The 12th Man

Lore & Background

The first recorded use of the term 'twelfth man' was a magazine published by the University of Minnesota in September 1900, that referred to 'the mysterious influence of the twelfth man on the team, the rooter'. Later, in the November 1912 edition of The Iowa Alumnus, E. A. McGowan described the 1903 game between Iowa and the University of Illinois, writing: 'The eleven men had done their best; but the twelfth man on the team (the loyal spirited Iowa rooter) had won the game for old S.U.I.' The 1922 Dixie Classic featured Centre College and Texas A&M; during the game, A&M coach Dana X. Bible called E. King Gill, a sophomore basketball player, down from the stands to stand ready as a substitute. Gill was ready in uniform on the sidelines if his team needed him.

Reader's Guide

The Seattle Seahawks retired the number 12 jersey on December 15, 1984, in honor of their fans. In 2003, the Seahawks installed a giant flagpole in the south end zone of what is now Lumen Field, and began a tradition of raising a giant flag with the number 12 on it in honor of the fans, one of whom is Sam Adkins, the former Seahawks quarterback who did wear the number 12. Usually, a local celebrity or a season ticket holder raises the flag during pregame ceremonies.

In recent years, 12th Man flags have been seen all over Seattle whenever the Seahawks make the playoffs, including atop the Space Needle. In 2014, Boeing painted a Boeing 747-8 freighter aircraft with a special Seahawks livery, with the number 12 on the tail, and they later flew it over eastern Washington in a flight path spelling the number 12. When the Seahawks took the field for Super Bowl XLVIII, they were led by LB Heath Farwell carrying the team's 12th Man flag per team tradition.

In May 2016, mountaineer David Liaño González displayed a 12th Man flag at the summit of Mount Everest. The Seahawks' 12th Man has twice set the Guinness World Record loudest crowd noise at a sporting event, first on September 15, 2013, registering 136.6 dB during a game against the San Francisco 49ers and again on December 2, 2013, during a Monday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints, with a roar of 137.6 dB. As per an agreement struck between the Seahawks and Texas A&M in 2016, the Seahawks have virtually ceased from referring to their fans as the '12th Man', and instead are using the term '12s' or the 12 Fan.

Franchise Origins and Stadium Evolution

The Seattle Seahawks entered professional football in 1976 as an expansion franchise following a competitive bidding process led by local business leaders. Initially joining the NFC West, the team was part of a unique league arrangement that saw them switch to the AFC West after their inaugural season before eventually returning to the NFC in 2002. For over two decades, the club called the Kingdome home, sharing the venue with other major Seattle sports franchises.

Following a brief two-year tenure at Husky Stadium during the turn of the millennium, the team established its permanent residence in 2002 at Lumen Field in the SoDo neighborhood. This modern stadium, built on the former site of the Kingdome, has since served as the shared home for both the Seahawks and Major League Soccer's Sounders FC. The venue's naming rights have evolved over time, reflecting various corporate sponsorships while remaining a central pillar of Seattle's sports culture.

The Rise of the 12th Man

Seahawks supporters are famously known as the "12th man," a moniker that highlights their critical role in home-field advantage. This passionate fanbase, which now identifies collectively as the "12s" since 2016, draws support from a vast geographical region spanning the Pacific Northwest and beyond, including parts of Canada. Their collective energy is not merely symbolic; it has achieved measurable global recognition. During the 2013 NFL season, the crowd at Lumen Field set the Guinness World Record for the loudest noise at a sporting event on two separate occasions. This intense atmosphere creates a formidable challenge for visiting teams and has become an integral part of the team's identity. The fanbase's dedication extends across state lines, uniting supporters from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and British Columbia under one banner.

On-Field Dominance and Historic Achievements

The franchise reached its pinnacle of success during the 2010s under head coach Pete Carroll, driven by the legendary "Legion of Boom" defense. This era produced five consecutive seasons with ten or more wins and resulted in back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. The team secured their first-ever championship victory at Super Bowl XLVIII with a decisive win over the Denver Broncos. Their competitive consistency was further highlighted by an NFL record run from 2011 to 2016, playing 95 consecutive games without suffering a loss of more than ten points. While they have faced defeat in other Super Bowls against New England and Pittsburgh, their overall resume includes twelve division titles and four conference championships. Notably, the Seahawks remain the only team in history to appear in championship games for both the AFC and NFC.

Legacy of Greatness and Ownership Transition

The organization boasts a distinguished list of players who have achieved immortality through induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including legends like Steve Largent, Walter Jones, and Kenny Easley. Beyond these national honors, the team maintains its own Ring of Honor to celebrate local icons such as Dave Krieg, Shaun Alexander, and former coaches Chuck Knox and Mike Holmgren. The franchise's leadership history is equally storied, marked by the long tenure of owner Paul Allen from 1997 until his passing. In a landmark event for the league in July 2026, the Paul G. Allen Estate announced a record-breaking sale of the team for $9.612 billion to an ownership group led by investor Vinod Khosla. This transaction, pending NFL approval, marks a new chapter for the franchise while requiring the buyer to divest holdings in rival teams.