As a junior, Seal started all 12 games at tight end for the 1972 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled a 10-1 record, outscored opponents 264-57, and finished the season ranked #6 in the final AP Poll.[3] Playing for a run-oriented offense, Seal was the leading receiver for the 1972 Wolverines with 18 receptions for 243 yards and three touchdowns.[4]
As a senior, Seal started all 11 games at tight end, was a team co-captain and was voted the Most Valuable Player on the undefeated 1973 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled a 10-0-1 record, outscored opponents 330–68, and finished the season ranked #6 in the final AP Poll.[5] For the second straight year, Seal was Michigan's leading receiver with 14 catchers for 254 yards and three touchdowns.[4] At the end of the 1973 season, Seal was selected by the United Press International (UPI) as the second-team tight end on the 1973 College Football All-America Team.[6]
Professional career
Seal was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round (36th overall pick) of the 1974 NFL draft.[1] Seal was also the top draft pick of the Detroit Wheels of the World Football League, but he opted to sign with the Saints in April 1974.[7] He played three seasons with the Saints from 1974 to 1976. As a rookie in 1974, Seal appeared in 14 games and had career highs with 32 receptions, 466 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns.[1] In 1975, Seal was the Saints' starting tight end in all 14 games and totaled 28 receptions, 414 receiving yards, and one touchdown.[1]
In early September 1977, the Saints traded Seal to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for offensive lineman John Watson.[8] Seal played for the 49ers for three seasons from 1977 to 1979, appearing in 43 games, nine as a starter, and totaled 37 receptions for 634 receiving yards and three touchdowns.[1] Seal's longest reception of his NFL career came on a 47-yard touchdown bomb from Jim Plunkett in December 1977 against the Dallas Cowboys.[1][9]
^"1972 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
^ ab"Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". University of Michigan. Archived from the original on September 7, 2004. Retrieved March 27, 2015.(to retrieve information for a particular season, go to "Games & Totals by Season" and select the year for which statistics are to be retrieved)
^"1973 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 27, 2015.