1997 Seattle Seahawks season

The 1997 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 22nd season with the National Football League (NFL). This season would mark a new era for the Seahawks as they drafted two first round picks (Shawn Springs and Walter Jones) and traded quarterback Rick Mirer and signed Minnesota Vikings/Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon to be John Friesz's backup. Moon and Jones would go on to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and 2014, respectively. They also signed rookie quarterback Jon Kitna. After a Week 1 injury to Friesz, Moon led the Seahawks improvement from 1996's 7–9 record to finish 8–8. This would be Moon's last season making the Pro Bowl in his career, he went on to win Pro Bowl MVP.

1997 Seattle Seahawks season
OwnerPaul Allen
Head coachDennis Erickson
Home fieldKingdome
Results
Record8–8
Division place3rd AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersQB Warren Moon
DE Michael Sinclair
LB Chad Brown
FS Darryl Williams
AP All-ProsFS Darryl Williams (2nd team)

This season is notable for being the first under new owner Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Allen helped keep the team from relocating and made sure it remained in Seattle.

NFL draft

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1997 Seattle Seahawks draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 3 Shawn Springs *  Cornerback Ohio State
1 6 Walter Jones *   Offensive tackle Florida State from St. Louis via NY Jets and Tampa Bay
5 142 Eric Stokes  Free safety Nebraska
6 174 Itula Mili  Tight end Brigham Young
7 211 Carlos Jones  Cornerback Miami (FL)
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

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1997 undrafted free agents of note
Player Position College
Jim Arellanes Quarterback Fresno State
Paul Burton Punter Northwestern
Andre Cooper Wide receiver Florida State
Pete DiMario Tackle Alabama
Nick Gianacakos Defensive end Boston College
J Ina Guard Miami (FL)
David Kempfert Center Montana
LeVance McQueen Linebacker Duke

Personnel

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Staff

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1997 Seattle Seahawks staff

Front office

Head coaches

  • Head coach – Dennis Erickson
  • Assistant head coach/offensive line – Gregg Smith

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Dana LeDuc
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Darren Krein


Final roster

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1997 Seattle Seahawks roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 10 reserve, 4 practice squad

[1]

  • Starters in bold.
  • (*) Denotes players that were selected for the 1998 Pro Bowl.

Schedule

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Preseason

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Recap
HOF July 26 Minnesota Vikings L 26–28 0–1 Fawcett Stadium (Canton) Recap
1 August 2 Arizona Cardinals W 34–6 1–1 Kingdome Recap
2 August 9 at San Francisco 49ers L 17–21 1–2 3Com Park Recap
3 August 16 Indianapolis Colts W 45–3 2–2 Kingdome Recap
4 August 22 at Cincinnati Bengals W 31–28 3–2 Cinergy Field Recap
Source: Seahawks Media Guides[2][3]

Regular season

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Divisional matchups have the AFC West playing the NFC West.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Recap
1 August 31 New York Jets L 3–41 0–1 Kingdome Recap
2 September 7 Denver Broncos L 14–35 0–2 Kingdome Recap
3 September 14 at Indianapolis Colts W 31–3 1–2 RCA Dome Recap
4 September 21 San Diego Chargers W 26–22 2–2 Kingdome Recap
5 September 28 at Kansas City Chiefs L 17–20 (OT) 2–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
6 October 5 Tennessee Oilers W 16–13 3–3 Kingdome Recap
7 Bye
8 October 19 at St. Louis Rams W 17–9 4–3 TWA Dome Recap
9 October 26 Oakland Raiders W 45–34 5–3 Kingdome Recap
10 November 2 at Denver Broncos L 27–30 5–4 Mile High Stadium Recap
11 November 9 at San Diego Chargers W 37–31 6–4 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
12 November 16 at New Orleans Saints L 17–20 (OT) 6–5 Louisiana Superdome Recap
13 November 23 Kansas City Chiefs L 14–19 6–6 Kingdome Recap
14 November 30 Atlanta Falcons L 17–24 6–7 Kingdome Recap
15 December 7 at Baltimore Ravens L 24–31 6–8 Memorial Stadium Recap
16 December 14 at Oakland Raiders W 22–21 7–8 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
17 December 21 San Francisco 49ers W 38–9 8–8 Kingdome Recap
Bold indicates division opponents.
Source: 1997 NFL season results[4]

