Washington state officials on Wednesday donned their finest Seattle Seahawks attire for a flag-raising event in Olympia marking the team’s 50th season.
Gov. Bob Ferguson, dressed in a white No. 17 jersey in honor of famed former Seahawks quarterback Dave Krieg, kicked off remarks near the flag circle on the Capitol Campus. Lt. Gov. Denny Heck and Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, both in Seahawks hats, also delivered remarks.
Ferguson praised the Seahawks, calling them the best NFL franchise with the best players.
“But this year is special because it’s the 50th anniversary,” Ferguson said. “So, once you’ve been 50 years doing something, and doing it as well as the Seahawks have, that’s a special privilege to really recognize that.”
Legendary Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant recalled his journey to the NFL, having catapulted from “just being a kid from Tacoma” to ultimately getting drafted to the pro team: “It’s like a dream come true.”
“I’ve been a part of some great teams, and then I’ve been a part of some not-so-good teams, right?” Trufant said. “But the thing that remains consistent is the 12s, is the love and the community.”
The flag-raising comes during the first week of the NFL regular season, with the Seahawks scheduled to square off against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon.
It also coincides with a tense political moment and escalation in hostility between blue state governors and President Donald Trump’s administration.
Ferguson said Wednesday that sports act as a “great unifier” that can transcend beliefs and political views.
An example: Fans watching a Seahawks game will high-five whomever is standing next to them when a touchdown is scored, he said.
“That is something that I love about sports and the Seahawks, in particular: It transcends all that,” Ferguson said. “So I think, now more than ever, we need that in our lives.”