Legion of Boom (Seattle Seahawks)

Original

• Richard Sherman^[13] (2011–2017), at 6 ft 3 in, 205 lb, is the starting left cornerback, and most vocal member of the group, who attained national attention after the 2014 NFC Championship Game when he made a game-saving pass deflection that was intercepted. After the game, he conducted a highly emotional interview with FOX Sports' Erin Andrews. Beyond Sherman's vocal personality, he is generally considered to be one of the best corners in football and was briefly the highest paid corner in football when he received his new contract from the Seahawks in 2014. Since coming into the league in 2011, Sherman has 30 regular-season interceptions (1st in NFL during that span), including 2 interceptions returned for touchdowns, 321 tackles, 89 passes defended, 1 sack, and 5 forced fumbles. He has also recorded 2 interceptions in the playoffs (totaling 32 career interceptions). He had not missed a game in his NFL career until 9 November 2017 when he was out with an Achilles rupture.
• Kam Chancellor^[13] (2010–2017), at 6 ft 3 in, 232 lb, is the tallest and heaviest safety in the NFL and is known for his hard-hitting tackles.^[14] He was taken with the 133rd overall pick in the 5th round of the 2010 NFL Draft.^[15] During the Legion of Boom's run (2011–present), strong safety Chancellor has recorded 529 tackles, 12 interceptions, 41 passes defensed, 2 sacks, and 8 forced fumbles. Over that same span, he also has 3 postseason interceptions, including 1 returned for a touchdown.
• Earl Thomas^[13] (2010–present) is the shortest member of the Legion of Boom at 5'10", 202 lb.^[16] He was described by Sports Illustrated as "a great cover safety from anywhere to anywhere on the field, able to take ridiculous angles and read plays with microscopic precision".^[17] He was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2010 NFL Draft.^[18] From 2011–present, Thomas has 554 total tackles, 23 interceptions, including 1 interception returned for a touchdown, 56 passes defended, 9 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. Thomas also has 2 interceptions in the playoffs (totaling 25 career interceptions). He suffered a season-ending injury during a game on December 4, 2016, breaking his leg in a mid-air collision with teammate Chancellor. On September 30, 2018, Thomas suffered another fracture, in the same leg he broke in late 2016, after a touchdown by the Arizona Cardinals. It was then declared by Pete Carroll that his season was over. On his way back to the locker room on a cart, he proceeded to give the finger, seen as a comment towards the Seahawks organization, and indicating that his days as a Seahawk were over.
• Brandon Browner (2011–2013) at 6 ft 4 in, 221 lb, signed with the Seahawks as a free agent in 2011 after a notable CFL career. He was the starting cornerback, along with Richard Sherman, in 2011–2013 and started in 36 games during that span for the Seahawks. Unfortunately, he was unable to play during the Seahawks' Super Bowl playoff run due to a suspension. Browner would leave the Seahawks and move to the New England Patriots in the 2014 season winning a Super Bowl. The following season, Browner would join the New Orleans Saints. Browner briefly returned as a hybrid safety during the 2016 preseason,^[19] but was cut prior to the regular season.^[20]
• Byron Maxwell^[13] (2011–2014, 2017–2018) , at 6 ft 1 in, 207 lb, Maxwell was drafted by the Seahawks in 2011 and was used primarily as a backup cornerback and on special teams from 2011–2012. He became an integral part of the secondary during the Seahawks' 2013 season and filled in for Brandon Browner during their playoff run which culminated in a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. Maxwell started 17 games for the Seahawks and appeared in 47 before departing for the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent in 2015. He returned to the Seahawks in 2017.^[21]

• Walter Thurmond^[13] (2010–2013), at 5 ft 11 in, 190 lb, The Seattle Seahawks drafted Thurmond in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He primarily played nickelback for the Legion of Boom and started eight of 34 games for them during his four-year tenure with the team. Thurmond was an integral piece of the secondary during their Super Bowl season in 2013. After serving a four-game suspension, he returned and was tasked with defending the slot during the Seahawks' playoff run to the Super Bowl.^[13]

