Seattle's first franchise Super Bowl win came during the 2013 season on the backs of one of the best defenses the NFL has saw, a group that consisted of the Legion of Boom – Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas III. But linebackers, Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, who were drafted a year apart, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were also part of that defense that led that team to victory that season. Wagner, who is a future Hall of Famer, set the groundwork his rookie season for what his future would look like and he continues to play at a high level, having recorded at least 100 tackles in a season in every single year of his career to this point.

The entire 50 years of the Seahawks franchise is represented in the seven linebackers voted to the Top 50 Players, with a linebacker from each era making the list. Aside from Wright and Wagner, Chad Brown, Keith Butler, Rufus Porter, Lofa Tatupu, and Fredd Young round out the group.

Those seven linebackers are among the top 50 players in franchise history, a group selected in honor of the Seahawks' upcoming 50th season. The Top 50 Players were voted on by fans, media members and internal stakeholders. The voting process took place toward the end of the 2024 season, with more than 160 players eligible based on the following criteria:

• Started at least 45 games
• Voted to an AP All-Pro or NFL Pro Bowl team roster
• Won Seahawks Man of the Year or the Steve Largent Award
• Currently leads a career major statistical category, such as most receiving yards in a career
• Part of an iconic moment in Seahawks history

For more information on the linebackers selected to the Seahawks Top 50 Players, see the link below to their full bios:

Chad Brown, 1997-2004: Brown earned Pro-Bowl honors twice with the Seahawks along with one first-team All-Pro nod and was a three-time team captain. He led the team in tackles in each of his first three seasons with Seattle, finished his career with 744 tackles as a Seahawk, the sixth most in franchise history. Brown also contributed 48 sacks, 55 tackles for loss, and his three fumble return touchdowns are tied for the most in franchise history with Bobby Wagner.

Keith Butler, 1978-1987: Butler spent his entire 10-year career with the Seahawks, starting 132 games at linebacker while helping the team grow from new franchise in the 70s to a playoff team in the 80s. Butler retired as the team's all-time tackles leader with 813, and he now ranks fourth on that list having been passed by Bobby Wagner, Eugene Robinson and K.J. Wright. He played a vital role in anchoring the front-seven of those 1980s defenses that helped the Seahawks rise to prominence under Chuck Knox.

Rufus Porter 1988-1994: Porter began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent out of Southern University and made an immediate impact for the Seahawks. Porter earned a Pro Bowl nod his rookie year after his special teams performance that season. His role grew during his time with Seattle and in his second year he had 10.5 sacks and 49 tackles that earned him another Pro Bowl honor. Porter played five more seasons for Seattle, racking up 98 games played, three interceptions, 37.5 sacks and 388 tackles.

**Lofa Tatupu 2005-2010**: Lofa Tatupu made the transition from college to the NFL better than most as the second-round pick out of USC started all 16 games as a rookie for the NFC Champion Seahawks in 2005. Tatupu began his NFL career with three consecutive seasons as a full-time starter, recording over 100 tackles each year and earning Pro Bowl honors in all three. In those three seasons alone, Tatupu recorded eight interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, 27 passes defensed, 6.5 sacks and came second in voting for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

**Bobby Wagner 2012 – 2021, 2023**: Drafted in the second round of the 2012 draft, Wagner immediately became a starter on one of the league's best defenses, setting a franchise rookie record of 140 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions. His rookie season was a preview of what was to come as he would record at least 100 tackles in a season in every single year of his career to this point. In 11 seasons in Seattle, Wagner established himself as one of the franchise's most accomplished players and made an equally big impact in the community. Wagner is an 11-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro-Bowler, Super Bowl champion and a 2010s NFL All-Decade team member.

K.J. Wright 2011 – 2020: Wright played a pivotal role on one of the most iconic defenses in NFL history during his time in Seattle. In 10 seasons, the Mississippi State graduate totaled 941 tackles, 66 tackles for loss, and 13.5 sacks to go along with one Pro-Bowl appearance and Super Bowl victory. Following the Super Bowl victory, Wright would go on to put together four consecutive seasons of at least 100 total tackles and was named a Pro Bowler in 2016 after having a career-high 126 tackles.

Fredd Young, 1984-1987: Young began his career as one of the league's top performers on special teams as he was named the AFC's Special Teams Player of the Year in 1984. He ranks second in franchise history with two blocked punts in his career in Seattle. Young led the Seahawks in tackles in three of his four seasons in Seattle, recording at least 100 tackles in a season from 1985-1987. His best season in the NFL came in 1987 when he recorded nine sacks despite only playing in 13 games. He received Defensive Player of the Year votes to go along with a Pro Bowl and All-Pro nomination.