Performance, Perception, & a Reframing of Ricky Watters’ Career

A great running back, an infamous quote, and a career that was defined by four words

When I first developed an interest in football, it was through the Madden video games. The two teams that I enjoyed playing with the most were the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks. The fascination with the Seahawks extended beyond the video game as the first NFL jersey that I bought was #24, worn by cornerback Shawn Springs at the time. It’s a jersey I cherished and wore well before my inevitable growth spurt as a teenager.

I was reminded of my fascination for the late-1990s Seahawks the other day when a friend of mine sent me a screenshot of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Modern-Era Nominees for 2026, and he asked me to pick two players per position that I would vote in if given a vote. When I got to the running back category there were 21 names. A lot of players that I grew up watching were on there: Warrick Dunn, Fred Taylor, and Jamal Lewis, to name a few. At the bottom of the list however, is a name that surprised me: Ricky Watters.

Watters’ name on the list surprised me, because in a brief Mandela Effect moment, I thought he was already in the Hall of Fame. I remember watching Watters late in his career with Seattle and remember thinking he was an excellent back. It prompted me to revisit…