As an undrafted free agent out of the University of Georgia, Mack Strong went on to play all 14 of his seasons in Seattle, paving the way for some of the best running backs in franchise history.  

“Mack Strong was one of those guys that made the team as a college free agent and develops into one of the best full backs this franchise has ever had and one of the better ones in the league,” Clare Farnsworth, former Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Seahawks.com writer said. “Just a good player. He was originally a special teams players and then developed into a fullback.”

Strong served as the lead blocker for 1,000-yard rushers Chris Warren, Ricky Watters and Shaun Alexander, including Alexander’s record-breaking MVP season in 2005. He was awarded AP All-Pro honors and his first trip to the Pro Bowl in 2005 during Seattle’s run to the Super Bowl. Strong was the epitome of what it meant to be a Seahawk as he won the team’s Steve Largent Award five times which is more than any player in team history.

“It means a lot,” Strong said on winning the award five times. “I really appreciate my teammates for that. Every year that award is voted on by your teammates. I think it speaks a lot to how much people respect me. When I retired, I was the longest tenured veteran on that team by a long shot and finished second in total games played in franchise history, so I really take it as a sign of respect and admiration from my teammates. Personally, I was a little embarrassed just because there were others who were deserving of that award and doing great things in the community and as a teammate. So, I definitely saw it as a sign of respect and admiration from my teammates.”

His work off the field was recognized by the league as he was the Seahawks’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2004.