The 2010 season was the Seattle Seahawks' 35th in the National Football League (NFL), their ninth playing home games at Qwest Field and their first under head coach Pete Carroll after Jim Mora was fired on January 8, 2010. The team exceeded their win total from 2009 and won the NFC West with a 7–9 record, and made the playoffs for the first time since 2007. They became the first team in a full season to finish with a sub-.500 record and make the playoffs, a berth which was by virtue of winning the division. The 2010 Seahawks also became the first sub-.500 team to win a playoff game with their home win against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints remembered as the Beast Quake game, but then had their season ended by the second-seeded Chicago Bears in the divisional round.
Statistics website Football Outsiders calculated that the 2010 Seahawks were the worst team that they had ever rated to qualify for the playoffs.
Offseason
Front office changes General manager Tim Ruskell resigned from his position two weeks before the 2009 regular season ended. Interim general manager Ruston Webster took over until the season ended, but was not retained as general manager. However, Webster left the team for a similar position for the Tennessee Titans instead.
Surprisingly, the head coaching vacancy created by Mora's departure was actually filled first by the Seahawks through Pete Carroll. Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke suggested that Carroll and the general manager would have a "collaborative relationship" over control of the team.
Among candidates interviewed for general manager were former Tennessee Titans General Manager Floyd Reese and New York Giants scouting director Marc Ross. On January 19, 2010, the Seahawks officially signed Green Bay Packers director of football operations John Schneider as their official General Manager.
Staff changes
Following a disastrous 5–11 season in his first season with the Seahawks, Jim Mora was fired on January 8, 2010. Mora was apparently surprised and disappointed about the news, but Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke stated that the franchise was moving to a new direction to become successful.
Within days after Mora was relieved as Head Coach, the Seahawks began to interview candidates such as USC Trojans football head coach Pete Carroll, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. Controversy arose when news broke out that Carroll was in preliminary agreements to sign a contract as head coach and have full control of the franchise when neither Frazier nor Rivera were interviewed, thus potentially breaking the Rooney Rule, however Frazier agreed to an interview before the Seahawks signed Carroll as coach, thus fulfilling the rule. Two days later, Carroll officially became the 8th head coach in franchise history.
Within days after Carroll was hired, the rest of the coaching staff was revamped. With the exceptions of Gus Bradley and Dan Quinn, none of the coaches from Mora's tenure returned. USC Football offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates joined as the Seahawks offensive coordinator, while Alex Gibbs from the Houston Texans would serve as offensive line coach and assistant head coach. Weeks before the start of the NFL regular season, however, Gibbs would suddenly retire from the position, with Carroll's former USC assistant Pat Ruel taking his spot.
Key departures
Wide receiver Nate Burleson, after a four-year stint with the Seahawks, signed with the Detroit Lions on March 5, 2010, after 24 hours of free agency. Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace, known for his versatility as a wide receiver, was sent to the Cleveland Browns on March 8, 2010 in exchange for a conditional 2011 NFL Draft pick.
Guard Rob Sims, who started regularly for the Seahawks for the past four years, was traded to the Lions in exchange for defensive end Robert Henderson and a fifth-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft. Veteran defensive End Darryl Tapp was also traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Chris Clemons and a fourth-round pick.
On April 13, 2010, Defensive end Patrick Kerney announced his retirement after 11 NFL seasons. Kerney made the Pro Bowl in 2007 and led the team in sacks on two occasions (2007 and 2009).Physical toll too much for Seahawks DE Kerney, who says he'll retire On April 29, 2010, Four-time All-Pro Left Tackle Walter Jones also announced his retirement after a 13-year career during which he became a cornerstone of the Seattle Seahawks organization.Jones retires after 13 seasons
During training camp, the Seahawks continued to cut ties with many players. Former first-round pick Lawrence Jackson, who Carroll coached with at USC, was traded to the Detroit Lions for a sixth-round pick. The previous year's starters including fullback Owen Schmitt and wide receiver T. J. Houshmandzadeh were released from the team. Defensive back Josh Wilson was traded to Baltimore for a conditional fifth-round pick.
Key additions
Former San Diego Chargers quarterback Charlie Whitehurst was acquired by Seattle on March 18, 2010. Whitehurst competed for the starting job with Matt Hasselbeck. Also, the Seahawks acquired defensive ends Chris Clemons and Robert Henderson respectively from the Eagles and Lions. Wide receiver Reggie Williams, a former first-round pick with the Jacksonville Jaguars and a former Washington Huskies standout, signed with the Seahawks on April 16, 2010.
On the last day of the 2010 NFL draft, the Seahawks acquired running back LenDale White and defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson from the Tennessee Titans. With the trade, White would have been reunited with his college coach Pete Carroll from USC, but was cut on May 28. Also, the New York Jets traded former Pro Bowler Leon Washington to Seattle.
