From Parade Floats to French Fries: A.J. Barner Keeps the Seahawks’ Super Bowl Celebration Grounded in Gratitude
Less than 24 hours after riding through downtown Seattle on a championship float - cowboy hat tilted just right, tank top flapping in the breeze, and a grin as wide as Puget Sound - A.J. Barner was back among the people.
Only this time, he wasn’t catching passes or waving from a moving vehicle. He was behind the counter at a local McDonald’s, handing out Big Macs and photo ops with the same energy he brought to the Super Bowl field.
If that sounds like a whirlwind, it’s because it is. But for Barner, that’s just the point.
The Seahawks tight end, fresh off a breakout season and a Super Bowl victory, didn’t just bask in the spotlight - he brought it with him, lighting up every room (and drive-thru) he stepped into. One day, he’s a champion soaking in the roar of hundreds of thousands of fans on Fourth Avenue. The next, he’s flipping the script, showing up for those same fans in a setting as humble as it is heartfelt.
And if you’ve followed Barner’s journey, none of this should come as a surprise.
From Day 3 Pick to Super Bowl Contributor
Drafted in the fourth round in 2024, Barner entered the league with modest expectations. But this season, he turned heads and shifted narratives. With 52 receptions for 519 yards and six touchdowns, he became a reliable cog in Klint Kubiak’s offense - and not just as a pass-catcher.
Barner’s blocking stood out all year. He carved out a reputation as one of the league’s premier blocking tight ends, anchoring the edge in both the run game and pass protection. That physicality, combined with his knack for finding space in the red zone, made him a dual threat - and a matchup problem.
He was relatively quiet in Seattle’s first two playoff games, but in the biggest game of the year, he delivered. Four catches, 54 yards, and the game’s first touchdown - a momentum-shifting score in the third quarter that helped tilt the Super Bowl in the Seahawks’ favor.
It was the kind of performance that cements legacies and earns parade invites. But Barner didn’t stop there.
“Someone Had to Bring the Vibes”
At Wednesday’s championship parade, Barner was in full celebration mode - cowboy hat, sleeveless shirt, and a whole lot of energy. He called it “bringing the vibes,” and he wasn’t wrong.
The city of Seattle turned out in force, and Barner fed off every cheer, every chant, every “Go Hawks!” echoing through the streets.
But what stood out wasn’t just the party - it was what came next.
On Thursday, Barner swapped the float for a fast-food counter, hosting a meet-and-greet for 100 lucky fans at a Seattle McDonald’s. And while the setting couldn’t have been more different, the message was the same: this championship belongs to the city.
"I'm not surprised the 12s showed out," Barner said. "They're just great fans.
Great people. They support us on and off the field."
That support - unwavering, loud, and deeply rooted - has been a defining feature of Seattle football for years. And Barner, still early in his NFL journey, already gets it.
He’s not just playing for the Seahawks. He’s playing for the 12s.
A Man of the People
Barner’s week captured the full-circle nature of what it means to win in this league. It’s not just about the rings, the stats, or the parade speeches. It’s about connection - to teammates, to a city, to the fans who live and breathe every snap.
From the moment he arrived in Seattle, Barner’s work ethic and team-first mentality made an impression inside the locker room. Now, his actions off the field are doing the same across the city.
The Super Bowl may be in the rearview mirror, but Barner’s impact is just beginning. Whether he’s catching touchdowns or handing out Happy Meals, he’s showing what it means to be a champion - not just on the field, but in the community.
And if this week is any indication, Seahawks fans can expect plenty more moments like these from No. 87.
Because for A.J. Barner, the celebration isn’t about spotlight.
It’s about showing up - with energy, with gratitude, and with the same heart that helped bring a Lombardi Trophy back to Seattle.