20 Reasons Why You Know You’re a Fan of the Seattle Seahawks
By Tyler Brett
@atylerbrett
20 Ways You Know You're a Seattle Seahawks Fan
It has been a long time coming but the Seattle Seahawks finally won their first Super Bowl title, marking a huge day for fans that have waited patiently to see it happen. In Super Bowl XLVIII, the Seahawks brought their best against the Denver Broncos and overwhelmed their opponent, winning in a blowout 38-6. It was a satisfying release for fans of the Hawks if somewhat anti-climactic for the rest of the football watching public.
But Seattle fans don’t care about the rest of the world cause they are champions! Since becoming an expansion team in 1976, Seattle had only been to one other Super Bowl but this was their first victory. For a franchise that has spent much of its existence trying to find a way to get to the top of the NFL, this season has been a monumentally satisfying run. And it’s been even better for the fans that went along for the ride!
For the true, die-hard Seattle fans, this Super Bowl title is long overdue. While football in the Pacific Northwest can be overlooked by the rest of the country, Seattle fans know the great players that have come through the Seahawks franchise over the years. As good as they were, though, they never took the team to the heights they reached this season and everyone on this year’s squad will be long remembered by Seahawks fans for what they’ve brought home to Seattle.
So for those fans who have bled blue and green their entire lives, we count down the 20 ways you know you’re a fan of the Seattle Seahawks.
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20. Neon Green Goes With Everything
While it isn't a color that normally permeates a wardrobe, the Seattle Seahawks have made neon green the fashion statement of the Pacific Northwest following their last uniform redesign. Fans of the Hawks have embraced the color which represents this fan base well: Loud.
19. You Rocked a Shaun Alexander Jersey
Sure, most of the league has forgotten about him, but Seahawks fans have a special place in their heart for Shaun Alexander. He won the NFL MVP award in 2005 when he led the league in rushing and set a Seattle franchise record for rushing yards in a season and broke the NFL record for rushing touchdowns in a season. More than the numbers, however, Alexander was the driving force of an offense that owned the NFC West and made a Super Bowl appearance. He also moved quite a few jerseys in his time, so if you don't have one deep in the closet, you know someone who does.
18. The Kingdome Holds a Special Place in your Fandom
While it had seen better days prior to its demolition in March of 2000, the Kingdome was where the Seahawks called home for most of their existence. From the team's inception in 1976 until January of 2000, Seattle played their home games in the concrete confines of the Kingdome. By the end, the AstroTurf was dingy and the ceiling tiles were falling out of the sky into the stands, but this was the birthplace of Seahawks fans for almost 25 years.
17. You Remember Curt Warner as a Running Back
While Kurt Warner made his claim to fame as the quarterback of the Greatest Show on Turf, Seahawks fans know the original Curt Warner was a dynamic running back in the 80s for Seattle. He played in all 16 games for Seattle in five of his seven years with the team and broke the 1,000-yard mark four times and was named to the Pro Bowl three times. Warner wasted no time in staking his claim as an elite running back, leading the AFC in rushing during his rookie season in 1983. He was inducted in the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor in 1994.
16. You Always Boo the Steelers for Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL will forever live in infamy for Seattle fans (even though the win in Super Bowl XLVIII should held ease the sting a bit). The Seahawks soundly outplayed the Pittsburgh Steelers in just about every facet of the game but the Steelers got some help from questionable officiating to steal the Lombardi Trophy from the Hawks. Seattle fans would have to wait eight years for their next shot at a Super Bowl, but Pittsburgh will still get booed by Seahawks fans for probably the next eighty years.
15. You Don't Mind Aggressive Chewers
Nobody lays into a piece of gum quite like head coach Pete Carroll on gamedays. Seemingly every time he gets on camera, Carroll is chewing away like the stick of gum owes him money. But Seattle fans don't mind that aggressive chewing one bit after the job that Carroll has done revamping the roster and taking the Seahawks all the way to to top of the NFL.
14. Kenny Easley was the Best Ball-Hawk of the 1980s
While he didn't enjoy a long career, Kenny Easley was a ball-hawking strong safety that would have made him a perfect fit for today's Legion of Boom. Drafted in 1981, Easley was named the 1984 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, went to five Pro Bowls and was a five-time All-Pro selection before injuries and declining play forced him to retire in 1987. In that time, Easley recorded 32 interceptions, including a club-record 10 interceptions in 1984. While he didn't play nearly as long as fans would have liked him to, Easley was without a doubt one of the best safeties in NFL history.
13. You Do NOT Talk About the Legion of Boom
As Richard Sherman said to Michael Crabtree following the NFC Championship Game, "You do NOT get to talk about the best." Right now, there's nobody better in the NFL than the Legion of Boom. Highlighted by Sherman and safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas, the Seattle secondary is a fast, physical, playmaking group that really set the tone for the entire team this season. The fans have followed suit, rallying behind the boisterous bunch as they impose their will on opposing offenses week in and week out.
12. Chris Warren was One of the Best RBs of the 1990s
While it took him a couple of years to become the featured back in Seattle, Chris Warren took full advantage of his opportunity when he got it and staked his claim as one of the premier running backs of the 1990s. First taking over the running game in 1992, Warren rattled off four straight 1,000-yard seasons and went to three straight Pro Bowls from 1993-1995. By the time he left Seattle in 1997, he was the teams' career rushing leader (before Shaun Alexander broke the mark in 2005).
