Seahawks Coach Praises Raucous 12s Fans for Super Bowl Berth

Mike Macdonald credits Seattle's home-field advantage as key to NFC Championship win over Rams.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 12:23pm by Ben Kaplan

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Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald praised the team's passionate fanbase, known as the "12s," for providing a crucial home-field advantage that helped Seattle defeat the Rams in the NFC Championship Game and earn a spot in the Super Bowl. Macdonald said the crowd noise in Seattle was "unbelievable" and "incredible," and that the 12s' support was a major factor in the Seahawks' 31-27 victory.

Why it matters

The Seahawks are known for having one of the loudest and most devoted fanbases in the NFL, with the 12s creating an intimidating environment for opposing teams at Lumen Field. Macdonald's comments highlight how this home-field advantage can swing close games in Seattle's favor, as was the case in the NFC title game against the Rams.

The details

Macdonald said the crowd noise made it difficult for the Rams' offense to communicate, while allowing the Seahawks' coaching staff to easily relay instructions to quarterback Sam Darnold. The coach noted that the 12s were "silent" when the Seahawks' offense was on the field, further aiding their ability to execute.

  • The Seahawks defeated the Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship Game on January 29, 2026.

The players

Mike Macdonald

The head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, who led the team to the Super Bowl in his first season at the helm.

Sam Darnold

The Seahawks' starting quarterback, who benefited from the crowd noise in Seattle during the NFC Championship Game.

Matthew Stafford

The quarterback of the Los Angeles Rams, whose offense struggled with the crowd noise in Seattle.

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What they’re saying

“It was unbelievable. It was incredible. And we needed it.”

— Mike Macdonald, Head Coach, Seattle Seahawks (Brock & Salk)

“You could hear Sam from the sideline, which is awesome.”

— Mike Macdonald, Head Coach, Seattle Seahawks (Brock & Salk)

What’s next

The Seahawks will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, where they will look to capitalize on the support of their traveling fans to overcome the Patriots' home-field advantage in San Francisco.

The takeaway

The Seahawks' passionate fanbase, known as the 12s, has long been considered one of the NFL's best home-field advantages. Macdonald's comments highlight how this advantage can be a decisive factor in close games, as it was in the NFC Championship victory over the Rams.