Craig Terrill
A relentless special teams weapon whose knack for blocking kicks carved out an eight-year NFL career from a sixth-round draft pick.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American football player·Birthday: June 27·Generation X
Biography
Craig Terrill's story is one of maximized opportunity. Drafted in the sixth round by the Seattle Seahawks in 2004 out of Purdue University, the defensive tackle never became a household name, but he became a vital, grinding component of the team's defensive and special teams units for eight seasons. In a league where late-round picks often fade quickly, Terrill's persistence and specific skill set kept him relevant. While he contributed solid tackles and occasional sacks from the interior line, his true signature was disrupting the game's kicking phase. He developed a rare expertise for timing leaps and penetrating the line to block field goals and extra points, tying the Seahawks' franchise record with eight blocked kicks. His career embodies the value of a player who masters a niche, turning himself from a longshot into a durable and respected professional.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Craig was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Craig Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Craig's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Blocked eight field goals in his NFL career, tying the Seattle Seahawks' all-time franchise record.
- Played 88 games over eight seasons for the Seattle Seahawks, demonstrating notable longevity for a sixth-round draft pick.
- Recorded 103 combined tackles, eight sacks, three fumble recoveries, and one defensive touchdown during his career.
- Was a consistent member of the Seahawks' defensive line rotation and special teams units from 2004 to 2011.
Did You Know?
He played his entire NFL career for the Seattle Seahawks.
He was a standout defensive lineman for the Purdue Boilermakers in college.
His single NFL touchdown came from a fumble recovery in the end zone.
“My role was to be ready, to be a piece of the machine.”
