12s

Last updated
Seahawks fans attending a preseason game against the Chicago Bears on August 22, 2014 Seattle Seahawks vs Chicago Bears, 22 August 2014 IMG 4309 (15061685046).jpg
Seahawks fans attending a preseason game against the Chicago Bears on August 22, 2014
The number 12 has long been affiliated with Seahawks fans Seattle Seahawks Changes Command from Marines to Navy 161011-N-WX604-343.jpg
The number 12 has long been affiliated with Seahawks fans

The 12s (or formerly the 12th man) refers to fans of the Seattle Seahawks. Across the city of Seattle, fans often display a 12 flag in support of the team whenever the Seahawks make a postseason appearance or prior to the season opener. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Fan devotion grew immensely during the early years of the millennium, resulting in engineers designing Lumen Field to funnel crowd noise onto the field to intimidate opposing teams. [6] [7] Fan interest peaked again during the 2010s following the hiring of head coach Pete Carroll, in addition to the famous Legion of Boom defense propelling the franchise to win Super Bowl XLVIII. [8] [9] In 2014, local sponsor Boeing even painted a 747 Cargo plane in a Seahawks' themed livery, with the number 12 on the tail, making its flight path into the shape of the number 12. [10] [11]

Contents

Fan Support

Rapper Macklemore representing the Seahawks before their appearance at Super Bowl XLVIII Macklemore at the Super Bowl XLVIII (crop1).jpg
Rapper Macklemore representing the Seahawks before their appearance at Super Bowl XLVIII

Throughout much of the franchise's early history in Seattle, the team suffered from poor attendance; culminating in former owner Ken Behring attempting to relocate the franchise to Los Angeles in 1996. [12] Despite this; fan interest grew rapidly in the early 2000s under new owner Paul Allen who had purchased the team from Behring in 1997. [13] [14] Things further improved for the franchise with the hiring of coach Mike Holmgren in 1999. Under Holmgren, the Seahawks managed four consecutive division titles and appeared in Super Bowl XL in 2006. The team's fans have known to be immensely devoted to their team since Holmgren's tenure, with the organization placing a large flag in the endzone with the number 12 in 2003. [15] The fanbase grew exponentially during the 2010s with the hiring of Pete Carroll as their head coach during the 2009 offseason. The Seahawks narrowly beat out the division rival St. Louis Rams for the division title as both finished with a 7-9 record, but the Seahawks managed a famous upset victory over the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. During the fourth quarter, the Seahawks led by four points prior to snapping the ball in Marshawn Lynch's famous Beast Quake run that returned the ball 67 yards while breaking 9 tackles to secure the victory. Fan reaction was so loud that seismologists reported that the crowd had created an artificial earthquake in the process. [16] The Seahawks' fans have set the Guinness World Record loudest crowd noise at a sporting event on two occasions. First which being on September 15, 2013, registering 136.6 dB during a game against the San Francisco 49ers [17] [18] and again on December 2, 2013, during a Monday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints, with a roar of 137.6 dB. [19] [20] In May 2016, mountaineer David Liaño González carried a 12th Man flag to the summit of Mount Everest. [21]

Controversy

The Seahawks fanbase grew notorious through the latter half of the 2010s for being obnoxious and superficial in addition to their rise in strength, with many highlighting the team's prior attendance woes of the 1990s as proof of them supporting the team once they found success during the 2000s. [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] In addition to their own growth in playoff success, their fellow rivals such as the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers had also made prominent returns to playoff success during the decade, leading to frequent clashes with rival Rams, or 49ers fans often escalating into violent confrontations.

Conflict with Texas A&M

For numerous years into the 2010s, the Seahawks marketed The 12th Man name heavily, though its origins began through Texas A&M dating back to 1921, later being trademarked in 1996. [29] A legal agreement was reached in 2016 between the Seahawks organization and Texas A&M to cease use of the name in their marketing. [30] Today, much of the Seahawks fans are simply referred to as The 12s. [31] [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Seahawks</span> National Football League franchise in Seattle, Washington

The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 as part of a conference realignment. The club entered the NFL as an expansion team in 1976 in the NFC. From 1977 to 2001, Seattle was assigned to the American Football Conference (AFC) West. They have played their home games at Lumen Field in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood since 2002, having previously played home games in the Kingdome (1976–1999) and Husky Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumen Field</span> Multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Lumen Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. Located in the city's SoDo neighborhood, it is the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL), Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer (MLS), and Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Originally called Seahawks Stadium, it was renamed Qwest Field in June 2004 when telecommunications carrier Qwest acquired the naming rights. The stadium became known as CenturyLink Field following Qwest's June 2011 acquisition by CenturyLink and was nicknamed "The Clink" as a result; it received its current name in November 2020 with CenturyLink's rebrand to Lumen Technologies. It is a modern facility with views of the Downtown Seattle skyline and a seating capacity of 68,740 spectators for NFL games and 37,722 for most MLS matches. The complex also includes the Event Center which is home to the Washington Music Theater, a parking garage, and a public plaza. The venue hosts concerts, trade shows, and consumer shows along with sporting events. Located within a mile (1.6 km) of Downtown Seattle, the stadium is accessible by multiple freeways and forms of mass transit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Carroll</span> American football coach (born 1951)

