Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas was on the sideline Saturday evening to watch his team for the first time since sustaining a season-ending leg injury against the Carolina Panthers in Week 13.
Thomas was stylish, wearing shades, Jordan's (one, specifically) and a very unique fur hat. On the front was his No. 29 stitched in Russian lettering that read: "Restricted Air Space. No fly zone. Restricted by Earl Thomas."
The design was not something Thomas made himself, but a group of overseas Seahawks fans hailing from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Baltic states, Germany and the Czech Republic. As Sean Quinton of The Seattle Times charted, when the president of the group, Boris Khodoh, discovered that one of the group member's friends works closely with the Seahawks safety, he didn't pass up the opportunity to send a gift. They acted fast, and sent Thomas the hat, a stuffed cat with his jersey and a letter that read the following (via Seahawks Reddit):
*Dear Earl Thomas, *
We are fans of Seattle Seahawks from the countries emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Some of us live in Russia, some live in Ukraine and Belarus (they differ from Russia as Canada differs from the USA). We have guys from Kazakhstan (it is like Texas, USA – there are also cows, cowboys and oil, but the country is four times bigger by land area), Georgia (not the one to the North of Florida, but the one to the South of Russia) and the Baltic states, our fellows are in Germany, Czech Republic and of course in the State of Washington.
*Some of us play football, some officiate and some just watch it, but all of us love the best ball game on Earth, and we are all sure that the Seahawks is the best team in the world. For many of us you are the favourite player. However, two members of our community - Darya and Xenia have another player being their favourite one, and this is Richard Sherman. Probably this choice is the result of these girls playing cornerbacks. We love you not only for interceptions and tackles, your invincible spirit - that is what is more important for us, it is great that you were able to demonstrate it in the game against Falcons. *
*The action team of our fan club "Russian Sea Hawkers" which is currently in the process of official registration could not miss the opportunity to make you a present. It is a uniform winter hat of naval pilots based on the only Russian aircraft cruiser - Admiral Kuznetsov. These guys fly multirole fighter aircrafts MiG-29K (Mikoyan MiG-29K, NATO reporting name: Fulcrum-D). We think that the coincidence of your numbers and tasks on the football and battle fields is highly symbolic. *
Members of our fan club – Ivan and Sasha, made a plush cat for you with their own hands, to be more exact it is more for little Kaleigh Rose rather than for you, so her father could be always near even when he is in another city, being on the field to show everyone his indomitable spirit and another tremendous game.
*We wish you to stay on the field for many years with no injuries, to hold Lombardi Trophy in your hands couple of times more, and to put on a gold jacket in Canton afterwards. We wish you all the best, be happy and let love, peace and harmony live at your home. *
*If it is not difficult, could you please tell your teammates that when they take the CenturyLink Field or any other field, they are supported not only by those who came to the stadium, we are also with you - watching games live on the Internet. And we are also shouting, but that is more like whisper-shout because when you play on Sunday evening, it is already the middle of working Monday in the east of Russia, and 3 a.m. in the West – so we just don't want to wake our families up shouting too loud. *
*Thank you and all the guys for giving us so much joy and hope. *
*With deepest respect and love, *
247 devoted fans from Vladivostok in the Far East of Russia to Kaliningrad in the West, from Murmansk above the Arctic Circle to Almaty in the south of Kazakhstan.
GO HAWKS!!!
The end result? Thomas sporting the hat in front of a national audience and alongside his fellow defensive backs in the team's pregame huddle.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll noticed the hat as well and said the following of it this morning on 710 ESPN Seattle: "Yeah, I thought that was cool. That's a great story, too. I got the insights on the story last night. It was very good."
Team photographer Rod Mar shares exclusive behind-the-scenes images from the Seahawks' 26-6 win over the Detroit Lions in an NFC Wild Card playoff game on Saturday, January 7 at Seattle's CenturyLink Field.
Jimmy Graham arrives at CenturyLink Field at 145pm, some 3 1/2 hours before kickoff for the wild card playoff game against the visiting Detroit Lions.
At 3:20pm, punter Jon Ryan pauses to sign autographs as he heads back to the locker room after working out on the field.
Linebacker Bobby Wagner, who was named All-Pro this week, acknowledges fans as he heads to the field for his early warmups.
New return specialist Devin Hester fields punts two hours before kickoff.
In the locker room defensive players Frank Clark, Cassius Marsh and Kelvin Taylor relax and hydrate.
Quarterback Russell Wilson, lit by a television light, prepares to the the field for warmups.
Free safety Earl Thomas returned to CenturyLink Field for the first time since injuring his leg, and he joined his Legion of Boom teammates outside the locker room for their pregame huddle.
