SEATTLE — The Emerald City officially turned blue Friday. With the Los Angeles Rams set to invade Lumen Field for the NFC Championship this Sunday, Seahawks legend Cliff Avril scaled the Space Needle to send a message the rest of the league can’t ignore. The flag is up. The noise is coming.
The wind whipped at 600 feet, but Avril didn’t flinch. Clad in a crisp blue “Seahawks Legends” bomber jacket and a grey fitted cap, the Super Bowl XLVIII champion clipped the massive number 12 banner to the halyard and hoisted it into the crisp January sky. This wasn’t just a photo op; it was a summoning.
Seattle (14-3) hosts the Rams (12-5) in a rubber match that carries the heaviest weight possible: a ticket to Super Bowl LX. The city knows the stakes. Below the Needle, fans in jerseys honked horns and waved banners, turning the Seattle Center into a impromptu pep rally.
“I’m excited to be able to raise the 12th man flag to start off something special. The team’s been playing really, really good ball. Defensively, these guys are playing lights out, especially with the guys up front. Go Hawks!” — Cliff Avril, Seahawks Legend & Super Bowl Champion
This Sunday isn’t just another division rivalry. The Seahawks and Rams split their regular-season series, with each team protecting their home turf. Now, the road to the Lombardi Trophy runs through the deafening roar of Lumen Field.
Avril’s presence serves as a bridge between the dominant “Legion of Boom” era and the current 2025 squad, whose suffocating defense has drawn eerily similar comparisons. If the Seahawks defense channels that 2013 energy against the Rams’ high-flying attack, Seattle will book its flight to the Super Bowl.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. PT Sunday. The 12s are ready.
