Founding Fullback

Fullback Don Testerman looks for room to run in 1976

Happy Birthday to my man Don Testerman (born 1954), Seattle's first fullback.

A Danville native, his college odyssey included stops at Division III Ferrum, Virginia Tech and Division II Lenoir-Rhyne. Testerman spent his junior and senior seasons clearing the way for Ken Callicutt at Clemson.

In 1976, the Miami Dolphins drafted him in the 10th round, but he did not make Don Shula's squad. Testerman signed with the slumping Philadelphia Eagles, but Dick Vermeil cut him.

Facing a desperate dearth of talent in the backfield, the expansion Seahawks claimed Testerman on waivers and made him the starting fullback. Jack Patera found his counterpart at tailback in college quarterback Sherman Smith, whom Seattle had originally envisioned as a wide receiver.

Testerman made his debut in the expansion franchise's second regular season game, scoring the team's sole touchdown in a lopsided loss to Washington in RFK Stadium.

Seattle struggled to run the ball that first year. Unfavorable expansion rules guaranteed a weak roster across the board, but the O-Line proved particularly poor.

The highlight of his rookie campaign came today in 1976. Testerman celebrated his birthday in the Kingdome with a series of lead blocks that helped spring Smith for 124 yards in a blowout victory over Atlanta.

Testerman gets the ball from Zorn and runs behind Smith's lead block

Seattle's rushing attack began to hit its stride the next year. Testerman split time at fullback with rookie David Sims. Smith, Sims and Testerman amassed a combined average of 161 rushing yards per game in the team's five wins.

Six days after his birthday in 1977, Testerman ran for 65 yards and caught two passes for 27 yards and a touchdown in a 17-0 drubbing of the Jets in Shea Stadium.

The Seahawks started 2-9 that year, but finished strong.

At Arrowhead Stadium, Testerman ran for 70 yards and a touchdown and leveled linebackers to let Smith gain 86 more. Seattle beat the Chiefs, 34-31.

In the Kingdome against Cleveland for the season finale, Testerman piled up 79 yards on the ground while blasting open holes to allow Smith to grind out another 54 yards and a touchdown. The Seahawks edged the Browns, 20-19.

Don Testerman's 1978 Topps trading card

In 1978, Sims seized the starting job and had a record year. Testerman continued to contribute in a reserve capacity as a blocker, runner and especially as a third-down receiver.

Seattle traded Testerman to Washington during the 1979
offseason, but injuries and personal problems prevented him from taking the field.

Testerman retired to the bait shop he owned in Danville, but later returned to the team that drafted him. He played the first five games of the 1980 season as a reserve fullback for the Dolphins.

While working as a mailman near DC, Testerman tried out for the Washington Federals of the USFL in 1982, but did not make the final cut.

He later coached some high school football and works occasionally as a substitute teacher at Albemarle High School.