Shaun Alexander was born and raised in Florence, Kentucky, a suburb just outside Cincinnati. After rolling up an incredible total of 6,657 yards and 110 touchdowns at Boone County High School.
With such an imposing resume, Alexander would figure to sign with a leading collegiate power and that he did. Alexander opted to go to Alabama, and after three impressive seasons decided to stay for his senior year rather than opting out for the NFL.
Alexander was given a good chance by the experts to secure the Heisman Trophy. The prospect vanished when he sustained a sprained ankle against arch rival Tennessee. He still played a major role in leading the Tide to the 1999 Southeastern Conference Championship with a game winning 25-yard touchdown run against number three rated Florida.
Alexander was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks as the 19th overall pick of the 2000 draft. The Seahawks acquired the pick in the draft following a trade that sent wide receiver Joey Galloway to the Dallas Cowboys.
During his rookie season, Alexander saw limited action behind starter Ricky Watters as he rushed for 313 yards and two touchdowns.
In Alexander’s second season, he became the Seahawks featured running back following injuries and the eventual retirement of Watters. Alexander demonstrated his mighty talent. He rushed for 1,318 yards and 14 touchdowns.
A great runner requires blocking and Alexander blended with Pro Bowl tackle Walter Jones and rookie Steve Hutchinson. He rushed for a franchise record of 266 yards on 35 carries against the Oakland Raiders at Husky Stadium on November 11.
In 2002 Alexander started all 16 games and garnered an NFC record of 16 rushing touchdowns, four of which came September 29 against the Minnesota Vikings in the second regular season game played at then Seahawks Stadium, which would be renamed Qwest Field. He also caught an 80-yard touchdown pass in the first half.
The Seahawks and Alexander kept building toward an eventual NFC championship and Super Bowl appearance as the running back enjoyed brilliant 2003 and 2004 seasons.
In 2003, Alexander rushed for a career high of 1,435 rushing yards and scored 16 touchdowns. Seattle also made its first playoff appearance since 2000 while Alexander earned his first trip to Honolulu and the Pro Bowl.
During the 2004 campaign Alexander remained finished second in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,696, one yard less than Curtis Martin of the New York Jets.
In 2005, the offense of coach Mike Holmgren blended a solid passing game behind quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and reliable running back Alexander. On November 20 in San Francisco Alexander became the first player in NFL history to record 19 rushing or receiving touchdowns in 10 games. This feat led to Alexander breaking Priest Homes’ record of 27 total touchdown set in 2003, a mark that was broken one year later by LaDainian Tomlinson.
On December 11, the day that Seattle clinched the NFC West title with a win over the San Francisco 49ers, Alexander had his ninth 100-yard rushing game of the year, setting a franchise record. In the process he set an NFL record by running for 100 yards against divisional opponents in nine straight games, eclipsing that previously held by the venerable Walter Payton.
With Payton on such an offensive tear it was no small wonder that Seattle not only won the NFC West but secured home field advantage for the entire playoffs. The NFL title was won and the Seahawks came very close to defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.
Alexander played with the Seahawks through the 2007 season, playing but four games with the Washington Redskins in the 2008 campaign.
His career statistics are a testament to Alexander‘s skill. Alexander amassed 9,453 yards on 2,187 carries for a 4.3 per carry average. He scored an even 100 rushing touchdowns and added another 12 as a receiver. Alexander garnered 1,520 receiving yards on 215 catches for a 7.1 average.
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