Seattle Seahawks

The formal pursuit of a professional football franchise in the Pacific Northwest began in June 1972, when a collective of regional business leaders incorporated as Seattle Professional Football Inc. This consortium sought to capitalize on the National Football League's post-merger expansion plans, which aimed to increase the number of member clubs from 26 to 28. Following two years of negotiations, the league formally granted the city an expansion slot in June 1974.

In December 1974, Commissioner Pete Rozelle finalized the franchise agreement with Lloyd W. Nordstrom, who represented the Nordstrom family as the majority stakeholders. The organization's identity was established through a public naming contest in 1975, which saw the Seattle Seahawks moniker selected from over 1,700 unique suggestions. Administrative operations commenced with the appointment of John Thompson as general manager, who subsequently recruited Jack Patera to serve as the inaugural head coach in January 1976.

The Seattle Seahawks initiated competitive play in 1976 as members of the NFC West division, hosting games at the newly constructed Kingdome. Their first roster was assembled through an expansion draft in March 1976, where they alternated selections with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the 1976 NFL Draft, the club utilized the second overall pick to secure defensive tackle Steve Niehaus.

Unique scheduling requirements led to a structural shift in 1977, as the Seattle Seahawks transferred to the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved to the NFC. This realignment allowed both expansion teams to face every existing franchise within their first two years of operation. The early era concluded with a period of competitive ascension under head coach Chuck Knox, who arrived in 1983 and led the team to its first postseason appearance and an AFC Championship berth.