Seattle Seahawks: Bucking The Trend

Aug 15, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; A couple of Seattle Seahawks fans hold up a sign during a game against the San Diego Chargers during the second half at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks beat Chargers 41-14. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

The 12s

Yes the 12th man is vitally important to the Seahawks success. Don’t get me wrong the 12th man doesn’t suit up, doesn’t go through two-a-day drills or has tryouts…but they are crucial. I can’t think of any other team that has such a positive relationship with their fan base.

This is a deep and symbiotic relationship that garners success. There have been multiple players, after signing an extension, that have expressed part of the reason they wanted to come back was because of the 12th man. Opposing players coming to CenturyLink Field get an up-close and personal introduction to the 12th man; what player wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

This has been part of the draw to have players come here and play. And the team endears itself to the fans by making them accessible and available. I think over and over again of Russell Wilson and other Seahawks players going every Tuesday to Seattle Children’s Hospital and mingling with the patients. I follow his Instagram feed and I can vouch that he constantly posts pictures of his visits to the hospital.

Richard Sherman has a softball game for charity which packs in a sold-out stadium. If it wasn’t for these communal activities then the team would feel like a novelty act, instead they have become deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest. Not every team can say that.