From celebs to 12s, signing the 12 flag means more than other teams know

At first glance, it’s just a three-by-five piece of blue, black, and white nylon. But to the Seahawks fans who signed it, the flag represents far more than most would ever realize.

What started as a simple idea in a cramped radio station cubicle quickly became something much bigger. The question was an easy one: What if we took a flag around Seattle and asked how many 12s would want to sign it?

After a couple of weeks now, who knew the flag would take on a life of its own?

KIRO newsroom

We began collecting signatures inside the KIRO Newsradio newsroom, laying the flag across a table and fanning out five different-colored Sharpies on top.

Ursula Reutin, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show,” signed the flag and yelled out, “Woooo-hoooo!” while co-host Gee Scott told us, “It’s been a beautiful thing to watch. This franchise has done so much for this city. Enjoy this,” before he dove into what playing for another championship means to him personally.

“I was thinking about how 10 years ago, when they were in the NFC Championship game, and I talked about this with my Dad,” Gee said. “Today he’s not here anymore, so I’m telling you, enjoy this because it doesn’t come around so often.”

John Curley left a simple, yet powerful message to all 12’s and the Seahawks.

“There you go … thank you for adorning this city with joy,” he said after signing his name.

Downtown Seattle

In downtown Seattle, we spread the flag on a metal bar table inside The Beer Hall that was packed with diehard 12’s.

“I am ‘OG,’ Seattle, Kingdome, 1977, I’ve been here forever,” one woman explained.

“I haven’t seen a fan base that really rallies around a team like this,” the entertainment manager at The Beer Hall explained.

Outside, near Lumen Field, supporters from beyond the Seattle area added their names too.

“I’m happy for them, and I’ll be cheering for them just like I was born and raised here,” a transplant 12 originally from Minnesota shared.

Another man, wearing a Seahawks sweatshirt and a matching ball cap, was walking his dog when he stopped, grabbed a pen, and signed away.

“I’m from Colome, South Dakota, like Tripp County, which is about 70-80 miles from Pierre, which is where Grey Zabel is from,” he explained. He said he’s been following the Seahawks’ rookie left guard, Zabel, all season.

Inside Pro Image Sports, employees immediately understood the significance of the flag — not just what it represented, but what it could become.

“It doesn’t matter what your background is; we all rally and root for the same team, and it brings the whole community together,” the store’s manager explained.

Two construction workers stopped what they were doing to sign their names.

“It’s the home crowd is what it is,” they said. “It brings everyone together.”

SEA Airport

The flag made a brief stop at Gate D3 in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), where Seahawks legendary superfan, Sea-Pope Greg Buchanan, signed “go hawks” and his name.

Keith Rousu, the director of Blue Thunder, the Seahawks’ official drumline, signed it too before sharing the excitement his band has for playing in Santa Clara.

“It’s so exciting, and we get such a rush getting the best fans in the world ready for the biggest game of the season,” he said.

NFL Radio Row

First stop in San Francisco was the NFL’s Radio Row – where journalists from Europe, Asia, and the Americas sit side by side in a giant room, the size of several football fields, and broadcast around the globe.

Miss USA, Audrey Eckert, signed the flag with a cheerful, “There you go!”

So did legendary sports radio talk show host Chris “Mad Dog” Russo.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro Ronde Barber signed after he explained, “They weren’t in my division, and they did come in the 50th year, so …”

A player from another kind of football, the former captain of the men’s U.S. national soccer team, Landon Donovan, yelled out, “Go Hawks!”

Seahawks Luke Willson signed after holding up his NFC Championship and Super Bowl rings. So did star defensive end Cliff Avril and Dave Wyman, co-host of the 710 Seattle Sports show “Wyman and Bob” with co-host Bob Stelton.

“I usually sign it No. 92,” Wyman said.

“I don’t have a number,” Stelton added.

Finally, a former New England Patriot signed the flag — four-time Super Bowl Champion Rob Gronkowski.

“I’ll sign your flag, Rob Gronk, 87, Super Bowl 49 champs,” he said as he took hold of the black Sharpie.

12s in San Francisco

For the 12s who signed our flag outside the NFL Fan Experience, it all seemed to matter more – the moment, the pride, and their message to the world.

“My brother and I are here from Colorado, and we are here to bring the noise,” one fan explained, while another said they were lifelong fans and that there may be precious few chances for another moment together with Seahawks fans on such an important stage.

“The team means everything to us, and we love them so much,” they said.

The messages left behind reflect a shared desire to be part of something greater. Each signature, written in permanent ink, serves as a declaration of loyalty and an unspoken bond with Hawks fans around the world.

Now, those names are permanently woven into the fabric of the flag, carrying with them the collective hopes and dreams of another Super Bowl win.

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