Seneca Wallace

Seneca Wallace

Wallace in 2012
John Paul II High School
Position:	Assistant coach
Personal information
Born:	(1980-08-06) August 6, 1980 (age 43) Sacramento, California, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:	Cordova (Rancho Cordova, California)
College:	Sacramento City College (1999–2000) Iowa State (2001–2002)
NFL draft:	2003  / Round: 4 / Pick: 110
Career history
As a player:
Seattle Seahawks (2003–2009) Cleveland Browns (2010–2012) New Orleans Saints (2013)* San Francisco 49ers (2013)* Green Bay Packers (2013)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Episcopal School of Dallas (2017–2021) Assistant coach Dallas Cowboys (2020) Coaching assistant John Paul II High School (2022–present) Assistant coach
Career highlights and awards
Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year (2001) Second-team All-Big 12 (2002)
Career NFL statistics
TD−INT: 31–19 Passing yards: 4,947 Completion average: 59.4 Passer rating: 80.8 Rushing yards: 293 Rushing touchdowns: 1
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Seneca Sinclair Wallace (born August 6, 1980) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Iowa State Cyclones and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Wallace was also a member of the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers. He became a coach after his playing career.

Early years

Wallace attended Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova, California, and was a letterman in football and basketball. ^[1] In basketball, he won All-Sierra Conference honors and All-Sacramento honorable mention honors.

College career

Wallace attended Sacramento City College in order to stay close to home at his mother's request. After initially receiving only three offers, two at wide receiver, Wallace transferred to Iowa State University for his junior and senior year. ^[2]

Wallace received widespread notice in 2002 while with the Iowa State Cyclones in a play famously known as "The Run," in which he traversed back to the 32 yard line before running it in for a 12-yard touchdown versus Texas Tech. It was later estimated that he ran 135 yards on the 12 yard touchdown rush. While quarterbacking the Iowa State Cyclones in 2001 and 2002, he threw 26 touchdowns and 27 interceptions.

Statistics

Iowa State Cyclones
Season	Team	Games		Passing								Rushing
		GP	GS	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Lng	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
2001	Iowa State	11	11	167	269	62.1	2,044	54	11	9	132.7	114	475	4.2	60	7
2002	Iowa State	14	14	244	443	55.1	3,245	60	15	18	119.7	123	437	3.6	48	8
Total		25	25	411	712	57.7	5,289	60	26	27	124.6	237	912	3.8	60	15

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Wonderlic
5 ft 11+3⁄8 in (1.81 m)	196 lb (89 kg)	31 in (0.79 m)	9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m)	4.56 s	1.62 s	2.67 s	4.14 s	6.98 s	38.0 in (0.97 m)	10 ft 7 in (3.23 m)	12, 14
All values from NFL Combine [3] [4] [5]

Seattle Seahawks

Wallace in 2009

He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft out of Iowa State University. ^[6] It is widely thought his draft value dropped because of his insistence that he play quarterback for the team, rather than wide receiver. Intrigued by his athleticism, the Seattle Seahawks gave him that chance. Wallace made his mark in the 2005 NFL Playoffs when he caught an acrobatic 28-yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck in the NFC Championship game against former Seahawks cornerback Ken Lucas of the Carolina Panthers.

In 2006, Wallace started in four games as quarterback after an injury to Hasselbeck's right knee. Under his leadership, the team won two games and lost two. His passer rating was 76.2 for the 2006 season, passing just under 1,000 yards, throwing 8 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

In 2007, Mike Holmgren began using Wallace as a wide receiver in limited formations. By Week 7, Wallace had caught two passes, run two end arounds, and thrown an incomplete pass on an end around option pass.

In 2008, Wallace started two pre-season games at quarterback and had good statistics against the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders. After injuries to wide receivers that hurt the Seattle Seahawks, Wallace was moved to that position but strained a calf in his first game.

