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Danny O'Neil covers the Seahawks for The Seattle Times.

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June 10, 2008 10:44 AM

Former Seahawks coordinator Tom Catlin passes away

Tom Catlin, a member of the Seahawks coaching staff from 1983 to 1995, passed away at his home in Seattle. His brother, Charles, said he experienced complications after a recent surgery, according to the Associated Press.

Catlin was the defensive coordinator for Seattle in 1992 when the Seahawks had one of the very best defenses in the league, allowing 286.4 yards per game and Cortez Kennedy was named defensive player of the year. The Seahawks allowed more than 26 points only once all season despite having one of the very worst offenses in the league.

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Posted by jared roberson

12:32 PM, Jun 10, 2008

tom catlin you will be missed the leader of the hawks D for so many years god bless you and your family Thank You hawks forever!

Posted by SeaHokie

1:57 PM, Jun 10, 2008

If ever an assistant coach deserved a spot in the Ring of Honor, it's Tom.

Posted by Scott Smith

12:24 AM, Jun 11, 2008

Catlin was one special coach that many of the new generation Hawk fans never knew. The 1992 season was one of the best coaching jobs one will ever see. 92 was the year the Seahawks had one of their best defenses ever, yet the 2nd worst scoring team in NFL history.

The team scored only 140 points all season, one of the worst in NFL history. That is why this season was a miracle. If it had not been for a top 7 defense, this team probably makes history at 0-16. They won only two games, YET THOSE HAWKS HAD THE NFL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR. If the NFL Network ever did a TOP 10 Program on the best defensive units on a bad team, the Seahawks would probably be number one. If my memory serves me correctly, there were many games that defense had 5-8 turnovers yet the offense never could score or move the ball for an extra set of downs. Those were the Tom Flores led years.....miserable and down right ugly.

Catlin was one coach that players loved and respected. Although he was under the shadow of Chuck Knox, Catlin had the best run the organization ever had as a Defensive Coordinator. It is just so sad that he had to endure the worst erra of Seahawk offenses ever to show up in the Kingdome. Even if the 'Hawks had kept Dave Kreig at QB, that 92 team may had a chance to be much better. The quarterback play in 92 was one of biggest jokes of the league. Yet Cortez Kennedy won NFL Defensive Player of the Year on a 2-14 team.

Coach Catlin will be missed greatly. Any one who could coach his squad that hard, with no hope of winning or even getting a first down, deserves some serious consideration as the best Defensive Coach Seattle ever had. He is probably one Seahawk assistant that should be in the ring of honor. He was that good, ask his former players and Chuck Knox.

Posted by Dean

12:29 PM, Jun 11, 2008

Seattle and the NFL will miss the way your stoic demeanor unleashed a frenzied defense.