The 'Legion of Boom' changed the culture of football for the better

If all good things must come to an end, then we ought to take the time to properly appreciate the "Legion of Boom," the Seattle Seahawks' vaunted secondary that changed the culture of football for the better.

After nearly a decade of shutting down offenses, the wear and tear of life in the NFL has taken a toll on Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas - the pillars of Seattle's era-defining defense. Football often cruelly reminds players that they are ultimately expendable, a notion that's in full effect in Seattle as the team appears to be in a state of transition. But we'd all be remiss to overlook the Legion of Boom's contributions with the league's new year on the horizon.

In an era where most fans are seemingly more concerned about the performance of their fantasy teams above all, Sherman, Thomas, and Chancellor made defensive football cool again, becoming household names among the NFL's offensive superstars. Sherman's postgame interview after defeating San Francisco in the 2013 NFC Championship Game instantly bore a thousand overwrought, "please think of the children" op-eds, entering football lore immediately. It was one of the defining examples of the Seahawks' philosophy which allowed players to be more than professional athletes when entering the sociopolitical arena in a highly turbulent climate. Sherman briefly featured as an excellent guest columnist for The MMQB and along with his teammates, wrote and spoke eloquently about player safety and scheduling referendum, along with more important, jarring issues like police brutality, racial inequality, and social justice reform.

To paraphrase Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James, the Seahawks weren't going to shut up and dribble when the rest of the NFL demanded modesty and decorum. Players have amplified their protests during President Donald Trump's polarizing regime, but the Seahawks helped create a culture of player empowerment long before he took office.

The Seahawks became the first team in the Super Bowl era to lead the NFL in scoring defense for four consecutive years (2012-15), a factoid that by itself doesn't fully explain its dominance over the league. Sherman not only featured as the NFL's best cornerback during this period, he demoralized opponents with his cutting trash talk, getting in player's heads before a snap was played. Chancellor embodied both the tactical awareness needed in the modern game, as well as the sheer violence of football, as he annihilated opponents in the open field. Thomas' recovery speed remains unmatched and is the standard to match as a safety, excelling against the run and knowing precisely when to reroute while assisting his cornerbacks in the passing game.

Seattle didn't just beat teams, it made them reassess their philosophy entirely and its 43-8 triumph over Denver's highest-scoring offense in NFL history in Super Bowl XLVIII will go down as one of the greatest defensive performances of all time. With salary caps and egos to manage, it's unlikely we'll see a sustained collection of talent like this again.

The true measure of one's impact is how it reflects upon future generations, and the Legion of Boom's imprint on the game is seen everywhere in 2018. Jacksonville's defense is led by All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, a player who excels in a scheme nearly identical to Seattle's, while delivering crushing insults to anyone who dares try him. Players across the league are using their platforms more than ever to impact change upon the league, but more importantly, on issues and causes that directly affect themselves and their communities off the field. The NFL wants its players to fit into a neat box and focus on football solely. Sherman, Chancellor, and Thomas played on their own terms, dominating the game, while changing the culture for the better.