It was barely two weeks ago that the Seattle Seahawks somewhat surprisingly announced that long time owner Paul Allen had passed away, and on Wednesday the Seahawks family lost another member. On Wednesday afternoon the Hawks announced that former head coach Jack Patera had passed away at age 85.
Patera was the first head coach of the then expansion Seahawks in 1976, leading the team and players who fans remember fondly to this day, including Jim Zorn and Steve Largent. Patera was the head coach for six full seasons through 1981, however, following an 0-2 start to the 1982 season and in the midst of the 1982 player strike, the front office had decided that it was time to make a change, and firing Patera.