Seattle is buzzing with excitement as the Seahawks celebrate their second Super Bowl victory in the franchise’s 50-year history. An estimated million fans are expected to gather along the parade route from Lumen Field to Belltown, turning the Emerald City into a sea of blue and green.

Under the guidance of their second-year head coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks decisively defeated the AFC champion New England Patriots with a score of 29-13 in Super Bowl LX, held in Santa Clara this past Sunday.

Thursday’s celebrations kicked off at 10 a.m. local time with a trophy presentation at Lumen Field, leading into a parade anticipated to last a couple of hours.

In contrast to cities like Philadelphia and Kansas City, which closed schools following their recent Super Bowl wins, Seattle’s schools remained open on Wednesday. This decision has led to some frustration among locals and could potentially impact crowd numbers.

One disgruntled local expressed their disappointment on X, stating, “Well, @SeaPubSchools you’re just wrong in this situation. Get over it. Families should enjoy these very rare events together!”

The school district announced that attending the parade will not be considered an excused absence. This is a slight shift from the 2014 policy when the Seahawks first claimed the Lombardi Trophy. Back then, while schools stayed open with usual attendance rules, individual principals had the discretion to excuse absences for the celebration.

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald greets fans before Wednesday’s parade

Sam Darnold, the journeyman quarterback who led Seattle to its second title, raises the trophy

One Seattle Seahawks fan enjoys a large can of Monster Energy before Wednesday’s parade

Seattle Seahawks fans begin to line the street before the team’s second Super Bowl parade

For what it’s worth, Seattle Police did issue an absence letter, which refers to Seahawks by their nickname, ‘the 12,’ as in ’12th man.’

‘This letter serves as official notification that the 12 in possession of this letter has been drafted into emergency service by the City of Seattle,’ read the letter from Sgt. Patrick Nichaud.

‘Following the Seahawks’ victory, we have identified a critical shortage of decibel levels in the downtown corridor,’ the letter continued. ‘Due to a documented history as a “Certified 12,” your employee/student has been identified as a person of interest.’

The letter goes on to threaten ‘an infinite loop of the “Safety Dance” playing over your office speakers,’ in reference to Canadian new wave band Men Without Hats’ 1982 hit. 

‘Please consider this absence “Excused for Greatness,”‘ the letter concluded. ‘We’ll return them to you tomorrow, though they will likely be hoarse and smell faintly of victory.’

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo arrives for the team’s rally at Lumen Field 

Seahawks fans refer to themselves as the team’s ’12th man,’ which explains the flags 

Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba gets a big laugh during Wednesday’s rally

Seattle Seahawks fans begin to gather at Lumen Field ahead of the team’s parade 

A person looks out from the balcony as Seattle Seahawks fans gather ahead of the parade

As many as a million fans were expected, not all of whom were excused from work or school

Several Seahawks players were seen wearing t-shirts emblazed with a doctored image of quarterback Sam Darnold, who is seen smoking and flipping the bird.

‘I’ve been saying it all year,’ linebacker Ernest Jones IV told NFL Network’s Kay Adams before the parade. ‘That’s my dude. And to come, he gave me his blessing, he was OK with us wearing the shirts, the couple of us that have them on. That’s my guy. Thank you, Sam, for getting us to this [Super Bowl].’

‘Is that a cigarette in his mouth?’ Adams asked.

‘Yeah, a little cig,’ Jones answered.

As Jones explained, a local store was able to help him print the shirts within a ‘couple of hours, so it’s perfect.’

As for the fans, most were dressed in team colors, but a few stood out for their mode of transportation. 

‘Hawks fans on horses,’ one person captioned a clip on X, showing two Seattle supporters riding along the parade route. ‘It’s all happening.’