11. Cortez Kennedy was a Force of Nature
You can't be a fan of the Seattle Seahawks and not get excited at the mention of Cortez Kennedy. He played his entire 11-year career in Seattle, starting in 1990 as the No. 3 overall pick, and dominated in a way that few Seattle defenders ever have. He went to eight Pro Bowls, including six straight from 1991-1996, earned All-Pro honors five times, and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 when he recorded 14 sacks despite the Hawks dismal 2-14 record. He was inducted into the Seahawks' Ring of Honor in 2006 and into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
10. No Love Lost for the "Forty-Whiners"
The rivalry between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers has quickly become one of the defining rivalries of the NFL. These two have squared off for supremacy in the NFC West (which has sent the last two NFC participants to the Super Bowl) in a physical battle on the field that is often not for the faint of heart. The fans get just as into this rivalry and spend hours going back and forth over which team is better (though there's no debate this season). That fiery back and forth only adds to what should be recognized as one of the best rivalries in sports right now.
9. Earthquakes are Fan-Made
We first learned that Seattle fans had the power to shake the earth when the Seahawks hosted the New Orleans Saints in the 2011 Wild Card Playoffs. The Hawks were working on salting the game away and Marshawn Lynch broke off an epic run through every defender that the Saints had on the field and scoring a touchdown with a flourish. The fans in the stands went nuts and registered seismic activity from their commotion. They've repeated the feat a number of times since including in their playoff run this season.
8. Skittles Get Thrown when Marshawn Lynch Goes Beast Mode
Speaking of Marshawn Lynch, he's been a key piece of the Seattle offense, particularly when he kicks it up a gear into "Beast Mode." When he takes a game over this way, Seattle fans won't hesitate to reward Lynch's efforts with a cascading shower of Skitles, aka "power pellets," that Lynch is often seen snacking on during games. True Hawks fans know the only thing better than eating Skittles is throwing them onto the ground in celebration.
7. Mack Strong is One of Your Favorite All-Time Players
While he didn't pile up the stats, there are few players who contributed as much to the Seattle offense as Mack Strong at fullback. Strong was a physical presence in the running game, providing a fearless lead blocker who would pave the way for the running game to get on track. His all-out style of play made him a fan favorite during his time with the Hawks even without eye-popping stats in the boxscore.
6. Home Field Advantage is real and it is Spectacular
Over the last two years, nobody has been as good at home than the Seattle Seahawks as they have gone an eye-popping 17-1 during that span. Combining a physical defense with an offense that is light on big mistakes and a crowd that has broken the Guinness World Record for crowd noise (twice), and you get a perfect recipe for a dominant home field advantage. It was that edge at home that helped propel Seattle through the playoffs on their way to their first Super Bowl title.
5. Walter Jones is the Best Offensive Lineman in History
While it isn't a glamorous position, you'll be hard pressed to find an offensive tackle who played the game as Walter Jones did for Seattle from 1997 to 2009. He went to nine Pro Bowls, was named an All-Pro seven times, and won the 2005 NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year award as he was widely regarded as one of the best offensive players in the entire league, period, not just on the offensive line. Jones retired as arguably the greatest Seahawk player in history and one of the all time greats to ever play the game. Seattle immediately retired his No. 71 jersey and he was named to the 2014 class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
4. Quarterbacks are Drafted in the Third Round
Russell Wilson had a phenomenal senior season with the Wisconsin Badgers in 2011 but was largely panned by NFL scouts when he went through the draft process because of his height (Wilson stands 5-foot-11). Seattle took a flier on him in the third round and were so impressed with what he could do on the field during OTAs and training camp that they immediately turned the team over to him. All he's done since is become one of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the NFL and a Super Bowl champion.
3. You Know How to Throw a Victory Parade
It took a long time for Seattle to win their first Super Bowl but once they did, they celebrated in style. The Seahawks toured the city of Seattle in duck boats as 700,000 people packed the city streets, standing shoulder to shoulder for blocks on blocks to celebrate the Lombardi Trophy. More people came to Seattle to watch the Seahawks celebrate than live in the entire state of Wyoming, just to give you an idea of how many people were there. It was a sight for the ages as Seattle fans finally got their chance to celebrate.
2. Steve Largent had the Best Hands in NFL History
He wasn't the biggest guy or the fastest but Steve Largent found a way to set every receiving record during his career with Seattle from 1976 to 1989. As one of the original Seahawks, Largent labored on some bad teams in the early years, but was one of the elite talents of the NFL during his illustrious career. He was the first receiver in NFL history to achieve 100 touchdown receptions in his career and the first Seahawk to go to the Pro Bowl (he went to seven in his career). He would also be the first Seahawk to have his number retired in 1992 and the first in franchise history to be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. To this day, he remains Seattle's most prolific receiver and one of the all-time greats to play in the NFL.
1. Defense Wins Championships
The storyline heading into Super Bowl XLVIII was offense vs defense. In this case, the defense came out way ahead for the Seattle Seahawks, securing them their first Super Bowl title in franchise history. It was a dominant showing for the No. 1 defense in the league all season long and harkened back to the old-school days where defense ruled the league. For now, Seattle has reaffirmed the old adage: offense wins games but defense wins championships.
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