End Of An Era: Seahawks Release Tyler Lockett

Lockett was far more than just a productive pass catcher, however. He was also beloved by teammates, coaches and fans alike, and three times his teammates voted him the winner of the prestigious Steve Largent Award, which is given to the player or coach who best exemplifies the spirit, dedication and integrity of the Seahawks, making him one of three players, along with Russell Wilson and Mack Strong, to win that award three or more times.

“Man, I can go on all day,” quarterback Geno Smith said when asked about Lockett. “We’d be here all day talking about Tyler Lockett. He means so much to me. Just to see an NFL player of his caliber to have the humble demeanor that he has and the selflessness that he has and just the way that—a thousand-yard receiver consistently, the consistency that he’s shown and the leadership that he’s given to DK (Metcalf), Jaxon [Smith-Njigba] and all those guys in that room, it doesn’t go unnoticed. He’s one of my best friends. He’s a guy that I played against in college, so I knew exactly what he could do all along. Just being around him, his family, his wife—he’s soon to be a dad—he’s a special guy, a special person, and a special player.”

Lockett also made a big impact in the community, leading to him twice being the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, recognizing the work he did both in Seattle and his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

From his clutch catches late in games or on third down, to his spectacular toe-tapping grabs, to his numerous long catches on deep balls, Lockett was a playmaker in every sense of the word. That, combined with everything he meant to the team as a leader and to the community, made him a player universally loved and praised. Arguably no player coaxed more glowing praise out of Pete Carroll than Lockett, with Carroll, at various times, calling him “such a great player for so long,” or “phenomenal,” or a player with “extraordinary savvy,” or a player capable of “masterpiece” performances.

Even the more reserved Mike Macdonald couldn’t help but heap praise on Lockett after spending just one season with him.

“You think about Tyler and his career and the arc of his career, and to have that mentality, man, just the humility, putting the team first, what else can you ask for?” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “And he loves ball. That guy comes out here. He’s been doing it for such a long time, but the enthusiasm, the attitude, the productivity, man. The city knows Tyler, shoot, better than I do, but coming to know him this year has been a blessing for me personally too. I mean this guy, he’s just one of one. We absolutely love him.”

Lockett’s 10-year run in Seattle came to an end on Wednesday, but he will never be forgotten by fans, teammates or the organization.

“He’s been the OG here, the vet; now been here for 10 years,” fellow receiver DK Metcalf said. “No better person I think since I’ve been here to represent this organization better than him just by the way he carries himself, the way he works hard, and never lets a situation get to him. He’s always getting open on the field whenever we’re going back to watching film. Grateful to have spent time with him. Grateful to have spent six years with him and just learned from him. Great player, great person, great friend in my opinion. So yeah, he’s done everything the right way and he’s a Hall of Famer in my book on and off the field.”