Peter Clay Carroll is an American football executive and former coach who is an advisor for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was previously the head football coach at the University of Southern California (USC) from 2001 to 2009 and the head coach of the Seahawks from 2010 to 2023. Carroll is the third and most recent head coach to win a college football national championship and a Super Bowl along with Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer.

The 12th man or 12th player is a collective term for fans of sports teams in many eleven-a-side games, in particular association football. As most football leagues allow a maximum of eleven players per team on the playing field at a time, referring to a team's fans as the 12th man implies that they have a potentially helpful and significant role in the game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Holmgren</span> American football player, coach, and executive (born 1948)

Michael George Holmgren is an American former football coach and executive in the National Football League (NFL). He began his NFL career as a quarterbacks' coach and later as an offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, where they won Super Bowls XXIII and XXIV. He served as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 1998, where he won Super Bowl XXXI, and of the Seattle Seahawks from 1999 to 2008. His last role in the NFL was as team president of the Cleveland Browns from 2010 to 2012. Prior to his career in the NFL, Holmgren coached football at the high school and collegiate levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seneca Wallace</span> American football player (born 1980)

Seneca Sinclair Wallace is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa State Cyclones and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL draft. Wallace was also a member of the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, and Green Bay Packers. He became a coach after his playing career.

The National Football Conference – Western Division or NFC West is one of the four divisions of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). It currently has four members: the Arizona Cardinals, the Los Angeles Rams, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Seattle Seahawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Jones (American football)</span> American football player (born 1974)

Walter Jones Jr. is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Born in Alabama, he played college football for the Florida State Seminoles.

Joseph Peter Tafoya is a former American National Football League (NFL) player and entrepreneur. He played seven seasons as a defensive end/linebacker before injuring his foot in training camp of 2008, upon which he retired. He was drafted in the 7th round of the 2001 NFL draft by Tony Dungy and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Injured in the first pre-season game of his professional career with an ankle fracture, he was released on injury waivers and picked up by the Chicago Bears. He spent three seasons with the Chicago Bears and appeared in the 2001 NFC Divisional playoffs game against the Philadelphia Eagles where he recorded three tackles. Tafoya was picked up as a free agent by the Seattle Seahawks. He appeared in the 2005 Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was then picked up as a free agent by the Arizona Cardinals in 2007 and released after he suffered a career-ending injury during the 2008 training camp.

The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team organized in 1976 and based in Seattle, Washington, US, that plays in the National Football League. This article details the history of the Seattle Seahawks American football club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Bryant</span> American football player (born 1984)

Joseph Anthony "Red" Bryant is a former American football defensive tackle. He played college football at Texas A&M, and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL draft. Bryant was also a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kam Chancellor</span> American football player (born 1988)

Kameron Darnel Chancellor, nicknamed "Bam Bam Kam", is an American former professional football safety who spent his entire nine-year career with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies prior to being selected by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft. A four-time Pro Bowler, he was one of the key members of their Legion of Boom secondary. He also helped lead the Seahawks to victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. Chancellor retired following complications from a neck injury he suffered in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Sherman (American football)</span> American football player (born 1988)

Richard Kevin Sherman is an American former professional football cornerback who played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Sherman played college football for the Stanford Cardinal, beginning his career as a wide receiver before moving to cornerback as a junior. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft. He was selected to the Pro Bowl five times and voted All-Pro five times, including three times to the first team, and led the NFL in interceptions in 2013, when he also helped the Seahawks win their first Super Bowl. Sherman is regarded as one of the greatest cornerbacks of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricardo Lockette</span> American football player (born 1986)

Ricardo Quantaye Lockette is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for parts of four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Albany, Georgia, Lockette played college football for the Fort Valley State Wildcats and was signed by the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Seattle Seahawks season</span> 38th season in franchise history; first Super Bowl win

The 2013 season was the Seattle Seahawks' 38th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fourth under head coach Pete Carroll. With the Seahawks tenth win in the eleventh week of the season, the team secured double-digit victories in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. Their 13–3 regular season record is tied with the 2005 season for the best in franchise history. Seattle's defense in 2013 is regarded by many to be one of the best in NFL history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legion of Boom (Seattle Seahawks)</span> Nickname for the early 2010s Seattle Seahawks defensive backfield

The Legion of Boom (LOB) was the Seattle Seahawks secondary in the 2010s. The original group that was nicknamed the Legion of Boom consisted of the starters in the Seahawks defensive backfield: Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Brandon Browner, Walter Thurmond and Byron Maxwell.