Other featured

• DeShawn Shead (2012–2017), at 6 ft 2 in, 220 lb, signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted rookie free-agent in 2012. Shead, a collegiate Decathlon star, is a special-teams standout who excelled as the team's 'Swiss Army knife' multipurpose defensive back, and became the starter at right cornerback, opposite Sherman in 2014. He is a fast-and-physical player with elite body control, who displays his prowess intuitively as a quick and reliable tackler against the run, and as a solid pass defender with excellent speed downfield. Shead demonstrates uncanny athleticism, and has a knack for stripping the ball and forcing fumbles. When utilized as an additional weak-side 'bandit/hybrid' safety, or as a 'big nickel' defensive back, Shead matches up effectively against taller, larger and more physical receivers and tight ends. During the 2015 season, Shead started games at five different positions, designated as the primary backup at free- and strong-safety positions, both outside cornerback positions, and inside at nickelback, and ultimately earned the starting job at right cornerback. From 2012–present, in the regular season, Shead has produced 132 tackles, 21 passes defensed, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles.
• Jeremy Lane (2012–2017), at 6 ft 0 in, 190 lb, was drafted by the Seahawks in 2012, number 172 overall (6th round). Lane is a premier inside nickelback, possessing elite speed, quickness, and shadowing ability in coverage. His speed is well respected; he was one of the most dangerous gunners in special teams coverage, often double-teamed and deliberately forced out-of-bounds. Lane's skills as a defensive back afford him advantages against smaller, quicker slot receivers and deep threats. From 2012–present, in the regular season, Jeremy Lane has 104 tackles, 14 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble. Lane also recorded an interception in Super Bowl XLIX. He was released along with fellow LOB member Richard Sherman in early 2018.
• Marcus Trufant (2003–2012), at 5 ft 11 in, 199 lb, Trufant was drafted by the Seahawks back in 2003. Although only on the team for the Legion of Boom’s infancy he served a pivotal role in mentoring the teams young secondary from 2010–2012. He made the Pro Bowl for the Seahawks in 2007 and retired in 2013.

The 2017 backups and starters included the Seahawks 3rd round pick out of UCF Shaquill Griffin, Justin Coleman whom the Seahawks acquired over a trade with the New England Patriots, returning veteran Byron Maxwell and Bradley McDougald who was signed from free agency after leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Griffin and McDougald would prove to be very important players for the Seahawks defense who were without Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor.

Griffin, Coleman and McDougald have all become starters for the 2018 Seattle Seahawks season, in addition to rookie cornerback Tre Flowers. Safety Tedric Thompson, nicknamed T2, will also see an increase in play time. Without previous starters Sherman and Chancellor, this young group looks to continue the legacy of great secondary play for the Seahawks.

Backups

The other defensive backs on the Seahawks roster are also considered members of the Legion of Boom. Particularly following the suspensions of Brandon Browner in 2012 (four games)^[22] and 2013 (suspended indefinitely, but reinstated March 4, 2014), as well of that of Sherman (which he successfully appealed in December 2012), the term "Legion of Boom" has encompassed more than just the four original starters.^[5][23] At the Super Bowl parade in Seattle, Sherman called the Legion of Boom "more than the secondary, it's the linebackers, the defensive line, the entire defense."

The 2013 backups during their Super Bowl XLVIII-winning year were: Byron Maxwell (replacing injured starter Brandon Browner), Jeremy Lane, Walter Thurmond, Jeron Johnson and DeShawn Shead.

The 2014 backups during their subsequent Super Bowl XLIX year were: Jeremy Lane, Jeron Johnson, Tharold Simon, Marcus Burley, Steven Terrell and DeShawn Shead. After the 2014 season, Richard Sherman expressed his approval of two new Legion of Boom members:^[24] rookie Tye Smith, and veteran Cary Williams (who was subsequently released by the Seahawks after starting 10 games in the 2015 season).^[25]

Backups during the 2015 season were: DeShawn Shead, Jeremy Lane, Marcus Burley, Steven Terrell and Kelcie McCray. DeShawn Shead emerged as the starter at right cornerback.

