The Legion Of Boom: Best Defense In NFL History
Wed, Jan 12, 2022
by
CapperTek
What Was The Legion Of Boom?
No matter what we are considering in life, it is often best to look at the past for reference to the future. ‘How does this apply to football?’ you might wonder. Well, it really does matter, because when we consider the past of football, it can give hints to the future we might expect.
Not that long ago did we see the unbelievable ‘Legion of Boom’. If we consider what we saw then, and what we see now, we can make better predictions for the future. Super Bowl betting odds for this season might not be a reckoning for a repeat of the ‘Legion of Boom’. This does not mean that it may not return in the future.
So, what exactly was the ‘Legion of Boom?’ Well, if you do not know already, it was the Seattle Seahawks’ unbelievable defense. They have since ceased their… legion. However, they left behind them a trail of a decade filled with memories no one will be eager to forget.
They led the franchise to six-consecutive seasons of straight winning, with three division titles, two NFC Championships, and back-to-back appearances at the Super Bowl. Not to mention a jaw-dropping 43-8 decimation of Peyton Manning and the Broncos in the Super Bowl XLVIII.
From 2012 until 2015, the Seahawks were the leading franchise in the NFL in scoring defense for four whole seasons. This is an extraordinary accomplishment that had never been seen before in the era of Super Bowls!
What we all want to know is if this will ever happen again and if we are ever likely to see a repeat in that period of history.
Who Is The Legion Of Boom?
Back in 2011, we saw the beginning of the era of the Legion of Boom blossoming. This was when the cornerback Richard Sherman got chosen upon the team's 154th pick in the draft. Alongside Kam Chancellor ( safety), and Earl Thomas (safety), as well as Brandon Browner (cornerback), the legion was born.
Browner did later sign with the Patriots as a free agent, though, and later on, he got replaced by Bryon Maxwell.
The origins of the Legion nickname were sourced after Chancellor, on a local radio show, said the line that he ‘liked to bring the boom’. Twitter was the technical birth of the name though, as a fan offered up the nickname, and it just stuck, as merchandise started to pour out, supporting the ‘Legion of Boom’.
Of course, the legion did not last forever. The members parted ways and have each continued their lives in different ways.
Earl Thomas III, for example, left after nine seasons. He left the Seahawks on a bit of a bad note, since he suffered a broken leg while facing Arizona, and was seen flipping the bird to Pete Carroll as he was taken off the field. However, now he is a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
There is Richard Sherman, best known for his trash talk. Sherman is still one of the best cornerbacks in the game, however in 2018 he joined the 49ers, so he is still around. Even getting his fifth Pro Bowl recently.
Kam Chancellor, the man who originated the name, was released from the Seahawks in 2018. He had suffered a neck injury that put him at risk of paralysis. Although he never actually stated he was retiring, it would seem he’s hung up his football cleats. Yet, until we hear it from him, we can’t say anything for sure.
There was also Brandon Browner. He was known for his super-speed and athleticism. He had stints with both the Saints and Patriots but returned to Seattle in 2016. However, he was released after the team’s third game of the preseason and is now serving 8 years in jail.
Let’s not forget Byron Maxwell, a crucial part of the puzzle. He was released in 2018 due to an injury but has since hosted community events, football camps, and so on.
The Seahawks Then Vs Now.
The original Legion of Boom is said and done now, but that is not to say that we might not see another Legion of Boom be born in the future. In this football season, the Seahawks captured their fifth NFC West crown since 2010, and grabbed themselves their 8th playoff trip in 9 years!
Pete Carroll’s era has brought the Seahawks an incredible amount of success, and while we might not see the Legion of Boom again, not as it was, we are sure to say there is plenty of success ahead for the Seahawks.