Former Seattle Seahawks Running Back Has Died

Dan Doornink, the former Seattle Seahawks running back affectionately known as “Dr. Dan,” died on October 31, 2026, in Spokane, Washington. He was 70.

A Yakima native and Wapato High School standout, Doornink starred at Washington State University, where he ranks among the Cougars’ all-time leading rushers and was later inducted into the WSU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Selected by the New York Giants in the seventh round of the 1978 NFL Draft, he spent one season in New York before being traded to the Seahawks in 1979.

He spent the next seven seasons in Seattle, becoming a reliable contributor during the franchise’s formative years.

Fans nicknamed him “Dr. Dan” because he attended the University of Washington School of Medicine while playing, and “Mr. Third Down” for his knack for converting key plays.

His most memorable performance came in the 1984 AFC Wild Card game, when he rushed for 123 yards on 27 carries to help the Seahawks defeat the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Raiders 13-7 at the Kingdome.

He also played a role in Seattle’s first playoff appearance the previous year.

Over his career, Doornink totaled 1,836 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.

After retiring, he earned his medical degree from the University of Washington and practiced internal medicine for decades in the Yakima Valley, following in his father’s footsteps and serving the community that raised him.

His family said he had battled two rare autoimmune diseases for many years.

In 2021, he was hospitalized with COVID-19; complications from an autoimmune blood disorder led to 23 days in intensive care and a prolonged recovery.

The Seahawks described him as “a beloved member of the Seahawks early days, both on and off the field.”

Doornink is survived by his wife of nearly five decades, Sharon—his high school sweetheart—along with their four children and grandchildren.

He remains remembered as a hard-nosed player who helped lay the foundation for Seahawks football and as a dedicated physician who returned home to care for others.