The 1978 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's third season in the National Football League (NFL). The Seahawks won nine games, giving the franchise its first winning season. Coach Jack Patera won the National Football League Coach of the Year Award at seasons end.
Led by the third ranked offense, the team had some achievements. David Sims led the AFC in total touchdowns – 15, including 14 rushing – and the team had 28 rushing touchdowns, number two in the league. Steve Largent made his first Pro Bowl with 71 receptions and 8 touchdowns. Quarterback Jim Zorn earned his sole All-Pro honor of his career by making the second team. This would be the only All-Pro by a Seahawks quarterback until Russell Wilson was selected in 2019 . The defense, however, lagged far behind ranking 26th.
Season highlights included defeating the Oakland Raiders twice and a last-second win over the Minnesota Vikings . Also a memorable game was a 20–17 loss in overtime to the Denver Broncos . Following an interception of a Jim Zorn pass off of a deflection, in overtime, the Broncos drove to the 1 yard line, but could not punch it in for a touchdown. Jim Turner missed an 18-yard field goal attempt, but the Seahawks were penalized for having 12 men on the field and the Broncos made the second kick. A 37–10 defeat in San Diego in week 15 eliminated the Seahawks from playoff contention, but a 23–19 win at home against Kansas City gave the team their first winning season.
Undrafted free agents
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1978 Seattle Seahawks staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Strength and conditioning
Head trainer – Bruce Scott
Assistant trainer – Jim Whitesel
[ 1]
Starters in bold.
(*) Denotes players that were selected for the 1979 Pro Bowl .
Source: Seahawks Media Guides[ 2] [ 3]
With the start of a 16-game season, inter-conference play began a rotating schedule. Divisional matchups had the AFC West playing the NFC Central.
Bold indicates division opponents.
Source: 1978 NFL season results[ 4] [ 5]
Week P1: vs. San Diego Chargers
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Preseason Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chargers
0
3
3 3 9
Seahawks
0
7
3 7 17
at Kingdome , Seattle
Week P2: at San Francisco 49ers
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Preseason Week Two: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
13
7 0 20
49ers
0
3
3 0 6
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco
Date : Game time : 6:06 pm local Game weather : cloudy, 61 °F (16 °C), 77% humidity, wind S 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h)Game attendance : 36,069Referee : Fred Silva TV : KIRO Gamebook
Week P3: vs. Los Angeles Rams
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Preseason Week Three: Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Rams
10
6
7 3 26
Seahawks
0
7
0 0 7
at Kingdome , Seattle
Week P4: vs. Chicago Bears
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Preseason Week Four: Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bears
0
0
0 7 7
Seahawks
0
7
3 6 16
at Kingdome , Seattle
Week 1: vs. San Diego Chargers
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Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chargers
7
3
7 7 24
Seahawks
6
7
0 7 20
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SD – Rolf Benirschke 18-yard field goal, 3:21 (SD 10–6)
SEA – Jim Zorn 23-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 0:16 (SEA 13–10)
Third quarter
SD – John Jefferson 6-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 11:23 (SD 17–13)
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SD – 186 – 89 – 275 – 2
SEA – 308 – 138 – 446 – 2
Week 2: at Pittsburgh Steelers
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 20-yard field goal, 6:48 (PIT 14–10)
Fourth quarter
PIT – Franco Harris 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick), 14:19 (PIT 21–10)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 154 – 93 – 247 – 3
PIT – 185 – 151 – 336 – 1
Week 3: at New York Jets
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Week Three: Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
14
3 7 24
Jets
7
7
3 0 17
at Shea Stadium , New York
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – David Sims 3-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 13:19 (Tied 7–7)
NYJ – Clark Gaines 5-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 7:58 (NYJ 14–7)
SEA – David Sims 2-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 4:01 (Tied 14–14)
Third quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 45-yard field goal, 8:33 (SEA 17–14)
NYJ – Pat Leahy 37-yard field goal, 1:57 (Tied 17–17)
Fourth quarter
SEA – David Sims 3-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:20 (SEA 24–17)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 181 – 153 – 334 – 2
NYJ – 201 – 177 – 378 – 3
Week 4: vs. Detroit Lions
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Week Four: Seattle Seahawks vs. Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Lions
3
3
10 0 16
Seahawks
0
7
0 21 28
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
DET – Benny Ricardo 35-yard field goal, 12:00 (DET 6–0)
SEA – Jim Zorn 5-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:10 (SEA 7–6)
Third quarter
DET – Benny Ricardo 29-yard field goal, 9:53 (DET 9–7)
