Ex-Seahawks RB Thomas Rawls signs with Jets

Running back Thomas Rawls is the latest ex-Seahawk to sign elsewhere this offseason.

The New York Jets announced the signing of Rawls Friday afternoon.

Rawls thanked the Seahawks organization in an Instagram post.

“Thank you to Pete Carroll my first NFL HC, John Schneider, and Paul Allen for allowing me and my family to be a part of an amazing organization and community in Seattle that I will forever cherish. Century Link Field will always be a special spot! I had so much fun and we’ve accomplished so much: crazy endings, broken records, and finishing games when we all was in belief. I wanna thank the fans, my 12s, you guys mean so much to me. Your love, motivation, support, and energy will be with me every step of the way,” Rawls wrote.

As I embark on a new journey, I wanna thank the all amazing men and my teammates who I've shared blood, sweat, and tears with these past 3 years in Seattle. They are men of great character, accountability, passion, respect, fight, perseverance, and men of God. My time in Seattle has been so heartwarming, especially as someone who comes from the North Side of Flint, Michigan, a place where life is a daily challenge! Thank you to Pete Carroll my first NFL HC, John Schneider, and Paul Allen for allowing me and my family to be a part of an amazing organization and community in Seattle that I will forever cherish. Century Link Field will always be a special spot! I had so much fun and we've accomplished so much: crazy endings, broken records, and finishing games when we all was in belief. I wanna thank the fans, my 12s, you guys mean so much to me. Your love, motivation, support, and energy will be with me every step of the way. To the youth who look up to me and keep me going, I want you to know that you matter, you are enough, you are worthy, you are fighters, and from afar we will continue to grow. I wanna thank all my coaches from offense, defense, and special teams. Thank you to all the people—janitors, nutritionists, chefs, security, front office, and many more—everyone played a huge role in my life and helped not just my career but you make me a better man. Those who know me know that I will continue to persevere and grow through any challenges that come my way. I'm accepting a new challenge in life to elevate myself as a person and teammate. I will keep that fire 🔥 and the emotions for this game I truly love in my heart and spread them with this big smile and run with a little more love 😉!!!! Thank you, Seattle Seahawks, for an amazing Journey. 🚂🚂🚂 T. Rawls🚂🚂🚂

A post shared by Thomas Rawls (@t.rawls810) on Mar 30, 2018 at 12:31pm PDT

Rawls, 24, initially signed with Seattle as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2015. He played in 13 games his rookie year, eventually starting seven in place of an injured Marshawn Lynch. Rawls had 830 yards and four touchdowns on 147 carries, averaging a league-high 5.6 yards per attempt. His rookie campaign ultimately ended prematurely when he suffered a broken ankle in a Week 13 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Rawls appeared in just nine games in 2016, hampered in part by a fractured fibula. However, he did finish his season with a strong appearance in a postseason game, posting 161 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Detroit Lions.

Rawls remained a part of Seattle’s running back rotation in 2017, though the team struggled to find consistency in the ground game and finished the year with just one touchdown by a running back (J.D. McKissic). Rawls started three games for the Seahawks, and finished his last season in Seattle with 157 yards on 58 carries.

Seattle still has five running backs under contract for 2018: Chris Carson, C.J. Prosise, J.D. McKissic, Tre Madden, and Mike Davis.

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