92-year-old fan drafted to announce Seahawks’ pick

When the Seahawks make their fourth-round pick in this week’s NFL draft, the announcement won’t come from GM John Schneider, coach Pete Carroll or one of the other big wigs. The word instead will come from one of their oldest season-ticket holders.

Lloyd Fields, 92, is no ordinary fan. The Bellevue man is a decorated military pilot, flying 25 missions over occupied Europe and Germany during WWII and later commanding an assortment of Air Force Squadrons and flying secret reconnaissance missions over the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

He retired from the Air Force in 1967 and became a Seahawks season-ticket holder when the team joined the NFL in 1976. He’s been a die-hard fan ever since, rarely missing a game in over 30 years.

“I enjoy the tailgate picnics that my wife fixes each time and I enjoy going to the game and listening to it. Steve Raible and Warren Moon are the two best announcers, I think, in the football business,” he told Tony Miner of the Ron and Don Show.

Fields has to listen because he can’t see the game. He completely lost his vision in 2002.

“I have my headphones on; take them every time. I see through my ears,” he said.

Word of his dedication got to the Seahawks, who decided to honor him by taking Fields to New York to announce the team’s fourth-round pick at Radio City Music Hall.

“All of a sudden, one day I got a call asking if I would do this and I said ‘Yes.'”

While Fields has flown plenty throughout his life, he’s never traveled in such style.

“The Seahawks are furnishing me with a first class ticket and hotel accommodations. I never expected anything like this to happen.”

As for the actual draft pick? Lloyd doesn’t have any preference, “as long as it’s a good person.”

The NFL draft gets underway Thursday. 710 ESPN Seattle will have complete coverage online and on-air through Saturday.

KIRO Radio’s Tony Miner contributed to this report.