DET – Dexter Bussey 29-yard run (Benny Ricardo kick), 0:58 (DET 16–7)
Fourth quarter
SEA – Steve Largent 40-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 12:34 (DET 16–14)
SEA – Ron Howard 4-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 9:17 (SEA 21–16)
SEA – Sam McCullum 12-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 2:30 (SEA 28–16)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
DET – 129 – 132 – 261 – 0
SEA – 158 – 87 – 245 – 1
Week 5: at Denver Broncos
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Week Five: Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
0
7 0 7
Broncos
7
7
0 14 28
at Mile High Stadium , Denver , Colorado
Date : October 1Game time : 2:00 pm local Game weather : partly cloudy, 82 °F (28 °C), 23% humidity, wind 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)Game attendance : 74,989Referee : Cal Lepore TV announcers (NBC ) : Jay Randolph and Mike HaffnerGamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
DEN – Jon Keyworth 9-yard pass from Norris Weese (Jim Turner kick), 7:26 (DEN 14–0)
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 231 – 92 – 323 – 5
DEN – 169 – 204 – 373 – 3
Week 6: vs. Minnesota Vikings
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Week Six: Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Vikings
0
14
14 0 28
Seahawks
13
6
0 10 29
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
SEA – Jim Zorn 22-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 9:02 (MIN 28–26)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 19-yard field goal, 0:00 (SEA 29–28)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
MIN – Robert Miller: 4 rec, 58 yds
SEA – Sam McCullum : 5 rec, 98 yds, 1 TD
Team – – – –
MIN – 274 – 117 – 391 – 1
SEA – 248 – 184 – 432 – 2
Week 7: at Green Bay Packers
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Week Seven: Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
14
7 7 28
Packers'
28
3
14 0 45
at Milwaukee County Stadium , Milwaukee , Wisconsin
Date : October 15Game time : 12:00 pm local Game weather : cloudy, 42 °F (6 °C), 87% humidity, wind S 14 miles per hour (23 km/h)Game attendance : 52,712Referee : Chuck Heberling TV announcers (NBC ) : Sam Nover and Bob TrumpyGamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Jim Zorn 12-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 13:06 (GB 28–7)
SEA – Steve Largent 48-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 11:38 (GB 28–14)
GB – Chester Marcol 22-yard field goal, 6:32 (GB 31–14)
Third quarter
GB – Terdell Middleton 2-yard run (Chester Marcol kick), 11:51 (GB 38–14)
SEA – Sherman Smith 9-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 9:04 (GB 38–21)
GB – Terdell Middleton 9-yard run (Chester Marcol kick), 4:35 (GB 45–21)
Fourth quarter
SEA – David Sims 2-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:23 (GB 45–28)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 289 – 194 – 483 – 7
GB – 179 – 190 – 369 – 3
Week 8: vs. Oakland Raiders
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Week Eight: Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Raiders
0
0
0 7 7
Seahawks
7
14
6 0 27
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Sherman Smith 2-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 7:33 (SEA 14–0)
SEA – Sherman Smith 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 0:07 (SEA 21–0)
Third quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 42-yard field goal, 2:16 (SEA 24–0)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 32-yard field goal, 0:36 (SEA 27–0)
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
OAK – 177 – 70 – 247 – 4
SEA – 170 – 204 – 374 – 1
Week 9: vs. Denver Broncos
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Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Broncos
3
7
7 0 3 20
Seahawks
7
7
0 3 0 17
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Jim Zorn 4-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 13:09 (SEA 14–3)
DEN – Rick Upchurch 29-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 3:28 (SEA 14–10)
Third quarter
DEN – Lonnie Perrin 1-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 5:46 (DEN 17–14)
Fourth quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 37-yard field goal, 1:53 (Tied 17–17)
Overtime
DEN – Jim Turner 18-yard field goal, 2:01 (DEN 20–17)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
DEN – 145 – 278 – 423 – 3
SEA – 140 – 118 – 258 – 5
Week 10: at Chicago Bears
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Week Ten: Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
7
7
14 3 31
Bears
0
6
10 13 29
at Soldier Field , Chicago , Illinois
Date : November 5Game time : 12:01 pm local Game weather : clear, 71 °F (22 °C), 74% humidity, wind S 16 miles per hour (26 km/h)Game attendance : 50,697Referee : Pat Haggerty TV announcers (NBC ) : Curt Gowdy and John BrodieGamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
CHI – Bob Thomas 33-yard field goal, 1:22 (SEA 7–3)
SEA – Steve Largent 26-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 0:31 (SEA 14–3)
CHI – Bob Thomas 36-yard field goal, 0:01 (SEA 14–6)
Third quarter
CHI – Bob Thomas 39-yard field goal, 11:04 (SEA 14–9)
SEA – Steve Largent 31-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 8:14 (SEA 21–9)
CHI – Roland Harper 20-yard pass from Mike Phipps (Bob Thomas kick), 1:38 (SEA 21–16)
