Jon Ryan Reflects on Seahawks Legacy and Super Bowl Emotions Ahead of Rematch with Patriots
PORTLAND, Ore. - As Super Bowl LX approaches, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots are set for a high-stakes rematch of their unforgettable clash in Super Bowl XLIX. And while the players gear up for the biggest game of their lives, one former Seahawk knows exactly what they’re feeling - and he’ll be soaking it all in from the stands this time.
Jon Ryan, the longtime punter who spent a decade booming kicks and flipping field position for Seattle, is headed to the game as a fan. But don’t let the casual title fool you - Ryan’s passion for this year’s Seahawks squad runs deep.
“I've been loving this Seahawk team all year,” Ryan said. “I've been loving what Mike McDonald has done with them.
Especially the last two months. It's been unbelievable.”
Ryan has earned the right to speak with authority. He was part of the Seahawks’ golden era, playing in back-to-back Super Bowls, including the franchise’s first championship win in Super Bowl XLVIII. He also knows the sting of coming up short, having been on the field for that crushing loss to Tom Brady and the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX - a game that still stirs debate to this day.
Now the majority owner of the Portland Pickles baseball team, Ryan will be watching this Sunday with a different kind of tension.
“It’s a lot less stressful,” he said with a laugh. “I know come Sunday it'll be a lot more stress and a lot more beers, which will be nice.”
But he hasn’t forgotten what Super Bowl week feels like from a player’s perspective - the chaos, the spotlight, and the disruption of routine that football players rely on.
“Everything felt un-routine,” Ryan said. “In the world of football, we're very routine oriented.
We know exactly what we're going to be doing all day Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Then you get to the Super Bowl and it's a whole new world.
It's a media circus.”
That whirlwind atmosphere, he says, can be especially jarring for younger players - something both the Seahawks and Patriots have plenty of on their rosters this year.
“Everything feels just a little bit discombobulated that week,” Ryan explained. “The first time I felt comfortable was when I went on to the field for warmups.”
Ryan still vividly remembers the pinnacle of his career: Seattle’s dominant win over Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII. That game wasn’t just a win - it was a statement.
Seattle jumped out to a 22-0 halftime lead, then returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown to go up 29-0. The final score - 43-8 - remains one of the most lopsided in Super Bowl history.
“You start to think of all those struggles and all those times and all that kind of comes flooding back to you,” Ryan said, reflecting on the moment he held the Lombardi Trophy. “It just seems like in that moment it was 100% worth it. Just to be able to hold that trophy that you dreamt of holding since you were 5 years old.”
And while punters aren’t usually known for their passing skills, Ryan etched his name into Seahawks lore with a gutsy touchdown pass on a fake field goal in the NFC Championship Game - a play that captured the swagger of that Seattle team.
“I think if you were around that team in 2012, 13, 14, 15, we didn't lack confidence!” Ryan said. “That was for sure.”
Of course, the following Super Bowl brought a different kind of memory. With the game on the line and just one yard to go, Seattle opted to pass - and the rest is history.
The interception sealed the Patriots’ win and left Seahawks fans stunned. Ryan, ever the team guy, didn’t pile on the second-guessing.
“Who knows what would've happened? I don't have a crystal ball, but all I can say is I wish we'd won,” he said.
Now, as the Seahawks prepare to write a new chapter against the same opponent, Ryan has a simple message for the players taking the field.
“Take it all in,” he advised. “Once you're in that football game, just remember it's just a football game. You don't have to do anything more than you've ever done.”
And yes, he’s got a prediction - no surprise where his loyalties lie.
“Obviously I’m biased. I really find a hard way for the Patriots to win on Sunday,” Ryan said. “I think it’s going to be 27-21 type football game for the Seahawks.”
For Ryan, this weekend is about more than just the scoreboard. It’s a chance to reconnect with old teammates, relive the memories, and witness a new generation of Seahawks chasing greatness - just like he did not so long ago.