After the injury of Hasselbeck, he returned as a starter in week seven of the season at Tampa Bay, where the team lost 20–10. The next week, he led his team to a 34–13 win over San Francisco. In week 9, Wallace threw for the longest touchdown pass in Seattle Seahawks franchise history with a 90-yard completion to Koren Robinson in the Seahawks' first play from scrimmage. However, the Seahawks lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, 26–7. Wallace played again in the 21–19 road loss to the Miami Dolphins in week ten. Hasselbeck was cleared by team doctors to play and was the starter again for week 11. Because of another injury to Hasselbeck, Wallace started in week 14 against the New England Patriots, where he threw 20 completions in 28 attempts for 212 yards and three touchdowns. His passer rating for the game was 128.9. He also ran for 47 yards on three carries. However, a lost fumble by Wallace late in the fourth quarter led to a 24–21 Seahawks loss. The following week, he captured his second win as a starter as the Seahawks beat the St. Louis Rams 23–20 at the Edward Jones Dome. Hasselbeck returned from injury, but Wallace remained the starter for the rest of the season. Wallace had another good performance in a victory against the New York Jets in week 16, but lost to the eventual NFC champion Arizona Cardinals in week 17.

In his limited action, Wallace ended the 2008 NFL season as the league leader in Passing Touchdown to Interception Ratio, with 3.67. ^[7]

Cleveland Browns

On March 8, 2010, Wallace was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a seventh round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. With this trade, Wallace was reunited with his former Seattle coach and then-Browns president Mike Holmgren. He made his regular-season debut September 12, 2010, after starting quarterback Jake Delhomme injured his ankle during a week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He would go on to start the next four games before suffering a high ankle sprain during week 5 versus the Atlanta Falcons. ^[8] On March 3, 2011, Wallace signed a three-year deal with the Browns. ^[9] Wallace was released by the Cleveland Browns after the conclusion of the 2012 preseason.

New Orleans Saints

On April 15, 2013, the New Orleans Saints signed Wallace to a one-year deal. ^[10] On August 19, 2013, he was released by the Saints. ^[11]

San Francisco 49ers

On August 22, 2013, he signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers. ^[12] A week later on August 29, 2013, he asked for his release. ^[13] He later said that (contrary to some news reports) he was not retiring, but had decided to leave the 49ers because he felt they were not giving him a chance to make the team, and had signed him only to pressure their principal backup quarterback, Colt McCoy, to accept a pay cut. ^[14]

Green Bay Packers

Wallace in 2013

On September 2, 2013, Wallace signed with the Green Bay Packers. ^[15] He first played for the Packers on November 4, 2013 after an injury to the left shoulder of Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter of the Monday night game against the Chicago Bears. His first start for the Packers was on Sunday, November 10, 2013 against the Philadelphia Eagles. During the game's opening drive, Wallace suffered a season-ending groin injury and had to leave the game. He was replaced by quarterback Scott Tolzien, ^[16] who made his first regular-season NFL appearance. ^[17]

Seneca Wallace was the first African-American to start a game as quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. ^[18]

NFL career statistics

Year	Team	Games		Passing								Rushing				Sacks		Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Sck	SckY	Fum	Lost
2003	SEA	0	0	DNP
2004	SEA	0	0	DNP
2005	SEA	7	0	13	25	52.0	173	6.9	1	1	70.9	6	−5	−0.8	0	3	20	2	0
2006	SEA	8	4	82	141	58.2	927	6.6	8	7	76.2	12	122	10.2	0	14	83	5	3
2007	SEA	10	0	19	28	67.9	215	7.7	2	1	99.6	4	17	4.3	0	3	13	1	1
2008	SEA	10	8	141	242	58.3	1,532	6.3	11	3	87.0	16	78	4.9	0	14	76	4	3
2009	SEA	13	2	78	120	65.0	700	5.8	3	2	81.9	16	2	0.1	1	9	59	5	2
2010	CLE	8	4	64	101	63.4	694	6.9	4	2	88.5	7	9	1.3	0	6	33	1	0
2011	CLE	6	3	55	107	51.4	567	5.3	2	2	65.4	7	70	10.0	0	6	30	1	1
2013	GB	2	1	16	24	66.7	139	5.8	0	1	64.4	0	0	0.0	0	4	20	0	0
Total		64	22	468	788	59.4	4,947	6.3	31	19	80.8	68	293	4.3	1	59	339	19	10