The 2016 backups were: veterans Kelcie McCray and Steven Terrell, newcomers Dewey McDonald and Neiko Thorpe, and rookies DeAndre Elliott and Tyvis Powell. Terrell advanced to full-time starter at free safety after Earl Thomas suffered a broken leg during a game.

Linebackers

• Bobby Wagner (2012–present), MLB
• K. J. Wright (2011–present), OLB
• Malcolm Smith (2011–2014), OLB
• Bruce Irvin (2012–2015), OLB
• Heath Farwell (2011–2014), LB/ST
• Mike Morgan (2011–2016), OLB

Defensive Linemen

• Michael Bennett (2012–2017), DE/DT
• Cliff Avril (2012–2017), DE
• Brandon Mebane (2007–2015), DT
• Jordan Hill (2013–2016), DT
• Frank Clark (2015–present), DE
• Red Bryant (2008–2013), DT/DE
• Clinton McDonald (2011–2013), DT
• Chris Clemons (2010–2013), DE
• Tony McDaniel (2013–2014, 2016), DT
• Jarran Reed (2016–present), DT
• Sheldon Richardson (2017), DT

Early success

Following the 2011 season, Thomas, Chancellor, and Browner were named to the 2012 Pro Bowl. Thomas also earned AP All-Pro honors. Browner tied for fourth in the NFL with six interceptions.^[26] In every year thereafter, at least three members of the "Legion of Boom" have been named either AP All-Pro or voted to the Pro Bowl.

After the 2012 season, both Sherman and Thomas were named AP All-Pro. Sherman finished second in the league with eight interceptions.^[27] Additionally, the team defense finished first in points allowed, and second in passing touchdowns allowed.^[28]

2013 season

The Legion of Boom had a banner year in 2013. In the regular season, they allowed the fewest passing yards and passing touchdowns in the league^[12] while anchoring the league's best passing defense as well as overall defense. Sherman finished first in the league with eight interceptions.^[29] Seattle finished the season with the most interceptions in the NFL.^[30] Sherman and Thomas were named first-team AP All-Pro, while Chancellor was named to the second team.^[31] Sherman, Chancellor, and Thomas were also named to the 2014 Pro Bowl, but did not play due to the Seahawks playing in Super Bowl XLVIII. In their rout of the Denver Broncos, they held Peyton Manning and the record-setting Broncos offense to only eight points, intercepting Manning twice, forcing two fumbles, and playing a major part in securing the first Super Bowl championship in franchise history.

On June 6, 2014, Richard Sherman won the Madden NFL 15 cover vote against Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.^[32]

During the 2014 season, the Legion of Boom helped their team reach their second straight Super Bowl, which ended in a loss to the New England Patriots, 28–24. Thomas, Chancellor, and Sherman were selected to the 2015 Pro Bowl, marking the second year in a row in which all three were named to the Pro Bowl together. Thomas and Sherman were again named first-tt 9 points and 339 yards, coming up with a last-second goal line stand to seal the victory 14–9. Sherman intercepted a pass and returned it 38 yards to set up a touchdown, and Walter Thurmond recorded a sack.

In a Week 10 revenge game against the Atlanta Falcons, Seattle allowed 10 points and 226 yards in a 33–10 win. Thurmond would force and recover a fumble in the win.

Week 11 brought the Minnesota Vikings to Seattle, who managed 336 yards and 20 points, but turned it over 4 times. Thurmond returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown in the 41–20 win.

In Week 13, in a Monday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints, the Seahawks faced off against the eventual #2 ranked passing attack in the league. They held the Saints to 188 yards in a 34–7 blowout.

In Week 15, the Seahawks shut the New York Giants out, winning 23–0. It was one of the best games of the season for the Legion of Boom, the Giants managing just 181 yards of offense and turning it over 5 times. Byron Maxwell had two interceptions, as did Richard Sherman. Sherman also tipped a pass to Earl Thomas for an interception. Sherman also recovered a fumble.

The next week, Seattle kept the Arizona Cardinals to 168 total yards and 17 points, forcing 4 turnovers. Sherman had two more interceptions and Chancellor added another. However, the Seahawks would fall 17–10, a late 31–yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer to Michael Floyd being the difference.

