On Wednesday, Seahawks fans took over downtown Seattle to celebrate their team’s Super Bowl parade.
The world champion Seahawks, fresh off a Super Bowl LX win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, were celebrated by an estimated up to 1 million fans along the sunny and warm, 2-mile route up Fourth Avenue from Lumen Field to Seattle Center.
Every one of the more than 20 roads on the route were shut down between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., the duration of the parade. Buses were rerouted, the light rails overflowed.
The Seattle Police Department even sent a letter to all bosses and teachers, allowing any fan that missed work or school to be “Excused for Greatness” because of their “required presence at the Super Bowl Parade.” The failure of any boss or teacher to release a 12 from their duties would result in “a 15-yard penalty assessed against (their) company’s next quarterly review.”
The 12s were packed in like a tush push on the street, oftentimes 50 people deep, just for a glimpse of the convoy of 20 military transport vehicles carrying the Seahawks players and staff. Many of the front-most fans arrived the night before, sleeping on the street to secure the best view. By 7 a.m., all front-row positions along the railings had been taken.
Other 12s chose to scale the roofs of Fourth Avenue gas stations and bus stops, the awnings of storefronts and even trees to see the team drive by.
We see you @12s. pic.twitter.com/wZ5jGLf9B3
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) February 11, 2026
As the parade got underway, the air was filled with confetti, bubbles and the deafening roars of the crowd. The thunderous chant of “Sea-Hawks! Sea-Hawks!” remained uninterrupted for two hours.
A great celebratory parade for a great team! Congrats @SeattleSeahawks! pic.twitter.com/7jYTvw3sII
— King County Council (@KCCouncil) February 11, 2026
The players, sporting matching white “Super Bowl Champion” hats, chugged their bottles of Champagne and waved to fans from above, leaning over the edges of the open-bed trucks, which sported “2025 World Champions” banners along the sides.
A celebration worthy of the champions. pic.twitter.com/dfdy5gQinq
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) February 11, 2026
Although urged to remain inside the vehicle for safety, many of the players eventually escaped to walk along the street and hug fans, take pictures and sign autographs.
“These guys deserve to be loved on like they love us,” Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen said about the 12s.
Added Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV, “We want to get off the bus, and we will get off the bus.”
Quarterback Sam Darnold and Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba were two of the players interacting with fans from the street.
“It’s like they’re a boy band,” a KING 5 reporter exclaimed as Smith-Njigba was engulfed by screaming fans along the railing. Smith-Njigba won NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Feb. 5 after leading the league with 1,793 receiving yards.
Blitz, the Seahawks’ mascot, the Blue Thunder drum line and the Seahawks dancers were also on the ground, performing for fans.
Before the parade, the Seahawks organization held a sold-out trophy ceremony at Lumen Field.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald entered the stadium carrying the Lombardi Trophy. The crowd of 50,000 roared when he hoisted it into the air.
The players and staff got onto a stage with a backdrop of “2025 WORLD CHAMPIONS” in giant lettering and took turns speaking from the podium.
The ceremony was led by Steve Raible, the “Voice of the Seahawks,” an original member of the Seahawks in 1976 before becoming the team’s radio announcer in 1982.
“Fifty seasons ago, the Seahawks were welcomed into this city, this region, with one goal, to bring the Lombardi Trophy to the Northwest,” Raible said. “Well, for the second time in franchise history, your Seahawks did just that.”
Added Macdonald: “This football team has the best thing going. All these guys from different backgrounds, different histories, different stories, all coming together toward one common goal. It really is the power of ‘12 is One.’ I just want to say that we love the 12s. You guys are the best (fans) in the world, and now, we are the best football team in the world. World champs!”
"We love the 12s. You guys are the best in the world, and now we're the best football team in the world." pic.twitter.com/XKlnxAqTQa
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) February 11, 2026
Sophia Vesely: svesely@seattletimes.com. Sophia Vesely is a general assignment sports reporter at the Seattle Times. She wrote for the Dallas Morning News and the Orlando Sentinel before joining The Seattle Times in 2025.