Steve Hutchinson becomes fifth player drafted by Seahawks elected to Hall of Fame
Steve Hutchinson makes five.
The five-time All-Pro guard found out Saturday night he is the fifth player drafted by the Seahawks elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Hutchinson made it in his third year of eligibility. He’d been in finalist in every year of his eligibility.
He joins safety Steve Atwater, wide receiver Issac Bruce, (briefly Seahawks) running back Edgerrin James and safety Troy Polamalu in earning selection by the Hall of Fame’s 48-person committee to elect the Class of 2020.
The committee held its selection meeting Saturday in Miami Beach on the eve of Super Bowl 54 in Miami.
Seattle drafted Hutchinson in the first round, at 17th overall, in 2001. He joins safety Kenny Easley, tackle Walter Jones, defensive lineman Cortez Kennedy and center Kevin Mawae as Seahawks draftees in the Hall of Fame.
Hutchinson will be officially enshrined at the Hall’s annual induction weekend this summer in Canton, Ohio.
He made the first three of his seven Pro Bowl teams had the first two of five All-Pro selections while as Seattle’s left guard from 2001-05 for coach Mike Holmgren, and what in ‘05 became the first Seahawks team to play in the Super Bowl. Hutchinson started next to Hall of Fame left tackle Walter Jones and Pro Bowl center Robbie Tobeck on the best line Seattle’s ever had.
Hutchinson started from the first game of his rookie season through his departure following the 2005 season and Super Bowl 40 that ended it with Seattle’s loss to Pittsburgh in Detroit.
Hutchinson left the Seahawks in controversy when his agent, Tom Condon, included a controversial “poison-pill” clause in a contract offer from Minnesota that Seattle could not match. Hutchinson signed with the Vikings before the ‘06 season. He retired following the 2012 season, his only one with the Tennessee Titans.
Hutchinson returned to Seattle to raise the team’s “12th Man” flag immediately before kickoff of the Seahawks’ playoff win over Detroit in January 2016 at CenturyLink Field. That indicated any hard feelings were buried—as have his previous comments that if it were up to him he’d go into the Hall of Fame representing the Seahawks if he’s selection.
James signed with the Seahawks in 2009, after seven years, 9,224 yards and 64 touchdowns rushing for the Indianapolis Colts, 2,895 yards and 16 more rushing touchdowns with the Arizona Cardinals. James’ final 125 yards of his 12,246 came while with Seattle in the last season before Pete Carroll and John Schneider arrived in 2010 to remake the franchise.
James was the 1999 NFL offensive rookie of the year, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and one time an All-Pro with the Colts. He played in a Super Bowl for Arizona, at the end of the 2008 season.
He made it into the Hall on his sixth year of eligibility.
This story was originally published February 1, 2020 at 4:18 PM.