They would close the regular season strong, beating the St. Louis Rams 27–9 and allowing 158 total yards. Byron Maxwell would add an interception and the Rams would not score a touchdown until 4:18 remained in the game, with the game already decided.

In the divisional round, a rematch with the New Orleans Saints, the Saints did not score until early in the 4th quarter, although a late flurry got them 15 points and 409 offensive yards. Of note was the Seahawks holding tight end Jimmy Graham to a single catch for 8 yards. The Seahawks would win 23–15.

For the third time that season, the Seahawks played the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners scored 17 points and gained 308 total yards, but Seattle survived 23–17 after forcing turnovers on all three of the 49ers' fourth-quarter possessions. Kam Chancellor picked off a pass to set up a field goal, and Richard Sherman tipped a pass to Malcolm Smith to clinch the game with less than 30 seconds left. This play and the immediate aftermath became infamous, for a brief shoving match between Sherman and 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, Sherman's choke sign at QB Colin Kaepernick that he was later fined for, and his post-game rant in an interview with Erin Andrews.

The Seahawks saved their best for last with their performance in Super Bowl XLVIII, holding the Denver Broncos record-breaking offense to 306 yards and 8 points, forcing 4 turnovers and not allowing a score until the final play of the 3rd quarter. Kam Chancellor intercepted one pass and Byron Maxwell forced a fumble.

The 2013 Seahawks allowed just one 300-yard passer, Matt Schaub in Week 5, and a second in the divisional round against Drew Brees. Eleven times in the regular season they held an opposing quarterback to less than 200 yards passing, then did it once more in the NFC Championship game. The team's 28 interceptions were most in the league, and 16 passing touchdowns allowed the second fewest.^[33]

2014 season

The Seahawks again allowed the fewest points in the NFL, the first NFL defense to accomplish this three seasons in a row since the 1969–1971 Minnesota Vikings.^[34] They also allowed the fewest yards, becoming the first defense since the 1985–1986 Chicago Bears to allow the fewest points and yards two seasons in a row. They allowed the fewest passing yards and passing touchdowns, though they ranked 20th in interceptions.

In Week 1, the Green Bay Packers scored 16 points and gained 255 yards in a 36–16 victory by the Seahawks. Byron Maxwell, now the full-time starter at left corner after Brandon Browner's departure, intercepted a pass in the game.

In Week 3, a rematch against the Denver Broncos, Seattle allowed 332 yards and 20 points, eventually winning 26–20 in overtime. Kam Chancellor forced a fumble and intercepted a pass.

In Week 8, another trip to play the Carolina Panthers saw the Seattle defense allow 9 points and 266 yards, just enough for the 13–9 win. Marcus Burley, a 5th corner forced into action due to injuries, was the key member of the Legion on the day with an interception and 24-yard return.

In Week 9, the visiting Oakland Raiders scored 17 points on offense with 226 yards of total offense. Sherman intercepted his first pass of the season and also forced a fumble.

In Week 12, with the season on the line, the Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals 19–3. Allowing 3 points and 204 yards, the game featured a Byron Maxwell interception and Jeremy Lane forced fumble. This game began a six-game hot-streak for the Seahawks, particularly on defense, which would give up an average of 6.5 points for the remainder of the year and allow fewer than 250 total yards in all six games.

In Week 13, they allowed 3 points and 164 total yards in another 19–3 victory, this against the San Francisco 49ers. Sherman had two interceptions.

In Week 14, against a Philadelphia Eagles offense that would eventually rank third in the league in points and fifth in yards, the Seahawks gave up 139 yards and 14 points. Tharold Simon picked off his first pass of the season and Earl Thomas recovered a fumble. The Seahawks won, 24–14.

In another tilt against the 49ers in Week 15, San Francisco had 245 yards and 7 points in the 17–7 loss.

In a game that would likely decide the NFC West division, the Seahawks traveled to play the Arizona Cardinals. The Seahawks won 35–6, holding Arizona to 216 yards and the 6 points. Sherman grabbed the only turnover of the game, intercepting a pass and returning it 53 yards.

