{"id":675586,"date":"2026-01-14T03:25:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T03:25:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/675586\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T03:25:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T03:25:20","slug":"how-the-seahawks-got-their-name-50-years-ago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/675586\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Seahawks got their name 50 years ago"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5fzrjj5ki40ze9za.jpg\" alt=\"Meet the man who named the Seattle Seahawks\" class=\"sr-only\" data-v-4292be72=\"\"\/>    <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">STEILACOOM, WA &#8211; Fifty years ago, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/sports\/seahawks-host-49ers-divisional-round-nfc-playoffs-2026\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Seattle Seahawks<\/a> got its name through a radio competition where fans got the chance to choose a name.<\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">&#8220;I think it\u2019s the best name ever,&#8221; said Tom Barnum.<\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">In 1975, Barnum learned he would have a chance to name the new Seattle NFL team.<\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/tom-barnum.png\" alt=\"Tom Barnum\" data-v-0dea8073=\"\"\/>  <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">He tells FOX 13 Seattle he sent in a few suggestions, including sockeyes, ospreys, mariners (this competition was two years before the Seattle Mariners\u2019 first season), but we all know what came out is the winner: The Seahawks.<\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">According to the Seahawks, the organization received more than 20,000 entries and nearly 1,741 different suggestions.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Barnum was one of about 150 people who entered the name Seahawks.<\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">As acknowledgment for his suggestion, the newly named Seahawks organization sent Barnum a personalized team yearbook\/program, as well as two complimentary tickets for the season.<\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">This year, Barnum was recognized again. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheBeastBus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Beast Bus Family<\/a> learned his story and got Barnum, his sons, and his grandson tickets to the Hawks game versus the Colts in December.<\/p>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/att.yescj8vuzrycic8ujwk883vyc6cnk2au0rkqfet86ie.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-v-0dea8073=\"\"\/> <\/p>\n<p data-v-0dea8073=\"\">Courtesy of the Beast Bus Family <\/p>\n<p>  The good, the bad, and the ugly <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">The Seahawks received nearly 2,000 team name suggestions. Some of them make sense, others have to be satire.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Here is a list alphabetically of all the names the Seahawks listed as other suggestions from the 1975 contest.<\/p>\n<p> A <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Aardvarks, Aleuts, Aero-Techs, About Timers, Anchovies, Alkis, Asters Domes, Abominable Snowmen, Alki Ants, Apple Knockers, Aqua-Ducks;<\/p>\n<p> B <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Bigfoots, Blue Sounders, Bunyan, Bumbershoots, Buffalo Chips, Belaying Pins, Billy Goats, Buzz Saws, Bronze Bobcats, Bay Hawks;<\/p>\n<p> C <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Catamounts, Clouds, Cloudbursts, Clam Diggers, Cool Dudes, City Slickers, Cockatoos, Cumulo Nimbos, Crabs, Cutthroats, Chowderheads, Chinook Passers;<\/p>\n<p> D <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Daffy Ducks, Domebusters, Diarrheas, Dogwoods, Drizzlers, Ding Dongs, Dreadnaughts;<\/p>\n<p> E-F <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Electric Loggers, Ferrys, Flounders, Frogs, Fruits Pickers, Flying Wedges, Ferrets;<\/p>\n<p> G <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Green State Geoducks, Green Giants, Go-E-Ducks, Gnomes;<\/p>\n<p> H <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Hammerheads, Harpooners, Halibut Heads, Herman&#8217;s Hermits, Hydrofoils;<\/p>\n<p> I <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Ichi Ban, Identified Flying Objects, Igloos;<\/p>\n<p> K <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Koala Bears, Killer Whales, Kelpers, Kilowatts, King Krabs;<\/p>\n<p> L-M <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Lucky Loggers, Microwaves, Mongooses, Major Domos, Montlakes;<\/p>\n<p> N <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Nibblers, Nutcrackers, Nordy&#8217;s Best, Nanuks;<\/p>\n<p> O <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Orangutans, O-Zones;<\/p>\n<p> P <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Peckerwoods, Pachyderms, Playwrights, Puget Puffers, Puddle Jumpers, Pacific Crests, Pike Street Misfits, Plimsoll Marks, Peacemakers;<\/p>\n<p> Q <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Queen City Quinaults, Quicksands;<\/p>\n<p> R <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Rainbirds, Rainy Ramblers, Rain-Dears, Running Salmon, Raining Suns, Rain Gods, Rainbeams, Red Tide, Roaches, Roosters, Royal Broughams, Roostertails, Rain-Beaux, Rain Hawks;<\/p>\n<p> S <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Sodbusters, Sounders, Spunkies, Spittoons, Sea Urchins, Salty Dogs, Sheep, 747&#8217;s, Silver Sasquatches, Skeletons, Sardines, Sperm Whales, Sleazies, Sonics, Snowflakes, Sourdoughs, Squids, Snorkels, Sinbads, Salamanders, Sun Dodgers, Scoundrels, Shamans, Sky Hawks, Stiletoes, Space Needlers, Scampi, Superscenics, Sawdust Eaters, Spodiodees, Soggies, Saints &#8216;n Sinners, Shrimps;<\/p>\n<p> T <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Ticks, Tremites, Toads, Third Degree;<\/p>\n<p> U &amp; V <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Undertow, Vampires;<\/p>\n<p> W <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Waumpums, Weather Beaters, Woodpeckers, Water Hawks, Washington Georges, White Roosters;<\/p>\n<p> Y-Z <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Yogas, Zonkers, Zodiacs.<\/p>\n<p> MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE <\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/news\/how-watch-seahawks-49ers-playoffs\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">How to watch Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers playoff game<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/news\/summit-snoqualmie-chairlift-evacuation\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Chairlift stops at WA&#8217;s Summit at Snoqualmie, forcing rope evacuation<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/news\/mason-county-home-death-investigation\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">2 people found dead inside Mason County, WA home<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/news\/tacoma-spuds-pizza-break-ins-fire\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Tacoma&#8217;s Spud&#8217;s Pizza hit by repeated break-ins after fire<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/news\/everett-pokemon-cards-stolen\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Crook steals thousands worth of Pokemon cards from Everett, WA store<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/news\/5-pm-sunsets-return-seattle\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">First 5 pm sunset of 2026 to return to Seattle this month. Here&#8217;s when<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/newsletters\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">FOX Seattle Newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-v-6c8e215c=\"\">Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/fox-local-live-news\/id6443995100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Apple App Store<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.fox.fts.android&amp;hl=en_US&amp;pli=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Google Play Store<\/a> for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.<\/p>\n<p class=\"group-source-paragraph\" data-v-4fbf7207=\"\">The Source: Information in this story came from the Seattle Seahawks, the Beast Bus Family, and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.<\/p>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/tag\/news\" class=\"tags-tag\" data-v-6c8e215c=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">News<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/tag\/us\/wa\/king-county\/seattle\" class=\"tags-tag\" data-v-6c8e215c=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Seattle<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/tag\/nfl\/seahawks\" class=\"tags-tag\" data-v-6c8e215c=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Seattle Seahawks<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/tag\/sports\" class=\"tags-tag\" data-v-6c8e215c=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sports<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"STEILACOOM, WA &#8211; Fifty years ago, the Seattle Seahawks got its name through a radio competition where fans&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":675587,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2081],"tags":[7,29886,88,6,238,237,261,2635,9,800,10374],"class_list":{"0":"post-675586","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-seattle-seahawks","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-king-county","10":"tag-news","11":"tag-nfl","12":"tag-seahawks","13":"tag-seattle","14":"tag-seattle-seahawks","15":"tag-seattleseahawks","16":"tag-sports","17":"tag-us","18":"tag-wa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115891321720761624","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/675586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=675586"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/675586\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/675587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=675586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=675586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=675586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}