Coaching career

Episcopal School of Dallas

From 2017 to 2021 Seneca coached at the Episcopal School of Dallas as an assistant coach. ^{[19] [20]}

Dallas Cowboys

Wallace joined the Dallas Cowboys staff in 2020 as a camp assistant working with the quarterbacks. ^[21]

John Paul II High School

In 2022, Wallace was an assistant coach for John Paul II High School. ^[22]

Post-career

In the summer of 2018, Wallace was the quarterback for Godspeed, a flag football team made of former professional American football players that participated in the American Flag Football League (AFFL). The team were crowned the champions of participating pro teams but lost in the final match to the amateur champion team. ^[23]

See also

• Racial issues faced by black quarterbacks

References

1. "NFL QB returns to Rancho Cordova school to donate learning software". KCRA. December 18, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
2. Staff, The Athletic College Football. "Spurrier, Bowden, Erickson, Cooper and more dish on recruiting: Biggest get? The one who got away? More cheating now?". The Athletic. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
3. "Seneca Wallace, Iowa State, QB, 2003 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
4. "NFL Draft: The Annual Drama of the Wonderlic Test". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
5. "The Wonderlic: Ricky Stanzi's 30 score is basically the norm". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
6. "2003 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
7. "NFL Yearly Leaders - Passing Touchdown/Interception Ratio". FootballDB.com. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
8. "Seneca Wallace player profile". Cleveland Browns. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
9. Cabot, Mary Kay (March 4, 2011). "Cleveland Browns sign Seneca Wallace to 3 year deal, D'Qwell Jackson to one-year deal" . Retrieved September 14, 2011.
10. "New Orleans Saints Twitter Page" . Retrieved April 15, 2013.
11. "Sean Payton announces New Orleans Saints roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. August 19, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
12. Wesseling, Chris (August 22, 2013). "Seneca Wallace signs San Francisco 49ers contract". NFL.com. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
13. Inman, Cam (August 29, 2013). "QB Seneca Wallace ends comeback attempt with 49ers". The Mercury News. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
14. Tommy Birch, "Seneca Wallace happy to be with Packers after 'miscommunication' with 49ers", Yahoo! Sports , August 30, 2013.
15. Smith, Michael David (September 2, 2013). "Packers sign Seneca Wallace to back up Aaron Rodgers". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
16. Pellisero, Tom. "Packers to start Scott Tolzien in Week 11 after Seneca Wallace injured". USA TODAY Sports. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
17. Boarman, John (November 10, 2013). "Seneca Wallace injured, Scott Tolzien in for Packers at QB". Tireball Sports Media. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
18. Christi, Cliff (July 15, 2015). "Prior to Favre, the Packers were in bad shape". Packers.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
19. Gladstone, Mitchell (October 10, 2019). "Troy Aikman, high school football coach? How the Cowboys legend joined Episcopal School of Dallas' staff". dallasnews.com. The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
20. Darnell, James. "Catching Up With Cordova Area Greats". rancocordovaindependent.com. Grapevine Independent. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
21. "Former Packers QB joins Cowboys coaching staff for camp". Cowboys Wire. USA Today. August 17, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
22. "SENECA WALLACE". jpiicardinals.org. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
23. "Godspeed Moves on to Pro Championship". American Flag Football League. Retrieved June 27, 2019.

External links

• Seattle Seahawks bio
• Media related to Seneca Wallace at Wikimedia Commons