Paul Seal should not be confused with Paul Seale.
| Paul Seal | |
| Number: | 84, 85 |
| Position: | Tight end |
| Birth Date: | 27 February 1952 |
| Birth Place: | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Weight Lb: | 222 |
| Height In: | 4 |
| High School: | Pershing (MI) |
| College: | Michigan |
| Draftyear: | 1974 |
| Draftround: | 2 |
| Draftpick: | 36 |
| Teams: | |
| Highlights: |
|
| Statlabel1: | Receptions |
| Statvalue1: | 106 |
| Statlabel2: | Receiving yards |
| Statvalue2: | 1,586 |
| Statlabel3: | Total TDs |
| Statvalue3: | 8 |
| Pfr: | SealPa00 |
Paul Nathan Seal (born February 27, 1952) is a former American football player. He played college football as a tight end for the University of Michigan from 1971 to 1973 and professional football as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints from 1974 to 1976 and for the San Francisco 49ers from 1977 to 1979. In his six-year NFL career, Seal totaled 106 receptions, 1,586 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Seal was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1952. He attended Pershing High School in Detroit.[1]
Seal enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1970 and played college football as a tight end for Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1971 to 1973.[2]
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]
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]