Douglas McNeil III is an American football wide receiver for the FCF Wild Aces of Fan Controlled Football (FCF). He has previously played for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL) and the Portland Thunder of the Arena Football League (AFL). He attended Virginia Tech, James Madison University and Bowie State University and was a member of their football team. Over his three-year career at Bowie State, he made 84 receptions for 1,407 yards and 11 touchdowns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Tip (American football)</span> Notable play in 2013 NFC championship game

The Tip, sometimes referred to as the Immaculate Deflection, was a play in the 2013 NFC Championship Game in the National Football League (NFL) between the division rivals of the #5 seeded San Francisco 49ers and the #1 seeded Seattle Seahawks. The game was played in CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington and, being the NFC Championship Game, was televised nationally on Fox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rams–Seahawks rivalry</span> National Football League rivalry

The Rams–Seahawks rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.

References

  1. ↑ "The 12s". Seahawks.com. Seattle Seahawks. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ Ballard, Chris (November 6, 2013). "Into the belly of beast mode with Seattle's 12th Man". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014– via sportsillustrated.cnn.com.
  3. ↑ Roberts, Chris (February 4, 2014). "Seattle Seahawks 12th Man Flag to Torment 49ers Fans". NBC Bay Area. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  4. ↑ "World's largest 12th Man flag unfurled". KIRO TV. January 30, 2014. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  5. ↑ Stead, Jordan; Trujillo, Joshua (January 31, 2014). "12th Man flag unfolds under Lady Liberty". SeattlePI.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  6. ↑ Bruscas, Anfelo (July 7, 2002). "Seahawks owner believes stadium will help drive team to higher level". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  7. ↑ Robin, Acton (January 29, 2006). "Profile of Allen, Seahawks owner". Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on October 22, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Guest:Are Bandwagon Seahawks fans For Real?".
  9. ↑ "There's Always Room on the Bandwagon".
  10. ↑ Mutzabaugh, Ben (30 January 2014). "Boeing rolls out a mean-looking Seahawks 747 jumbo jet". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Boeing unveils Seattle Seahawks 747 plane". Fox News . Fox News. January 31, 2014. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  12. ↑ Simers, TJ (February 2, 1996). "NFL's Seahawks moving to LA? Or are they bluffing?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  13. ↑ Denlinger, Ken (February 3, 1996). "Court Blocks Seahawks' move". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Nearly 10 Years ago the Seahawks nearly left for Southern California".
  15. ↑ "History of the 12th Man". Seahawks.com. Seattle Seahawks. Archived from the original on May 28, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  16. ↑ "One year ago, Seattle Seahawks 12th Man Earthquake". PNSN. Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  17. ↑ Wilson, Ryan (September 16, 2013). "Seahawks fans set Guinness World Record for loudest stadium". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  18. ↑ "12th Man lifts CenturyLink Field into Guinness World Record book for loudest stadium". Seahawks.com. Seattle Seahawks. September 15, 2013. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  19. ↑ Florio, Mike (December 2, 2013). "12th Man sets new noise record". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  20. ↑ Quinton, Sean (December 2, 2013). "Seattle's 12th Man reclaims Guinness crowd noise record". SeattlePI.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Top of the world! Fan takes love of Seahawks to summit of Mount Everest". Seattle Times. June 8, 2016. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Seahawks Fans Among The Whiniest Losers In The NFL".
  23. ↑ "Seattle Seahawks fans ranked 2nd least loyal".
  24. ↑ "10 Sports Teams Filled with Bandwagon Fans".
  25. ↑ "Guest: Are bandwagon Seahawks fans for real?".
  26. ↑ "Survey Supports Seahawks Fan Bandwagon Theory".
  27. ↑ "Seahawks Bandwagon Fans Should Really Know These 19 Things".
  28. ↑ "Think twice about jumping on the Seahawks bandwagon".
  29. ↑ Unknown. "The Twelfth Man". The Battalion. Vol. 10, no. November 25, 1921. Students Association of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. p. 17. Archived from the original on 2013-01-31.
  30. ↑ Rovell, Darren (August 11, 2016). "Seahawks reach 5-years licensing deal with Texas A&M". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  31. ↑ "The 12s". Seahawks.com. Seattle Seahawks. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Seahawks reach 5-year licensing deal with Texas A&M". ESPN.com. August 11, 2016. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.