Mack Strong is the Seattle Seahawks former fullback player and assistant running back coach; for more than 14 years Mack Strong has built an entire career full of Seahawk memories with just one fortunate NFL team. He recently retired after an unexpected career ending neck injury. Former Seahawk Coach Holmgren is quoted as saying, “Mack is one of the greatest men I’ve been around…great teammate, great leader”.

As a professional athlete, Mack was known to inspire people both in the stadium and in the community. Mack has received numerous awards from Seahawks staff and other NFL players, including the Unsung Hero award (2001, 2002) and the Ed Block courage award (2001). He is also the only multiple recipient of the Steve Largent Award, which he has won five times (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006). On the field, Mack is second in Seahawk history for games played at 201 and is behind only Joe Nash (218). Mack was voted twice to the Pro Bowl and once to the All Pro Team in 2005; as well, he had the incredible opportunity to be a major contributor to the Seahawks journey to Super Bowl XL. On August 30, 2008, Mack joined the Fox Sports Northwest network’s talent team. In addition to providing insight and commentary on FSN’s Seahawks coverage, he also was given his own show, titled “Mack Strong: Seahawks Insider. Plus he can be heard on KJR regularly, and continues to stay active in various media responsibilities.

Some of his greatest achievements, however, are off the field. Mack has served on the Washington board of HOPE worldwide – a non-profit organization, which develops programs around the world for the most underserved and in need. Mack is married to his wife Zoë and they have two boys, Isaiah and Evan. Together they founded Strong Alliance a company that focuses on corporate team building and the development of youth education and leadership programs.

Their outstanding commitment to enhancing the lives of children in our community has earned Mack and Zoë several awards including the 2009 Mark Matthews Service to Children Award, 2011 Washingtonian of the Year award from the Association of Washington Generals and the Seattle Indian Health Board’s Adeline Garcia Community Service Award.

Paul Gackle grew up in the newsroom and he’s determined to carry journalism into the future.

Gackle started covering sports for his family’s newspaper, the McLean County Independent, in North Dakota as a teenager and he recently reported on the Giants, 49ers and A’s as a columnist for the San Francisco Examiner.

In addition to the Examiner, Gackle has published work with the East Bay Express, the Winnipeg Free Press and PBS Frontline.

Growing up in Canada, Gackle fell in love with hockey. He blogged about the now-defunct San Francisco Bulls in his first iteration of The Gackle Report and was the team’s color analyst on for radio on KNBR.com and TV with Comcast Hometown Network.