Seattle, the Seahawks, and the Roar You Could Feel

When Seattle Shows Up for the Seahawks

Football was always a big deal where I grew up.

In my house.

In my neighborhood.

In my city.

As the Seattle Seahawks grew into their power, the city grew right along with them. Through the changes. Through the challenges. And yes — through the victories that made history.

My family once lived right over the hill from the stadium. And let me tell you… you didn’t just hear the crowd — you felt it. The roar of the 12th Man rolled through the air like weather. A living thing. Something you could set your watch by on game day.

Cars drove by flying flags and banners.

Jerseys, jackets, and hats were everywhere — grocery stores, buses, sidewalks.

Downtown buildings lit up in Seahawks blue and green like the city itself was suited up.

Seattle doesn’t watch football season.

Seattle becomes football season.

And even if you don’t follow every stat or know every current player by heart, the energy pulls you in. It’s infectious. It’s fun. It’s communal. It’s one of the few times a city moves in rhythm.

The Seahawks didn’t start as a powerhouse. They began as an expansion team in the mid-1970s, playing their first season in 1976. Early years were about growing pains, grit, and learning what it meant to belong to the big leagues. But from the beginning, the fans showed up — and they never stopped.

Then came eras that defined identity.

For many of us, nothing captures that better than the Legion of Boom years — swagger, intelligence, and defense that made the rest of the league pay attention. That era didn’t just win games; it stamped a personality on the city. Confident. Loud. Unapologetic.

And of course, the moment that still lives rent-free in Seattle’s soul — Super Bowl XLVIII. Not just a win, but a statement. The kind that turns a team into a legacy.

What makes Seahawks football special isn’t only what happens on the field. It’s the fans — the 12s. The noise. The loyalty. The way opposing teams flinch before the snap. The way one run shook the ground so hard it registered as seismic activity.

That’s not hype. That’s history.

Now, today at 5:00pm PST, the Seahawks face off against the San Francisco 49ers — and word on the street is that 49ers fans are already swarming downtown Seattle.

Good.

That just means the city will rise to meet them.

Seattle knows how to show up.

Seattle knows how to be loud.

Seattle knows how to make a game feel bigger than the score.

This one?

This one’s going to be good.