Football

Seattle Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett makes history in big win: 'I just thank God'

By Kevin Mercer Dec 13, 2021
Wide receiver Tyler Lockett of the Seattle Seahawks catches a pass and scores a touchdown against the Houston Texans, Dec. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)

Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett made history in Seattle’s 33-13 road victory against the Houston Texans on Sunday. With five receptions for 142 yards and a 55-yard touchdown (plus a two-point conversion), Lockett eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the third consecutive season.

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The only other Seahawk to accomplish that feat was Hall of Famer Steve Largent, who twice compiled more than 1,000 yards in four straight seasons, from 1978-1981 and again from 1983-1986.

Lockett, a 2015 Pro Bowler now in his seventh NFL season out of Kansas State, was asked in his postgame press conference about the unique accomplishment he shares with his fellow Oklahoman.

“Ultimately, I just thank God for even putting me in this position,” Lockett said, “because there’s sometimes as individuals we want to go out there and we want to have these certain types of games or we want to have these moments where we can look back at our careers and be happy with it, and the things I’ve wanted to happen for myself are nothing compared to what God has been doing in my life.”

He continued later, “The best stories come when God is able to create the story and tell the story rather than me as an individual trying to tell my own story.”

Lockett’s big day in the passing game on Sunday followed a week filled with off-the-field awards. On Thursday, he was named Seattle’s nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. On Tuesday, he was named the team’s nominee for the distinguished Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, given annually to award a player’s volunteer and charity work as well as his play on the field.

 

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Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was last year’s NFL Man of the Year recipient.

“[Locket is] a man that demonstrates everything that is good,” Wilson told Seahawks.com last week. “He’s a guy that is obviously a really amazing teammate to everyone, he works his butt of every day, he loves the game, but I think what’s amazing about Tyler is that he uses his gifts to serve others and uses his gifts to love others and impact others in such a tremendous way. We couldn’t have a better Man of the Year than Tyler Lockett.”

Lockett, 29, is active in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, community with his Light It Up Foundation, providing local kids with scholarships and job opportunities, and raising awareness about Black history, like the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

The impetus behind his work in the community is his faith. In his Instagram bio he says, “I’m done building my own Kingdom. I’m here to only build God’s Kingdom!”

Lockett posts often about his faith on his social media pages, including in April after he signed four-year, $62 million contract extension with Seattle.

 

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“My faith in God drives me,” Lockett said in 2019. “I could sit here and do all this stuff for me, but at the end of the day, it’s not going to make me truly happy. … You’re going to want more if you’re doing it for yourself. If you’re doing it for something bigger, you’ll take a greater value in the little things. You’ll be more humble and more content.

“When you have a faith in God, you don’t worry about your life. What’s the point in serving somebody who created you and has a plan for you but then you never trust that the plan is going to prevail?”

Lockett will seek to continue to trust God as he sets to add to his season total of 1,023 receiving yards this Sunday, when the Seahawks (5-8) travel to face the Los Angeles Rams (8-4). The game is set for 4:25 p.m. ET.

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