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Seahawks announce 'difficult decision' to part ways with Doug Baldwin, Kam Chancellor

Published  May 9, 2019 3:01pm PDT
Associated Press

RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks on Thursday announced the team has made the "difficult decision" to release wide receiver Doug Baldwin and safety Kam Chancellor.

"The Seahawks have made the difficult decision to terminate/failed physical Doug Baldwin and Kam Chancellor. These are two of the most iconic players in franchise history and both were instrumental in establishing our championship culture, great examples of competitiveness and leadership on the field and in the community. These legendary players will always be a part of our Seahawks family."

- Seahawks General Manager John Schneider




Baldwin was an undrafted free agent who became a star. He had 50 receptions for 618 yards and five touchdowns last season although he was hampered by injuries. He missed a large chunk of training camp due to a knee injury, two games in September with a separate knee injury and he played through both groin and hip issues.

Baldwin is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who has twice topped 1,000 yards receiving. He led the NFL with 14 touchdown catches in 2015 and a year later had a career-high 94 catches. Baldwin has started 76 of the past 77 games for the Seahawks dating to 2014 and has been the most trusted pass catcher for Russell Wilson during their time together.

Chancellor declared last July in a social media post that it was "time for a new chapter" after scans on his injured neck showed no improvement. Chancellor said in the post that doctors had told him paralysis was a possibility.

He signed an extension through the 2020 season last August which contained guaranteed money in case of injury. An official retirement could open up the possibility of forfeiting some of that money. Chancellor's extension was signed before the start of last season and included a total of $25 million in guaranteed money.

Chancellor was named to four Pro Bowl teams (2011, 2013-15) and was twice a second-team All-Pro selection (2013, 2014). He appeared in 109 career games for Seattle with 93 starts after being selected in the fifth-round of the 2010 NFL draft.