Earl Thomas watches the Seahawks warmup on the field while in his boot and crutches after injuring his leg during the regular season.
Defensive end Frank Clark takes a moment and walks to a line of fans and family members during pregame warmups.
Doug Baldwin finds space alone in the locker room before kickoff.
Michael Bennett rallies his teammates just before the Seahawks left the locker room for kickoff.
Seahawks players wait impatiently in the tunnel to run onto the field during pregame ceremonies.
Cornerback DeShawn Shead walks through fog and lasers as he waits for his name to be called during pregame introductions.
The arches of CenturyLink Field are temporarily bathed in red, white and blue as a giant American flag is held by military personnel during the playing of the national anthem.
Richard Sherman gathers his teammates around on the Seahawks sideline just prior to kickoff.
Bobby Wagner fights through blocks to tackle Detroit's Zach Zenner in the first quarter.
Russell Wilson tries to fire a pass as he is being dragged down by Detroit's Kerry Hyder.
Seattle head coach Pete Carroll shouts instructions during the first half.
12s let their voices be heard during the first quarter.
The run game began to find its footing in the second quarter as Justin Britt (68), George Fant (74) and company opened holes for running back Thomas Rawls (34).
With the game still scoreless, the Seahawks went for it on fourth down, and receiver Paul Richardson reached around his defender to make this acrobatic touchdown catch.
Seattle's DeShawn Shead deflects a pass just before it reaches Lions receiver Anquan Boldin in the first half.
Thomas Rawls rumbles free up the left side in the second quarter.
In the locker room at halftime, Cliff Avril and Cassius Marsh listen to instructions from defensive coordinator Kris Richard.
Members of the defense pay attention as halftime instructions and adjustments are given in the Seattle locker room.
New Seahawks long snapper Tyler Ott (with ball) recovered a Jon Ryan punt at the four-yard line in his debut with the team.
Thomas Rawls heads upfield on a long run up the right side. Notice quarterback Russell Wilson running behind him.
Near the end of the play, quarterback Russell Wilson provides a block as Thomas Rawls cuts back for a 32-yard gain that would set up a Seattle field goal.
Kicker Steven Hauschka nails a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter to extend Seattle's lead to 13-3.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin gets free in the secondary to haul in a 42-yard reception in the third quarter.
Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls leaps in the end zone after scoring on a four-yard touchdown run to extend Seattle's lead to 19-6 over Detroit.
Seaahawks receiver Doug Baldwin stiff-arms Lions Don Carey in the fourth quarter.
The Sea Gals perform in the south end zone between quarters.
Seattle's Paul Richardson gets a step on Detroit's Nevin Lawson and makes a one-handed catch for 27-yards.
With Detroit's Nevin Lawson holding his right arm, Seattle's Paul Richardson uses his left hand to complete the one-handed catch.
Seattle's Doug Baldwin manages to catch a pass from Russell Wilson with one hand and his leg for a first down on a play that was initially ruled incomplete then overturned on review.
Doug Baldwin signals "first down" as officials review his catch in the fourth quarter.
Receivers Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse celebrate after Baldwin's touchdown gave Seattle a 26-6 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Seattle's Cliff Avril sacks Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford just prior to the two-minute warning.
On the Seahawks sideline, defensive backs Neiko Thorpe and Kam Chancellor celebrate the victory.
Running back Thomas Rawls, who finished the night with 161 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, walks onto the field after the final whistle.
Former teammates and still friends Jermaine Kearse and Golden Tate pose for a photo together after the game.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin stops to acknowledge a young fan on his way back to the locker room after the win.
Seahawks Doug Baldwin and Bobby Wagner shake hands with Bert Kolde and team owner Paul Allen as they enter the locker room postgame.
Offensive tackle Garry Gilliam shakes hands with safety Kam Chancellor while in the background Richard Sherman talks with GM John Schneider.
Offensive architects Tom Cable and Darrell Bevell chat in the locker room after the win.
Running back Thomas Rawls acknowledges teammates and especially the offensive line including Germaine Ifedi, Justin Britt, Mark Glowinski and Garry Gilliam after the game.
Right tacker George Fant shakes hands with running back Thomas Rawls after the the Seahawks rushed for 177 yards in the win over Detroit.
Michael Bennett brings the Seahawks together in the middle of the locker room postgame.
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman offers a wave and a smile to the media during his postgame press conference.
Friends and family of receiver Doug Baldwin listen as he speaks to the media after the game in which he caught 11 passes on 12 targets for 104 yards and a touchdown.
