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360:, said "Seattle could not have made a better choice. He has experienced success at every level of professional football. When my opinion was asked by the Seattle people, he was my only choice." Among the first tasks of Thompson was to pick the name of the team and colors. He decided to hold a fan vote to decide the name. The "Seahawks" had the most votes out of 20,365 entries with 1,741 different names. Thompson later oversaw the hiring of
32:
417:
Thompson had three children with his wife
Marilyn and was married to her for 71 years. He remained an avid fan of the Seahawks for the rest of his life after his stint with the team. He was a resident of the Seattle area until 2018, when he moved to
333:. After a few months in that position, he moved to the NFL management council in November 1971. He served as the executive director of the management council, the collective bargaining agent of the NFL, from 1971 to
367:
In his first season as general manager, the
Seahawks compiled a record of 2–12. They went 5–9 in the following year, which was at the time the best record for an expansion team in their second season. The
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318:(NFL). Thompson served as the team's publicity director until he was promoted assistant general manager in 1966.
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Thompson was never again a member of an NFL team but did have a stint with the Sports and Events
Council of the
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were 9–7, at the time the best record for a third-year expansion franchise. For this, Thompson was named
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Thompson worked as an assistant to
University of Washington sports information director
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422:. Thompson died in Las Vegas on May 24, 2022, five days after his 95th birthday.
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In 1961, Thompson reunited with Rose, who was then the general manager of
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In March 1975, Thompson was named the general manager for the new
31:
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executive. He served as the first general manager of the
325:, Thompson was named assistant to the president of the
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390:, but declined in the following years, going 4–12 in
271:Thompson was born on May 19, 1927, and grew up in
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660:"McCormack takes over as Seahawk interim coach"
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494:"John Thompson, first Seahawks GM, dies at 95"
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672:. October 14, 1982. p. 23 – via
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836:National Football League general managers
608:"John Thompson Football Executive Record"
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299:in 1955. He left after their win in the
197:Executive director of management council
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16:American football executive (1927–2022)
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295:and replaced him when Rose joined the
283:, but left before receiving a degree.
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255:(May 19, 1927 – May 24, 2022) was an
831:Sportspeople from Washington (state)
627:Lawrence, John (December 25, 1978).
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279:of his class. Thompson attended the
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412:Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce
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13:
806:People from South Bend, Washington
414:before announcing his retirement.
364:as head coach on January 3, 1976.
14:
847:
723:Seattle Seahawks general managers
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816:University of Washington alumni
557:Luebker, Earl (March 7, 1975).
521:"Vikings Sign Up John Thompson"
652:
620:
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492:Condotta, Bob (May 24, 2022).
448:. May 27, 2022. Archived from
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208:Career highlights and awards
1:
425:
821:Minnesota Vikings executives
811:American football executives
589:"Vikings Promote Thompson".
386:. Seattle went 9–7 again in
327:National Football Conference
138:National Football Conference
7:
826:Seattle Seahawks executives
329:(NFC), who at the time was
181:Sports information director
126:Assistant general manager (
10:
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613:Pro-Football-Reference.com
559:"Seattle NFL pilot picked"
354:Pro Football Hall of Famer
146:Assistant to the president
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637:. p. 12 – via
567:. p. 23 – via
374:NFL Executive of the Year
275:. In high school, he was
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216:NFL Executive of the Year
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316:National Football League
305:Minnesota Golden Gophers
281:University of Washington
267:Early life and education
185:National Football League
21:American football player
629:"Wilkens tops TNT poll"
525:Spokane Daily Chronicle
440:"This week's passages"
344:, which began play in
273:South Bend, Washington
382:and Patera was named
342:Seattle NFL franchise
237:Executive profile at
506:on October 26, 2023.
452:on October 26, 2023.
406:Later life and death
253:John Albert Thompson
169:As an administrator:
116:Publicity director (
39:Personal information
593:. February 5, 1966.
263:from 1976 to 1982.
26:
591:The New York Times
527:. January 20, 1961
177:Washington Huskies
76:Career information
24:
783:
782:
499:The Seattle Times
445:The Seattle Times
420:Las Vegas, Nevada
384:Coach of the Year
356:and owner of the
312:Minnesota Vikings
257:American football
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104:Minnesota Vikings
69:Las Vegas, Nevada
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752:None (1995–1998)
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502:. Archived from
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297:Los Angeles Rams
287:Executive career
261:Seattle Seahawks
150:Seattle Seahawks
96:As an executive:
91:Career history
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741:Mike McCormack
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301:1961 Rose Bowl
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762:Bob Ferguson
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529:. Retrieved
524:
504:the original
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450:the original
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409:
394:and 6–10 in
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366:
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331:George Halas
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238:
64:(2022-05-24)
62:May 24, 2022
54:May 19, 1927
18:
801:2022 deaths
796:1927 births
770:(2005–2009)
768:Tim Ruskell
764:(2003–2004)
758:(1999–2002)
749:(1989–1994)
743:(1983–1989)
737:(1975–1982)
362:Jack Patera
179:(1955–1960)
790:Categories
747:Tom Flores
426:References
85:Washington
50:1927-05-19
303:over the
293:Bert Rose
531:March 2,
81:College:
314:of the
71:, U.S.
59:Died:
44:Born:
533:2024
400:1982
396:1981
392:1980
388:1979
352:, a
346:1976
335:1975
323:1971
220:1978
193:1975
189:1971
158:1982
154:1976
142:1971
132:1970
128:1966
122:1965
118:1961
112:1970
108:1961
376:by
321:In
240:PFR
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