To close out their run, the Seahawks beat the St. Louis Rams 20–6, giving up 245 yards. The game was sealed on an Earl Thomas forced fumble at the goal line.

2015 season

The Legion of Boom had a rocky start to the 2015 season, both on and off the field. Kam Chancellor did not attend training camp and missed the entire preseason, holding out in an effort to get the team to renegotiate his contract, which had three seasons remaining. The holdout continued into the regular season, with Chancellor not being a part of the team for the first two games. The Seahawks would lose both games, the defense allowing 27 points in both games. Dion Bailey, replacing Chancellor at Strong Safety in Week 1, fell down in coverage and allowed the game-tying touchdown with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter.

Chancellor would bring the Legion back together in Week 3 by ending his holdout without any contract concessions from the team. In that Week 3 game, the Seahawks surrendered 0 points and 146 total offensive yards.

The next week, the Seahawks defense allowed 3 points and 256 yards against the Lions. With less than two minutes remaining in the game and the Seahawks leading 13-10, Lions Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson caught a pass and was preparing to leap into the endzone for the go-ahead touchdown, but Kam Chancellor punched the ball out at the one-yard line, the forced fumble ultimately preserving the win. The play garnered more attention for what happened after the fumble, with K. J. Wright illegally batting the ball out of the back of the endzone for a touchback, which should have been a penalty that would have kept the ball in the possession of the Lions.

Against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5, the LOB recorded an interception from Andy Dalton, the first interception by the Seahawks in the 2015 season.^[36] In Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers, both Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor recorded interceptions. Both games, however, would end in close losses for the Seahawks.

In Week 7, playing the San Francisco 49ers on the road, the Seahawks defense allowed just 142 offensive yards (the 49ers lowest output in a game since 2006)^[37] in a 20–3 victory. The following week, the Seahawks held the Dallas Cowboys to 220 total yards and 12 points on four field goals in a 13-12 victory.

Despite allowing a Seahawk's opponents record 456 passing yards to Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Legion of Boom recorded 4 interceptions (their most since Super Bowl XLVIII) in a crucial Week 12 game in Seattle (2 off of Roethlisberger, 2 off of backup Landry Jones). In addition, they held star wide receiver Antonio Brown to just 6 catches for 51 yards.^[38] The turnovers, especially the two by Sherman, would help lead Seattle to a 39–30 win.^[39] In Week 17, to close out another dominant year, the Legion of Boom dismantled the high-powered Arizona Cardinals offense in a 36–6 win.^[40] They held Arizona to only 236 yards and recorded 3 interceptions. It was the only time all year that the Cardinals would score fewer than 20 points and gain fewer than 350 yards at home.

Although they weren't quite as dominant defensively as they were the last 3 years, 2015 marked the fourth straight season that the Seahawks led the NFL in points allowed, averaging 17.3 points per game.^[41] The Legion of Boom also held opponents to the second-fewest passing yards and the fewest passing touchdowns of any defensive secondary in the NFL.^[42] According to Football Outsiders' proprietary DVOA metric,^[43] Seattle's defense was ranked third against the pass and fourth overall,^[44] their lowest rankings in those respective categories since 2011.

Accolades

• Richard Sherman: 4× Pro Bowl (2013–2016), 3× First-team All-Pro (2012–2014), Second-team All-Pro (2015), NFL interceptions leader (2013)
• Kam Chancellor: 4× Pro Bowl (2011, 2013–2015), 2× Second-team All-Pro (2013, 2014)
• Earl Thomas: 6× Pro Bowl (2011–2015, 2017), 3× First-team All-Pro (2012–2014), 2× Second-team All-Pro (2011, 2017)
• Brandon Browner: Pro Bowl (2011)
• Bobby Wagner: 4× Pro Bowl (2014–2017), 3× First-team All-Pro (2014, 2016, 2017), Second-team All-Pro (2015), NFL tackling leader (2016)
• K. J. Wright: Pro Bowl (2016)
• Malcolm Smith: Super Bowl MVP (XLVIII)
• Michael Bennett: 3× Pro Bowl (2015–2017), Pro Bowl Defensive MVP (2015)
• Cliff Avril: Pro Bowl (2016)