Standings

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AFC West
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(1) Kansas City Chiefs 13 3 0 .813 375 232 W6
(4) Denver Broncos 12 4 0 .750 472 287 W1
Seattle Seahawks 8 8 0 .500 365 362 W2
Oakland Raiders 4 12 0 .250 324 419 L5
San Diego Chargers 4 12 0 .250 266 425 L8

Game summaries

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Preseason

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Week P1: vs. Minnesota Vikings

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Preseason Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 7 7728
Seahawks 0 3 91426

at Fawcett Stadium, Canton, Ohio

  • Date: July 26
  • Game time: 2:36 pm local
  • Game weather: hazy, 77 °F (25 °C), 87% humidity, wind SW 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 23,846
  • Referee: Larry Nemmers
  • TV: ABC
  • Gamebook

Week P2: vs. Arizona Cardinals

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Preseason Week Two: Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 6 006
Seahawks 0 17 10734

at Kingdome, Seattle

Week P3: at San Francisco 49ers

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Preseason Week Three: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 7 10017
49ers 14 0 0721

at 3Com Park, San Francisco

  • Date: August 9
  • Game time: 6:05 pm local
  • Game weather: clear, 71 °F (22 °C), 66% humidity, wind SW 16 miles per hour (26 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 50,153
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV: KING
  • Gamebook

Week P4: vs. Indianapolis Colts

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Preseason Week Four: Seattle Seahawks vs. Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 3 003
Seahawks 10 21 7745

at Kingdome, Seattle

Week P5: at Cincinnati Bengals

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Preseason Week Five: Seattle Seahawks at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 7 7 10731
Bengals 0 7 02128

at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati

  • Date: August 22
  • Game time: 7:30 pm local
  • Game weather: clear, 60 °F (16 °C), wind NW 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 43,637
  • Referee: Gerry Austin
  • TV: KING
  • Gamebook

Regular season

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Week 1: vs. New York Jets

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Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jets 17 10 14041
Seahawks 0 3 003

at Kingdome, Seattle

  • Date: August 31
  • Game time: 1:04 pm local
  • Game weather: indoors
  • Game attendance: 53,893
  • Referee: Ron Blum
  • TV announcers (NBC): Mike Breen, James Lofton and Len Berman
  • Gamebook
Game information

This is the Seahawk's worst home loss in franchise history.

Week 2: vs. Denver Broncos

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Week Two: Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 10 3 15735
Seahawks 0 14 0014

at Kingdome, Seattle

  • Date: September 7
  • Game time: 1:00 pm local
  • Game weather: indoors
  • Game attendance: 55,859
  • Referee: Phil Luckett
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Phil Simms, Paul Maguire and Jim Gray
  • Gamebook
Game information

Week 3: at Indianapolis Colts

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Week Three: Seattle Seahawks at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 7 10 01431
Colts 3 0 003

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis

Game information

Week 4: vs. San Diego Chargers

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Week Four: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 16 0622
Seahawks 3 10 01326

at Kingdome, Seattle

  • Date: September 21
  • Game time: 1:05 pm local
  • Game weather: indoors
  • Game attendance: 51,110
  • Referee: Gary Lane
  • TV announcers (NBC): Mike Breen and James Lofton
  • Gamebook
Game information

Week 5: at Kansas City Chiefs

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Week Five: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Seahawks 7 3 70017
Chiefs 0 7 73320

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 6: vs. Tennessee Oilers

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Week Six: Seattle Seahawks vs. Tennessee Oilers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Oilers 3 7 0313
Seahawks 0 0 10616

at Kingdome, Seattle

  • Date: October 5
  • Game time: 1:05 pm local
  • Game weather: indoors
  • Game attendance: 49,897
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Jim Mora
  • Gamebook
Game information

