Professional football continuously proves the axiom that death comes for us all - as it does when a spry, dominant group of players ages and erodes faster than anyone expected. Such was the case Thursday night when Richard Sherman ruptured his Achilles on national television, further calling into question the expiry date of the Legion of Boom.
Good defenses are remembered by historians; great defenses are lionized forever. Seattle's secondary consisting of Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and a rotating second cornerback (originally Brandon Browner, then Byron Maxwell) carved its way into league folklore years ago. They once submitted an all-time great performance by shutting down the highest-scoring offense in NFL history, annihilating the Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. An ill-fated offensive play call robbed them of defending their crown, but for a team in the salary-cap era, it's nearly impossible to conceive of a more proficient secondary.
Seattle led the NFL in scoring defense for four consecutive seasons, a remarkable feat considering it operated a simple Cover 3 base defense. This scheme was made possible by Thomas, a SpaceX vehicle disguised as a free safety, who would clean up any mistakes made by Sherman, Browner, and his successors, DeShawn Shead, Jeremy Lane, and Shaquill Griffin. Thomas didn't miss a game during his first six seasons, but he finally proved vulnerable last fall when he broke his leg in a freak collision with Chancellor. The all-world safety is now battling hamstring injuries, while Chancellor's bruising style has taken a toll on him, too. A secondary once characterized by youthful panache has quickly become the NFL's old guard.
The secondary has been the hallmark of the Seahawks' defense throughout the Pete Carroll era, but it's time for the team to make an identity change. Bobby Wagner is the best inside linebacker in the NFL, while K.J. Wright is equally adept in coverage as he is against the run. Defensive end Frank Clark is under contract through 2019, Michael Bennett is signed through 2021 - with a potential out in 2019 - and defensive tackles Jarran Reed, Malik McDowell, and Nazair Jones will surely be afforded larger roles. It should be clear that the Seahawks' defense isn't going anywhere anytime soon, but it's on Wagner, Wright, and a host of young players to carry the unit into the latter stages of the decade.
This isn't a novel notion for the Seahawks' front office. Seattle drafted Griffin - who's proven capable of being a full-time starter - in the third round, and added safeties Delano Hill, Tedric Thompson, and Mike Tyson (no relation!) in the third, fourth, and sixth rounds, respectively. Sherman and Thomas refused to openly embrace the new class, perhaps knowing all too well that the end was nearing. But by cruel, brute force, the Seahawks may have to entertain the idea of a new secondary sooner than imagined.
Seattle remains a strong Super Bowl contender and no one would be surprised if Thomas walks off with MVP honors come February. Death comes for us all, however, and the vaunted Legion of Boom will live forever while a new class of brash, sound defenders try to fill their enormous shoes.