On Feb. 1, 2015, the dynasty was alive and well. It had seized a 10-point lead in Super Bowl 49 with four minutes to play in the third-quarter, and the most vicious defense in the league could slam the door on a repeat championship. Even when Tom Brady led the Patriots to 14 unanswered points, handing them a 28-24 advantage at the two-minute warning, the Seahawks' reign still had life. Russell Wilson's throw down the sideline was hauled in after an incredible deflection, bobble, and kick by Jermaine Kearse. Seattle was one yard away from another Lombardi Trophy.
The rest of this Super Bowl story is football mythology. Pete Carroll and Darrell Bevell elected to throw at the goal line. Wilson's pass was miraculously picked off by Malcolm Butler. And it was the Patriots that escaped with another ring. The Seahawks organization never recovered.
When Wilson was traded to the Broncos this week, the soul of those 2010s Seahawks left the building -- the release of Bobby Wagner locked the door behind them. No players remain from the 2013 Super Bowl team. A thrashing of the Broncos gave the Seahawks their first title, and that officially opened a window of endless potential. A trade to the Broncos then officially ended an entire era.
The Seahawks were never able to retain their excellence after the Super Bowl tragedy to New England, still the most questionable play call in league history. But the core of the franchise was poised for six or seven years of dominance. When the Seahawks hoisted the Lombardi a year earlier, all of their best talent was still early in their careers. On offense, Wilson and wideouts Doug Baldwin, Percy Harvin, and Golden Tate were only 25 years old -- Kearse and tight end Luke Willson were 23.
The old man of the group was Marshawn Lynch at 27, with plenty of hard-earned mileage on his body. The possibilities on defense were even greater. The "Legion of Boom" was just entering its prime. Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor were 25. Earl Thomas, K.J. Wright, and Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith were just 24. Wagner was 23. The elder statesmen on defense were 27-year old Cliff Avril and 28-year old Michael Bennett. Not one of the Seahawks' best dozen players had hit 30 yet.
The chaotic final sequence that crushed their dreams of a repeat Super Bowl left an organization wobbly. The offseason was filled with second-guessing of the final playcall, and a fractured locker room. Conspiracy theories abounded, including Carroll's desire for Wilson to be the hero, instead of the acerbic star Lynch. The defense felt cheated out of a ring, and bristled over whether Russ took enough heat for his errant throw. A locker room fueled on bravado and swagger had it ripped away on a single play.
It all melted after that. After the Super Bowl loss, the Seahawks had four straight seasons with no more than 10 wins. They never advanced farther than the NFC divisional round, and the DNA of the franchise evaporated. Lynch, Sherman and Thomas feuded with the organization over money. Chancellor's injuries forced him to retire early. The offensive line was a constant source of frustration. The draft no longer produced Pro Bowlers. They changed offensive coordinators and schemes for Wilson, yet none of it could fix the root of the problems. The Seahawks had lost their heartbeat.
Wilson's dynamic throws downfield and Carroll's energetic gum-chewing on the sideline looked like the old days. But it was fool's gold. The defense got pushed around, and the once-mighty Seattle growl receded into a whimper. Few organizations ever have an opportunity like Seattle did, with the entire nucleus of a Super Bowl champion under 30. There should've been more Super Bowl appearances. More deep playoff runs. More of everything.
Had the Seahawks handed the ball to Lynch and collected a second ring, perhaps that would've been the final Super Bowl for that group, anyway. Perhaps emboldened by a place amongst the legendary teams, though, Seattle may have continued bullying its competition. Either way, a dynasty that seemed almost inevitable never came to be. This week was a reminder of how quickly a window can slam shut on a team poised for greatness. It was a reminder that, while the 2013-2014 Seahawks were great, they'll ultimately be remembered as one of the most puzzling "what ifs" in league history.