When the Seahawks issued rookie Grey Zabel the No. 76 jersey, the first-round pick didn’t just accept it, he made it personal. Zabel reached out to Hall of Fame guard Steve Hutchinson to get his blessing before wearing the iconic number in Seattle.
“That was kind of the equipment staff’s idea,” Zabel explained via the team’s official site. “I had to ask Hutch if it was OK to wear it and he was all for it, super excited. No better number to wear in Seattle history.”
While No. 76 isn’t officially retired, it carries weight in Seattle. Hutchinson wore it during his standout five-year stint with the Seahawks before a controversial departure to Minnesota on a “poison pill” contract.
Since then, notable linemen like Russell Okung, Germain Ifedi and Duane Brown have taken it on. But Zabel’s gesture adds a fresh layer of respect to the number’s legacy.
Zabel’s connection to Hutchinson goes beyond just a jersey. The two met during the Senior Bowl in Mobile, where Zabel had multiple conversations with the Hall of Famer. The experience left a lasting impression.
“Being able to connect with him was surreal,” Zabel said. “I remember after my interview with him down at the Senior Bowl, I immediately called my dad. Super excited and hopefully I’ll have more conversations with him.”
Zabel’s nod to Seahawks history stands out in today’s NFL, where young players are often more focused on carving their own legacy than honoring the past. If he can even approximate Hutchinson’s dominance on the interior, Seattle may have struck gold with its top pick.
