)
- DEN – Dave Studdard 9-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 4:59 (SEA 34–17)
- DEN – Haven Moses 11-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 3:48 (SEA 34–24)
- DEN – Rick Upchurch 35-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 2:25 (SEA 34–31)
Fourth quarter | Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - SEA – 197 – 153 – 350 – 4
- DEN – 254 – 90 – 344 – 3
| |
Week 5: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week Five: Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter - KC – Mike Williams 3-yard pass from Steve Fuller (Jan Stenerud kick), 9:03 (KC 17–6)
- KC – Ted McKnight 84-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:27 (KC 24–6)
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - KC – 15 – 215 – 230 – 1
- SEA – 178 – 134 – 312 – 2
| |
Week 6: at San Francisco 49ers
Week Six: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco
- Date: October 7
- Game time: 1:02 pm local
- Game weather: cloudy, 61 °F (16 °C), 77% humidity, wind variable
- Game attendance: 44,592
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Mike Haffner
- Gamebook
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - SEA – Sherman Smith 7-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 2:46 (SEA 21–7)
- SF – Ray Wersching 25-yard field goal, 0:00 (SEA 21–10)
Third quarter Fourth quarter | Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - SEA – 162 – 148 – 310 – 0
- SF – 292 – 172 – 464 – 2
| |
Week 7: at San Diego Chargers
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - SD – John Jefferson 9-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Roy Gerela kick), 3:11 (SD 14–3)
Fourth quarter - SEA – Sherman Smith 8-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 14:13 (SD 14–10)
- SD – John Jefferson 49-yard pass from Dan Fouts (PAT failed), 4:34 (SD 20–10)
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - SEA – 147 – 133 – 280 – 1
- SD – 295 – 96 – 391 – 0
| |
Week 8: vs. Houston Oilers
Week Eight: Seattle Seahawks vs. Houston Oilers – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle
- Date: October 21
- Game time: 1:01 pm local
- Game weather: indoors
- Game attendance: 60,705
- Referee: Jerry Seeman
- TV announcers (NBC): Merle Harmon and George Kunz
- Gamebook
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - SEA – Efrén Herrera 48-yard field goal, 9:24 (SEA 17–7)
- SEA – Efrén Herrera 30-yard field goal, 4:23 (SEA 20–7)
Fourth quarter - SEA – Steve Largent 55-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 14:50 (SEA 27–7)
- SEA – Cornell Webster 54-yard fumble return (Efrén Herrera kick), 12:58 (SEA 34–7)
- HOU – Ronnie Coleman 9-yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick), 2:48 (SEA 34–14)
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - HOU – 160 – 83 – 243 – 3
- SEA – 240 – 151 – 391 – 2
| |
Week 9: at Atlanta Falcons
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter Third quarter - SEA – Efrén Herrera 24-yard field goal, 8:14 (SEA 24–14)
Fourth quarter - ATL – Billy Ryckman 17-yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Tim Mazzetti kick), 10:03 (SEA 24–21)
- SEA – Dan Doornink 26-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:54 (SEA 31–21)
- ATL – Billy Ryckman 20-yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Tim Mazzetti kick), 0:51 (SEA 31–28)
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - SEA – 206 – 205 – 411 – 4
- ATL – 162 – 153 – 315 – 2
| |
Week 10: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week Ten: Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - LA – Drew Hill 17-yard pass from Pat Haden (Frank Corral kick), 8:02 (LA 21–0)
Third quarter - LA – Frank Corral 23-yard field goal, 1:12 (LA 24–0)
Fourth quarter | Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - LA – 172 – 303 – 475 – 1
- SEA – -30 – 23 – -7 – 1
| |
With -7 total yards and just one first down, this is the fewest yards the Seahawks have ever gained in one match. It is the most recent – and only since 1970 – occasion when an NFL team has gained just one first down for an entire match,[5] although the Denver Broncos did not gain a single first down in a 1966 game with the Houston Oilers.