2010 NFL draft
After finishing the 2009 season with a record of 5–11, the Seahawks held the 6th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft. They also held the 14th overall pick as a result of a trade in the 2009 NFL draft that gave their second-round pick 2009 to the Denver Broncos for their first-round pick in 2010. The Seahawks traded their third-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles as part of a trade from the 2009 draft and gave up their second-round pick in the Charlie Whitehurst deal but also received another second-round pick from the San Diego Chargers
2010 Seattle Seahawks draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 6 Russell Okung T Oklahoma State 1 14 Earl Thomas S Texas From Denver Broncos 2 60 Golden Tate WR Notre Dame From San Diego Chargers 4 111 Walter Thurmond CB Oregon From Tennessee Titans 4 127 E. J. Wilson DE North Carolina From New York Jets via Philadelphia Eagles 5 133 Kam Chancellor S Virginia Tech From Detroit Lions 6 185 Anthony McCoy TE Southern California From Tennessee Titans 7 236 Dexter Davis DE Arizona State From New York Jets 7 245 Jameson Konz WR Kent State Compensatory pick
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Tennessee Titans W 20–18 1–0 Qwest Field Recap 2 Green Bay Packers L 24–27 1–1 Qwest Field Recap 3 at Minnesota Vikings L 13–24 1–2 Mall of America Field Recap 4 at Oakland Raiders L 24–27 1–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 2: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 4: at Oakland Raiders
Regular season Schedule Divisional matchups: the NFC West played the NFC South and the AFC West.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 San Francisco 49ers W 31–6 1–0 Qwest FieldRecap 2 September 19 at Denver Broncos L 14–31 1–1 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 3 September 26 San Diego Chargers W 27–20 2–1 Qwest Field Recap 4 October 3 at St. Louis Rams L 3–20 2–2 Edward Jones DomeRecap 5Bye 6 October 17 at Chicago Bears W 23–20 3–2 Soldier Field Recap 7 October 24 Arizona Cardinals W 22–10 4–2 Qwest FieldRecap 8 October 31 at Oakland Raiders L 3–33 4–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 9 November 7 New York Giants L 7–41 4–4 Qwest Field Recap 10 November 14 at Arizona Cardinals W 36–18 5–4 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 11 November 21 at New Orleans Saints L 19–34 5–5 Louisiana Superdome Recap 12 November 28 Kansas City Chiefs L 24–42 5–6 Qwest Field Recap 13 December 5 Carolina Panthers W 31–14 6–6 Qwest Field Recap 14 December 12 at San Francisco 49ers L 21–40 6–7 Candlestick Park Recap 15 December 19 Atlanta Falcons L 18–34 6–8 Qwest Field Recap 16 December 26 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 15–38 6–9 Raymond James Stadium Recap 17 January 2, 2011 St. Louis Rams W 16–6 7–9 Qwest Field Recap
Bold indicates division opponents. Source: 2010 NFL season results2010 NFL season results, NFL.com, accessed February 14, 2015.
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Seahawks began their season at home for an NFC West rivalry against the San Francisco 49ers. In the first quarter, Seattle trailed early when 49ers kicker Joe Nedney made a 23-yard field goal, which was extended in the second quarter when Nedney made another 23-yard field goal. Then, the Seahawks fought back and took the lead when quarterback Matt Hasselbeck got a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by him making a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Deon Butler. In the third quarter, Seattle continued to dominate when cornerback Marcus Trufant returned an interception and ran 32 yards for a touchdown. This was followed by Hasselbeck's 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Deion Branch. In the fourth quarter, the Seahawks scored again when kicker Olindo Mare made a 35-yard field goal.
With the win, Seattle began the season at 1–0.
Week 2: at Denver Broncos
Coming off an easy win over the 49ers, the Seahawks flew to INVESCO Field at Mile High for an interconference duel with their former division rival, the Broncos. In the first quarter Seattle trailed early as quarterback Kyle Orton made a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Eddie Royal, followed in the second quarter by running back Correll Buckhalter getting a 1-yard touchdown run. Then kicker Matt Prater made a 20-yard field goal to put the Broncos up 17–0. In the third quarter Seattle tried to cut the lead when quarterback Matt Hasselbeck completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ben Obomanu, but Denver scored with running back Knowshon Moreno getting a 1-yard touchdown run. In the fourth quarter Seattle fell further behind when Orton found wide receiver Demaryius Thomas on a 21-yard touchdown pass. Seattle would make the final score of the game when Hasselbeck scrambled 20 yards to the endzone for a touchdown.
With the loss, Seattle fell to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers