View photos of players and coaches who have suited up for both the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks.
Pete Carroll coached defensive backs for the Minnesota Vikings for 5 seasons (1985-89) under Bud Grant and Jerry Burns before being named defensive coordinator for the New York Jets.
Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll coached in the Pro Bowl as a member of the Minnesota Vikings staff following the 1987 season.
Carroll is the current head coach of the Seahawks and has led his team to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, including winning Super Bowl XLVIII.
Seven-time All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson was a 1st-round draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2001 (17th overall).
Hutchinson signed with the Vikings in 2006 after a controversial contract situation between the Vikings and Seahawks. Hutchinson started 89 games in his 6 seasons in Minnesota and was named as one of the 50 Greatest Vikings.
In 1976, former 1st-round pick Ahmad Rashad went to Training Camp with Seattle in their expansion season but was traded to the Vikings days before the regular season started.
Darrell Bevell received his first offensive coordinator job with the Vikings in 2006. He remained with the club through 2010, a year guiding Brett Favre and the 5th-ranked Vikings offense in 2009.
Bevell took over as the Seahawks offensive coordinator in 2011, where he has served the past 5 seasons. Bevell's offense had the top-ranked rushing attack in the NFL in 2014.
Minnesota native John Carlson was drafted by the Seahawks in the 2nd round of 2008. Carlson scored 13 touchdowns in 3 seasons with the Seahawks, sitting out 2011 due to an injury.
Carlson signed with the Vikings as a free agent in 2012, spending 2 seasons with the club. Carlson retired prior to the start of the 2015 season.
Coleman signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2012, becoming the first deaf player in the NFL. Coleman went to training camp with the Vikings before being released during roster cuts.
Coleman signed with the Seahawks in December of 2012 where he has remained on their roster. Coleman has 2 career NFL touchdowns, both receiving.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Eller was a 1st-round pick by the Vikings in 1964. Eller was a member of the historic Purple People Eaters before spending the final season in Seattle.
Heath Farwell signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He spent 6 seasons with the club, playing primarily on special teams.
Farwell signed with the Seahawks as a free agent following his time in Minnesota. Farwell was a key special teams player on the club's Super Bowl win following the 2013 season.
After a stop in Tennessee, Gray serves in the same role with the Vikings leading Minnesota's secondary.
Jerry Gray served as the Seahawks defensive backs coach during the 2010 season during their 7-9 campaign,
The Vikings selected Percy Harvin with the 22nd pick in 2009. In his first season in Minnesota, Harvin was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Percy Harvin was traded to Seattle during the 2013 offseason. Harvin spent the entire 2013 season and part of the 2014 season with the Seahawks.
Hauschka's first NFL stint came as an undrafted free agent with the Vikings in 2008. Hauschka spent training camp and the preseason with the Vikings before being waived during roster cuts.
After multiple stints around the NFL, Hauschka landed in Seattle in 2011. In 2013, the Pro Football Writers Association named Hauschka to their All-Pro team.
Defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema spent 5 seasons with the Vikings, helping them to two Super Bowl appearances.
Lurtsema was traded to the Seahawks in exchange for WR Ahmad Rashad and spent 2 seasons in Seattle. A welcome back ceremony was held for Lurtsema in his first game back in Minnesota.
After a long stint with the Houston Oilers, Hall of Fame QB Warren Moon joined the Vikings in 1994. Spending three seasons in Minnesota, Moon was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995.
After being released by the Vikings, Moon signed as a free agent with the Seahawks where he played in 1997 and 1998.
Patera coached the Vikings' Purple People Eaters for six seasons and helped lead the team to 3 Super Bowl appearances. Patera coached Hall of Famers Carl Eller and Alan Page.
Following his success with the Vikings, Patera was named the first head coach in the history of the Seattle Seahawks. Patera served as Seattle's head coach until the middle of the 1982 season.
Pro Football Hall of Fame DT John Randle played the first 11 seasons of his career with the Vikings. Randle recorded 10-plus sacks in each of his final eight seasons in Minnesota.
Following his time with the Vikings, Randle signed with the Seahawks where he spent the final 3 seasons of his career. Randle earned Pro Bowl honors in Seattle in 2001.
Rice entered the NFL with the Vikings the same year as RB Adrian Peterson in 2007. In four seasons in Minnesota, Rice hauled in 22 touchdowns.
Rice signed with the Seahawks in 2011 where he spent the final 3 seasons of his career. Rice tore his ACL in the middle of the 2013 season, the year Seattle won the Super Bowl.
Tice played for the Vikings for 3 seasons before joining the coaching staff. In 2002, Tice was named the team's head coach after being the interim for one game in 2001.
Mike Tice was signed by Seattle as an undrafted free agent in 1981. Tice spent 10 total seasons with the Seahawks in two stints.
Tarvaris Jackson was selected by the Vikings in the 2nd round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Jackson started 20 games in his 5 seasons in purple.
Following his time with the Vikings, Jackson has had two stints with Seattle. After spending the 2011 season with the Seahawks, he returned in 2013 where he played since.
Williams signed with the Seahawks prior to the 2014 season. In 2014, Williams recorded 3.0 sacks and helped guide Seattle to a Super Bowl appearance.
The Vikings selected DT Kevin Williams out of Oklahoma State in the 1st round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Williams spent 11 seasons with the Vikings and recorded 60.0 sacks.
Blair Walsh made 133 field goals in five seasons as a Minnesota Viking.
The Seahawks signed former Vikings K Blair Walsh during the 2018 offseason.
Defensive tackle Shamar Stephen was a core member of the Vikings interior defensive line for four seasons after being drafted by the team in 2014.
Former Vikings defensive tackle Shamar Stephen joined the Seahawks during the 2018 offseason as a free agent. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Defensive tackle Tom Johnson returned to the Vikings during the 2018 season after spending the offseason and a few games with the Seahawks to begin the season.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson spent one season with the Seahawks in 2017 after being trade to Seattle from the New York Jets. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson joined the team as a free agent during the 2018 offseason. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
The Seattle Seahawks were founded on June 4, 1974 when the NFL announced Seattle would be awarded a franchise that would begin play for the 1976 season. The 1st head coach in club history came from the Vikings- Jack Patera, who was hired on January 3, 1976. Patera served as defensive line coach on Bud Grant's staff from 1969-75 where he was an architect of the Purple People Eaters line. One Vikings mainstay from the early 1970s, Bob Lurtsema, was part of a Vikings trade in 1976 when WR Ahmad Rashad was acquired from the Seattle for Lurtsema and a 4th-round draft pick. Lurtsema went on to start 25 games in 1976 and '77 for Seattle as the franchise got off the ground. "It was exciting to be a part of something new like that," Lurtsema said. A fan favorite, Lurtsema and his Seahawks came back to Minnesota on 11/14/76 and he was welcomed at Met Stadium. "There's nothing like it in sports when you come back to play against your old team. It's so much fun to go against your old buddies and see those familiar faces."
Patera fielded a team with salty vets and talented youngsters in 1976, including rookie standout Jim Zorn and future Hall of Famer Steve Largent. The squad won 2 games.
"The city loved us," Lurtsema said. "The fans were there for the game day experience more than for great football. We had some really good players, but it's hard when you start out. Jack Patera did it the right way though, letting the veterans lead the way and bringing the young guys along. It was a great time in Seattle and I loved every minute."
Over the years, the link between the franchises continued as players shuffled between the roster, East and West down the Interstate 90 corridor. The list of names is dizzying for the NFL's two Northern-most franchises.
From Carl Eller in a 1979 trade for the final season of his career, to Percy Harvin in 2013, the teams have had open dialogue on personnel over the past 40 seasons. The connections include the front offices and coaching staffs as well. Seattle coach Pete Carroll reflects fondly on his time with the Vikings under Bud Grant and Jerry Burns while former Vikings head coach Mike Tice spent the majority of his NFL playing days in the Pacific Northwest.