Week 11: at Cleveland Browns
Week Eleven: Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
at Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: November 11
- Game time: 1:00 pm local
- Game weather: overcast, 35 °F (2 °C), 64% humidity, wind NW 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
- Game attendance: 72,440
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Merle Harmon and George Kunz
- Gamebook
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - SEA – Sherman Smith 2-yard run (PAT failed), 13:57 (SEA 13–0)
- SEA – Efrén Herrera 34-yard field goal, 9:07 (SEA 16–0)
- CLE – Don Cockroft 28-yard field goal, 4:14 (SEA 16–3)
Third quarter - CLE – Mike Pruitt 65-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 14:38 (SEA 16–10)
- CLE – Mike Pruitt 1-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 4:28 (CLE 17–10)
Fourth quarter - SEA – Al Hunter 5-yard run (PAT failed), 14:32 (SEA 22–17)
- SEA – Sherman Smith 2-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 9:29 (SEA 29–17)
- CLE – Brian Sipe 3-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 7:41 (SEA 29–24)
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - SEA – 238 – 189 – 427 – 1
- CLE – 158 – 215 – 373 – 3
| |
Week 12: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week Twelve: Seattle Seahawks vs. New Orleans Saints – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle
- Date: November 18
- Game time: 1:01 pm local
- Game weather: indoors
- Game attendance: 60,055
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen
- Gamebook
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - SEA – Efrén Herrera 27-yard field goal, 14:57 (SEA 10–7)
- SEA – Steve Largent 39-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 14:18 (SEA 17–7)
- NO – Wes Chandler 4-yard pass from Archie Manning (Garo Yepremian kick), 9:58 (SEA 17–14)
- SEA – Dan Doornink 2-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 5:24 (SEA 24–14)
Third quarter - NO – Garo Yepremian 40-yard field goal, 9:57 (SEA 24–17)
Fourth quarter - NO – Chuck Muncie 1-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick), 8:25 (Tied 24–24)
- SEA – Steve Largent 35-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 6:16 (SEA 31–24)
- SEA – Brian Peets 5-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:06 (SEA 38–24)
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - NO – 286 – 134 – 420 – 1
- SEA – 391 – 130 – 521 – 1
| |
Week 13: vs. New York Jets
Week Thirteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Jets – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - SEA – Efrén Herrera 42-yard field goal, 8:25 (SEA 6–0)
- SEA – Steve Largent 14-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 6:03 (SEA 13–0)
- SEA – Efrén Herrera 45-yard field goal, 0:00 (SEA 16–0)
Third quarter - SEA – Sherman Smith 16-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:20 (SEA 23–0)
- NYJ – Kevin Long 5-yard run (Dave Jacobs kick), 6:49 (SEA 23–7)
- SEA – Sam McCullum 11-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:58 (SEA 30–7)
Fourth quarter | Top passers Top rushers Top receivers - NYJ – Jerome Barkum: 6 rec, 103 yds
- SEA – Sherman Smith: 8 rec, 86 yds, 1 TD
Team – – – – - NYJ – 226 – 139 – 365 – 2
- SEA – 313 – 86 – 399 – 1
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Week 14: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week Fourteen: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 2
- Game time: 1:05 pm local
- Game weather: clear, 32 °F (0 °C), 40% humidity, wind S 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
- Game attendance: 42,160
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Paul Maguire
- Gamebook
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - KC – Earl Gant 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 14:57 (KC 21–0)
- KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal, 0:18 (KC 24–0)
Third quarter - KC – Jan Stenerud 31-yard field goal, 11:29 (KC 27–0)
- SEA – Jeff Moore 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:11 (KC 27–7)
- KC – Jan Stenerud 22-yard field goal, 2:41 (KC 30–7)
Fourth quarter - KC – Ted McKnight 3-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 13:18 (KC 37–7)
- SEA – Dan Doornink 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:12 (KC 37–14)
- SEA – Jeff Moore 12-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 2:10 (KC 37–21)
| Top passers Top rushers - SEA – Jim Zorn: 2 car, 21 yds
- KC – Earl Gant: 21 car, 67 yds, 1 TD
Top receivers Team – – – – - SEA – 231 – 44 – 275 – 5
- KAN – 137 – 194 – 331 – 2
| |
Week 15: vs. Denver Broncos
Week Fifteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - SEA – Sherman Smith 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 13:05 (SEA 14–0)
- DEN – Craig Morton 2-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 11:46 (SEA 14–7)
- DEN – Haven Moses 7-yard pass from Craig Morton (PAT failed), 5:06 (SEA 14–13)
- DEN – Jim Jensen 2-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 0:40 (DEN 20–14)
Third quarter - SEA – Steve Largent 35-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:22 (SEA 21–20)
- DEN – Jim Turner 29-yard field goal, 7:01 (DEN 23–21)
Fourth quarter - SEA – Steve Largent 43-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:40 (SEA 28–23)
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - DEN – 222 – 141 – 363 – 3
- SEA – 308 – 74 – 382 – 2
| |
Week 16: at Oakland Raiders
| Game information |
| First quarter Second quarter - OAK – Jim Breech 20-yard field goal, 14:03 (Tied 10–10)
- SEA – Sam McCullum 65-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 13:45 (SEA 17–10)
- OAK – Arthur Whittington 2-yard run (Jim Breech kick), 6:07 (Tied 17–17)
Third quarter - SEA – Dan Doornink 17-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 8:55 (SEA 24–17)
- SEA – Safety, ball snapped out of end zone, 7:25 (SEA 26–17)
Fourth quarter - SEA – Efrén Herrera 43-yard field goal, 5:27 (SEA 29–17)
- OAK – Mark van Eeghen 2-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Jim Breech kick), 1:18 (SEA 29–24)
| Top passers Top rushers Top receivers Team – – – – - SEA – 314 – 94 – 408 – 2
- OAK – 336 – 82 – 418 – 3
| |
Awards and records
References
- ^ "Home". pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ 1979 Seahawks Media Guide, accessed February 14, 2015.
- ^ 1980 Seahawks Media Guide, accessed February 14, 2015.
- ^ 1979 NFL season results, NFL.com, accessed February 14, 2015.
- ^ Pro Football Reference; In a single game, from 1970 to 2018, requiring 1st Downs = 1, sorted by ascending Date
External links
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| Stadiums | |
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| Culture | |
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| Lore | |
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| Rivalries | |
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| Division championships (11) | |
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| Conference championships (3) | |
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| League championships (1) | |
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| Retired numbers | |
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