Only three NFL teams have accomplished the feat that stares the Seahawks in the face this season, the challenge of winning three consecutive conference/NFL titles.
Only three NFL teams have accomplished the feat that stares the Seahawks in the face this season, the challenge of winning three consecutive conference/NFL titles. They are the 1965-67 Green Bay Packers, the 1971-73 Miami Dolphins and the 1990-93 Buffalo Bills. All did so with rosters filled with Hall of Fame players. Here’s a breakdown of those teams:
Green Bay Packers
Won three consecutive NFL titles from 1965 to 1967
1966 > NFL TITLE WIN
Postseason winners
Eleven NFL franchises have winning records in the postseason, including the Seahawks:
Baltimore
65.2%
15-8
San Francisco
61.2%
30-18
New England
60.9%
28-18
Green Bay
60.8%
31-20
Pittsburgh
60%
33-22
Oakland*
58.1%
25-18
Dallas
56.7%
34-26
Washington**
56.1%
23-18
Carolina
53.8%
7-6
Seattle
51.9%
14-13
Denver
51.3%
20-19
* includes 12 games played as L.A. franchise ** includes one game played as Boston franchise
Green Bay 23, Cleveland 12
» Watch for our special Seahawks preview section Thursday in print. Stories from the preview section are publishing online throughout the week starting Tuesday.1967 > SUPER BOWL WIN
Green Bay 35, Kansas City 10
1968 > SUPER BOWL WIN
Green Bay 33, Oakland 14
Hall of Fame players:
RB Jim Taylor   1958-66
OT Forrest Gregg   1958-70
QB Bart Starr   1956-71
LB Ray Nitschke   1958-72
CB Herb Adderley   1959-71
DE Willie Davis   1960-69
RB Paul Hornung   1957-62, 1964-66
DB Willie Wood   1960-71
DT Henry Jordan   1959-69
LB Dave Robinson   1963-72
It was a lot easier to keep a dynasty together back in the ’60s before the salary cap. The book “Coaching Matters’’ detailed that the Packers had roster turnover average of just nine players per season during the Vince Lombardi era. The Seahawks already have lost 11 players who were listed as starters in their Super Bowl victory.
Miami Dolphins
Won three consecutive AFC titles from 1971 to 1973
1972 > SUPER BOWL LOSS
Dallas 24, Miami 3
1973 > SUPER BOWL WIN
Miami 14, Washington 7
1974 > SUPER BOWL WIN
Miami 24, Minnesota 7
Hall of Fame players:
QB Bob Griese   1967-80
C Jim Langer   1970-79
OT Larry Little   1969-80
LB Nick Buoniconti   1969-74, 1976
WR Paul Warfield   1970-74
RB Larry Csonka   1968-74, 1979
Eighteen of 22 starters remained the same from Miami’s first Super Bowl team in the run to its third. But Miami’s dynasty was undone in part when three star players — Csonka, Warfield and running back Jim Kiick — signed with the World Football League.
Buffalo Bills
Won four consecutive AFC titles from 1990 to 1993
1991 > SUPER BOWL LOSS
N.Y. Giants 20, Buffalo 19
1992 > SUPER BOWL LOSS
Washington 37, Buffalo 24
1993 > SUPER BOWL LOSS
Dallas 52, Buffalo 17
1994 > SUPER BOWL LOSS
Dallas 30, Buffalo 13
Hall of Fame players:
QB Jim Kelly   1986-96
WR James Lofton   1989-92
DE Bruce Smith   1985-99
WR Andre Reed   1985-99
RB Thurman Thomas   1988-99
Buffalo did not win a Super Bowl, but its feat of reaching four in a row remains impressive. The Bills did it right at the beginning of the salary-cap era, making it a little easier to keep the team together. Few will be surprised if a couple more members of this team eventually make the Hall of Fame, such as center Kent Hull.
Which Seahawks could make the Hall of Fame?
Running back Marshawn Lynch
Lynch has 8,695 career yards, and he would have a good case with two more good seasons. With 2,000 more yards he would be the 22nd-leading career rusher in the NFL.
Quarterback Russell Wilson
Just three years in, he’s already won one Super Bowl and led his team to another. Twelve quarterbacks have started three or more Super Bowls — eight are in the Hall of Fame, and three are active (Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning). The other is Kurt Warner, who didn’t become a starting NFL quarterback until he was 28.
Cornerback Richard Sherman
Three consecutive first-team All-Pro honors already, and he just turned 27 in March. Should he stay on that track, his chances won’t be me-di-o-cre.
Free safety Earl Thomas
Building a résumé similar to that of Richard Sherman, having been named first-team All-Pro the past three seasons and second-team in 2011, and having turned 26 in May.
Linebacker Bobby Wagner
First-team All-Pro in 2014 in his third season in the NFL and just 25 years old. He’s now stepping out of the shadow of some of his better-known teammates after signing a contract worth $10.75 million per year.
Tight end Jimmy Graham
Most dynasties pick up a Hall-of-Famer who started their career elsewhere, and Graham could be that for the Seahawks. He is the seventh player in NFL history to score 50 or more touchdowns in his first five years in the league (Graham has 51).