1979 Seattle Seahawks season
NFL team season
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 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
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
Quarter
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Vikings
0
6
0 3 0 9
Seahawks 9
0
0 0 3 12
at Kingdome , Seattle
Week P2: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Preseason Week Two: Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Cowboys
7
0
3 7 17
Seahawks 7
7
3 10 27
at Kingdome , Seattle
Week P3: at Los Angeles Rams
Preseason Week Three: Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
7
7
0 3 17
Rams 7
0
14 0 21
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco
Week P4: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Preseason Week Four: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
49ers
0
0
0 20 20
Seahawks 17
17
21 0 55
at Kingdome , Seattle
Regular season
Week 1: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chargers 0
13
10 10 33
Seahawks
3
7
0 6 16
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
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
3
7 0 10
Dolphins 0
9
3 7 19
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
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Raiders
0
0
7 3 10
Seahawks 7
3
10 7 27
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
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
10
10
14 0 34
Broncos 0
10
21 6 37
at Mile High Stadium , Denver , Colorado
Date : September 23Game 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 : 74,879Referee : Gene Barth TV announcers (NBC ) : Marv Albert and Mike HaffnerGamebook
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
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs 0
10
0 14 24
Seahawks
3
0
3 0 6
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
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks 14
7
7 7 35
49ers
7
3
0 14 24
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco
Date : October 7Game time : 1:02 pm local Game weather : cloudy, 61 °F (16 °C), 77% humidity, wind variableGame attendance : 44,592Referee : Pat Haggerty TV announcers (NBC ) : Marv Albert and Mike HaffnerGamebook
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
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Oilers
0
7
0 7 14
Seahawks 7
7
6 14 34
at Kingdome , Seattle
Date : October 21Game time : 1:01 pm local Game weather : indoorsGame attendance : 60,705Referee : Jerry Seeman TV announcers (NBC ) : Merle Harmon and George KunzGamebook
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
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Rams 14
7
3 0 24
Seahawks
0
0
0 0 0
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] 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
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks 7
9
0 13 29
Browns
0
3
14 7 24
at Cleveland Stadium , Cleveland , Ohio
Date : November 11Game 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 : 72,440Referee : Fred Silva TV announcers (NBC ) : Merle Harmon and George KunzGamebook
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
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints
7
7
3 7 24
Seahawks 7
17
0 14 38
at Kingdome , Seattle
Date : November 18Game time : 1:01 pm local Game weather : indoorsGame attendance : 60,055Referee : Dick Jorgensen TV announcers (CBS ) : Vin Scully and George AllenGamebook
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
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Jets
0
0
7 0 7
Seahawks 3
13
14 0 30
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
Week 14: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week Fourteen: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
0
7 14 21
Chiefs 14
10
6 7 37
at Arrowhead Stadium , Kansas City, Missouri
Date : December 2Game 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 : 42,160Referee : Red Cashion TV announcers (NBC ) : Jay Randolph and Paul MaguireGamebook
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
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Broncos
0
20
3 0 23
Seahawks 7
7
7 7 28
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
Week Sixteen: Seattle Seahawks at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks 10
7
9 3 29
Raiders
7
10
0 7 24
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum , Oakland, California
Date : December 16Game time : 1:01 pm local Game weather : clear, 56 °F (13 °C), 61% humidity, wind SW 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)Game attendance : 53,177Referee : Jerry Markbreit TV announcers (NBC ) : Merle Harmon and George KunzGamebook
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
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (11) Conference championships (3) League championships (1) Retired numbers Affiliations