This weekend, former Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and former Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson return to Minnesota in Seattle's first trip to Minnesota since the duo was helping Brett Favre re-write the record book in 2009, including a 35-9 win over the Seahawks.
View photos of some of the key contributors on the Seattle Seahawks roster in preparation for Sunday's Wild Card playoff game.
Lynch, a five-time Pro Bowler, was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, and Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll said he expects his running back to play on Sunday. Lynch had abdominal surgery Nov. 25.
Sunday will be Wilson's ninth start in the playoffs as an NFL QB. He is 6-2 in previous postseason starts and has thrown 12 total touchdowns in the playoffs.
Richard Sherman has 26 career interceptions in his first 80 regular season games in the NFL. Sherman faces up against the opponent's top receiving threat each week.
Chancellor is a heavy hammer in the back end of the Seattle defense. He has been credited with 443 total tackles by Seahawks coaches in his six seasons with Seattle.
Thomas was selected to his fifth straight Pro Bowl last month. The six-year pro is a three-time first-team AP All Pro. He leads the Seahawks with five interceptions on the season.
Baldwin led the Seahawks this season with team-highs in receptions (78), receiving yards (1,089) and receiving touchdowns (14).
Bennett is one of the top playmakers for the Seahawks on the defensive line. He posted 10.0 sacks and 52 tackles on the season.
Lockett is the fourth rookie receiver since 1970 to record a touchdown on a reception, kickoff and punt. He was named the NFC's Special Teams Player of the month in September. He averages 25.8 yards per kick return.
Steve Hauschka's streak of 19 consecutive field goals was snapped when his kick was blocked in Dallas on Nov. 1. He has made all six attempts this season from 50-plus yards.
Lynch, a five-time Pro Bowler, was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, and Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll said he expects his running back to play on Sunday. Lynch had abdominal surgery Nov. 25.
One of the most highly-charged player moves came in 2006 when perennial All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson came to the Vikings via the now-infamous "Poison Pill" offer sheet as a transition-tag player. The Vikings acquired their coveted lineman and did not have to give compensation to Seattle. Following Seattle's similar move with Vikings WR Nate Burleson, the NFL intervened and banned the practice.
Hutch's rugged presence on the offensive line helped the Vikings win consecutive NFC North titles in 2008 and 2009 and advance to the 2009 NFC title game. Hutchinson was All-Pro in 2006, '07, '08 and '09 with the Vikings, going along with the 3 straight he earned in his final 3 seasons in Seattle. Leaving his original team was not an easy decision, especially a team on the rise at the time. Hutchinson's last game as a Seahawk was Super Bowl XL against Pittsburgh. Don't ask him about it.
"Even though we were getting successful out there, we were still a really young team," Hutchinson said. "I was excited to be getting into the NFC North, the old Black and Blue Division, that was a cool aspect. It really reminded me of Big Ten football, which I had enjoyed at Michigan. Going to a team like the Vikings, with all their history, the Purple People Eaters and all of that, it was a great experience."
In Hutchinson's first season with the Vikings, the team went back to Seattle in the regular season, taking a decisive 31-13win from the Hawks on their home field. "It certainly was one of the most memorable games I've ever been a part of," Hutchinson said. "To win that one, I have to say was pretty sweet. I didn't look at it as a revenge game, even though it was built up like one. I just wanted to play well and we did. Today, I'm lucky to say I've been a part of two great franchises where I had success and made a lot of friends. I've still got close friends either on the staffs or players and coaches with both teams. I can't really root for one team this weekend. I'm just hoping that guys like Chad Greenway play well and stay healthy. I want both teams to win for different people."
Hutchinson was teammates with Vikings Ring of Honor member John Randle from 2001-03 and remained close when he came to Minnesota for the 2006 season. Randle went to the Pro Bowl in '01 for Seattle after making 6 appearances in the all-star game for the Vikings. Randle put the closing paragraph on his 14-season NFL career (Minnesota 1990-2000, Seattle 2001-03) in Seattle and polished his Hall of Fame resume, racking up 137.5 career sacks, 114 of those in Minnesota, the most in NFL history by a DT.