SEA – Sherman Smith 6-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:03 (SEA 28–16)
Fourth quarter
CHI – Walter Payton 1-yard run (PAT failed), 7:33 (SEA 28–22)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 34-yard field goal, 5:06 (SEA 31–22)
CHI – Roland Harper 2-yard run (Bob Thomas kick), 0:35 (SEA 31–29)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 165 – 224 – 389 – 1
CHI – 227 – 174 – 401 – 3
Week 11: vs. Baltimore Colts
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Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. Baltimore Colts – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Colts
7
3
0 7 17
Seahawks
7
0
0 7 14
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
BAL – Toni Linhart 22-yard field goal, 9:58 (BAL 10–7)
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
BAL – Ron Lee 14-yard run (Toni Linhart kick), 8:20 (BAL 17–7)
SEA – David Sims 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:05 (BAL 17–14)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
BAL – 115 – 133 – 248 – 1
SEA – 95 – 168 – 263 – 3
Week 12: at Kansas City Chiefs
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – David Sims 10-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 13:56 (SEA 10–0)
KC – Jan Stenerud 20-yard field goal, 0:04 (SEA 10–3)
Third quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 18-yard field goal, 9:08 (SEA 13–3)
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 125 – 132 – 257 – 0
KC – 231 – 124 – 355 – 4
Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
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Week Thirteen: Seattle Seahawks at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
7
0
0 10 17
Raiders
0
10
0 6 16
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum , Oakland, California
Date : November 26Game time : 1:00 pm local Game weather : hazy, 50 °F (10 °C), 86% humidity, wind W 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)Game attendance : 52,978Referee : Jerry Markbreit TV announcers (NBC ) : Curt Gowdy and John BrodieGamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
SEA – Steve Largent 27-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 12:20 (SEA 14–10)
OAK – Dave Casper 31-yard pass from Ken Stabler (PAT failed), 5:29 (OAK 16–14)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 46-yard field goal, 0:02 (SEA 17–16)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 263 – 84 – 347 – 2
OAK – 198 – 133 – 331 – 1
Week 14: vs. Cleveland Browns
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Week Fourteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Browns
0
10
7 7 24
Seahawks
14
9
7 17 47
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
SEA – David Sims 19-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 11:14 (SEA 30–10)
CLE – Greg Pruitt 26-yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick), 5:33 (SEA 30–17)
Fourth quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 38-yard field goal, 9:22 (SEA 33–17)
SEA – David Sims 9-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 7:49 (SEA 40–17)
CLE – Dave Logan 5-yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick), 4:24 (SEA 40–24)
SEA – Keith Simpson 40-yard interception return (Efrén Herrera kick), 0:43 (SEA 47–24)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
CLE – 259 – 193 – 452 – 6
SEA – 235 – 183 – 418 – 2
Week 15: at San Diego Chargers
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Week Fifteen: Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
7
3
0 0 10
Chargers
3
17
0 17 37
at San Diego Stadium , San Diego
Date : December 10Game time : 1:00 pm local Game weather : clear, 69 °F (21 °C), 50% humidity, wind W 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)Game attendance : 49,975Referee : Pat Haggerty TV announcers (NBC ) : Jim Simpson and Paul WarfieldGamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 48-yard field goal, 12:44 (SEA 10–3)
SD – Rolf Benirschke 26-yard field goal, 4:33 (SEA 10–6)
SD – John Jefferson 31-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 1:56 (SD 13–10)
SD – John Jefferson 6-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 0:22 (SD 20–10)
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
SD – Larry Burton 55-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 14:06 (SD 27–10)
SD – Hank Bauer 1-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 9:58 (SD 34–10)
SD – Rolf Benirschke 27-yard field goal, 6:51 (SD 37–10)
Top passers
SEA – Jim Zorn : 14/31, 150 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
SD – Dan Fouts : 22/33, 279 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 103 – 136 – 239 – 3
SD – 286 – 95 – 381 – 1
Week 16: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
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Week Sixteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs
3
7
7 2 19
Seahawks
7
13
0 3 23
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Al Hunter 5-yard run (PAT failed), 8:56 (SEA 13–3)
SEA – Al Hunter 5-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 5:12 (SEA 20–3)
KC – Arnold Morgado 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:58 (SEA 20–10)
Third quarter
KC – Tony Reed 62-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 7:39 (SEA 20–17)
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
KC – 44 – 253 – 297 – 3
SEA – 252 – 204 – 456 – 2