Week 8: at St. Louis Rams

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Week Eight: Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 3 7717
Rams 0 3 339

at TWA Dome, St. Louis

  • Date: October 19
  • Game time: 12:01 pm local
  • Game weather: indoors
  • Game attendance: 64,819
  • Referee: Bill Carollo
  • TV announcers (NBC): Joel Meyers and Beasley Reece
  • Gamebook
Game information

Week 9: vs. Oakland Raiders

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Week Nine: Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Raiders 14 11 9034
Seahawks 3 15 141345

at Kingdome, Seattle

Game information

Week 10 at Denver Broncos

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Week Ten: Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 3 7 10727
Broncos 3 10 14330

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

Game information

Week 11: at San Diego Chargers

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Week Eleven: Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 10 141337
Chargers 14 3 7731

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: November 9
  • Game time: 1:05 pm local
  • Game weather: clear, 73 °F (23 °C), 62% humidity, wind WSW 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 64,616
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Jim Mora
  • Gamebook
Game information

Week 12: at New Orleans Saints

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Week Twelve: Seattle Seahawks at New Orleans Saints  – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Seahawks 0 10 07017
Saints 0 7 010320

at Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: November 16
  • Game time: 12:00 pm local
  • Game weather: indoors
  • Game attendance: 50,493
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (NBC): Mike Breen and James Lofton
  • Gamebook
Game information

Week 13: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

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Week Thirteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 3 7219
Seahawks 7 7 0014

at Kingdome, Seattle

  • Date: November 23
  • Game time: 1:04 pm local
  • Game weather: indoors
  • Game attendance: 66,264
  • Referee: Larry Nemmers
  • TV announcers (NBC): Mike Breen and James Lofton
  • Gamebook
Game information

Week 14: vs. Atlanta Falcons

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Week Fourteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 10 7024
Seahawks 0 7 7317

at Kingdome, Seattle

  • Date: November 30
  • Game time: 1:05 pm local
  • Game weather: indoors
  • Game attendance: 52,584
  • Referee: Ron Blum
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Harlan and Jerry Glanville
  • Gamebook
Game information

Week 15: at Baltimore Ravens

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Week Fifteen: Seattle Seahawks at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 7 10 7024
Ravens 3 14 7731

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

  • Date: December 7
  • Game time: 1:01 pm local
  • Game weather: partly cloudy, 46 °F (7.8 °C), 40% humidity, wind W 18 miles per hour (29 km/h; 16 kn)
  • Game attendance: 54,395
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers (NBC): Joel Meyers, Jim Kelly
  • Gamebook
Game information

This was the first time the Seahawks had ever played a regular season game in Baltimore against either the Colts or the Ravens.[5]

Week 16: at Oakland Raiders

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Week Sixteen: Seattle Seahawks at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 3 91022
Raiders 14 7 0021

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Date: December 14
  • Game time: 1:05 pm local
  • Game weather: showers, 55 °F (13 °C), 82% humidity, wind S 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 40,124
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Jim Mora
  • Gamebook
Game information

Week 17: vs. San Francisco 49ers

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Week Seventeen: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
49ers 6 0 309
Seahawks 7 14 71038

at Kingdome, Seattle

  • Date: December 21
  • Game time: 5:03 pm local
  • Game weather: indoors
  • Game attendance: 66,253
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann and Ron Jaworski
  • Gamebook
Game information

Awards and records

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References

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  1. ^ "Home". pro-football-reference.com.
  2. ^ 1997 Seahawks Media Guide, accessed February 14, 2015.
  3. ^ 1998 Seahawks Media Guide, accessed February 14, 2015.
  4. ^ 1997 NFL season results, NFL.com, accessed February 14, 2015.
  5. ^ Urena, Ivan; Pro Football Schedules: A Complete Historical Guide from 1933 to the Present, p. 17 ISBN 0786473517
  6. ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 202
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