Seahawks enjoy morning beers, praise 'best team in the world' as Seattle celebrates Super Bowl title

SEATTLE (AP) — Ernest Jones IV dropped a few choice words while praising his defensive teammates, his offensive line, his quarterback and the city of Seattle ahead of the Seahawks' Super Bowl victory parade on Wednesday.

Like the rest of the Seahawks, the leader of Seattle's vaunted “Dark Side” defense had an excuse for using the occasional profanity during a morning trophy presentation at Lumen Field. A keg of Bud Light sat on the stage to provide some refreshment for players, and Jones — like many who spoke before him — sipped from a cup of beer as he addressed a crowd that the team estimated at 50,000.

The hard-hitting linebacker stated what became abundantly clear to everyone who watched Seattle's 29-13 dismantling of the New England Patriots on Sunday in Santa Clara, California.

“Not only do we have the best defense in the world,” Jones said, “we have the best team in the world.”

The architect of that defense, president of football operations John Schneider, was also in a jovial mood with a red plastic cup in hand ahead of the second Super Bowl victory parade in the Seahawks’ 50-year history. Seattle won its first championship 12 years ago.

In addition to praising second-year coach Mike Macdonald, Schneider gave a toast to late owner Paul Allen.

Two weeks ago, ESPN reported the Seahawks would go up for sale after the Super Bowl. But Wednesday was about celebrating what Seattle accomplished under Jody Allen, who has owned the team since her brother, a co-founder of Microsoft, died in 2018 at age 65.

“Jody,” Schneider said. “Paul would be so proud of you, the way you led this organization and allowed us to be where we are. To Jody Allen.”

Sam Darnold also gave credit to Allen, Schneider and Macdonald during his brief speech. Jones vehemently defended Darnold after his four-interception game in mid-November, which turned out to be the Seahawks’ last loss of the season. The Super Bowl was their 10th straight victory.

“A lot of people didn’t believe in me,” Darnold said, “but it didn’t matter because the ones that are close believed in me, including y’all.”

Darnold had plenty of doubters even while leading the Seahawks to 14 regular-season victories and helping Jaxon Smith-Njigba set franchise records for yards receiving (1,793) and receptions (119).

Smith-Njigba, the AP Offensive Player of the Year, credited his teammates and coaches with his success Wednesday, as he did all season.

“We’re the best in the world. Best in the world,” Smith-Njigba said. “Sam Darnold, Mike Macdonald, it don’t matter. Best defense in the world. We had one goal, and that was to bring this home. And that’s what we did. To the best fans in the world, this is for y’all.”

During the parade, tight end AJ Barner, wearing a tank top and a cowboy hat, danced down the middle of 4th Avenue and high-fived fans. Defensive lineman Leonard Williams showered fans with beer from the top of a sightseeing bus.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson rode around on a vintage metro bus. The Seattle Police Department said it made no arrests during the parade.

City officials estimated that up to 1 million fans would line the 2-mile parade route, which ultimately had to be extended because of the massive turnout. Some kids climbed trees to get a better look at their beloved team — even after the Seattle Public Schools District announced its schools would remain open and that parade attendance would not be considered an excused absence.

Championship parades have been a rare occurrence in Seattle since the SuperSonics became the city's first major professional franchise in 1967.

The SuperSonics — who have since left Seattle — commemorated their 1979 championship with a parade. The WNBA's Seattle Storm had parades after three of their four titles. Neither the Mariners (MLB) nor the NHL's expansion Kraken has won a championship.

Williams said there will be more celebrations to come for the Seahawks.

“We’re not done,” Williams said. “We’re coming back next year.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald waves to the crowd during the team's NFL football Super Bowl 60 parade and celebration, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks fans cheer during the team's NFL football Super Bowl 60 parade and celebration, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks players celebrate during the team's NFL football Super Bowl 60 parade and celebration, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald holds the Lombardi Trophy and greets fans as he arrives for the team's NFL football Super Bowl 60 celebration at Lumen Field, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp speaks during the team's NFL football Super Bowl 60 celebration at Lumen Field, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks cheer as they wait for the team's NFL football Super Bowl 60 parade and celebration to begin on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo arrives for the team's NFL football Super Bowl 60 celebration at Lumen Field, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold holds the Lombardi Trophy as head coach Mike MacDonald celebrates at left during the team's NFL football Super Bowl 60 celebration at Lumen Field, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks Rylie Mills (98) celebrates after sacking New England Patriots Drake Maye (10) during the second quarter of Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) celebrates his touchdown on a fumble recovery with safety Nick Emmanwori (3) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald holds the trophy as quarterback Sam Darnold, right, and others look on after the team's win in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald kisses the Lombardi Trophy as quarterback Sam Darnold (14) looks on after the Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) celebrates his touchdown on a fumble recovery during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge turned to the Bleacher Creatures during their first-inning Roll Call at the New York Yankees' home opener Friday, bent a knee and flexed with both arms in honor of Brett Gardner.

“Still hoping he gets a chance to come back here and share his knowledge with the boys a little bit,” Judge said after his go-ahead, two-run homer in the first inning started the Yankees to an 8-2 win over the Miami Marlins. “He was a big part of this team, his long tenure here as a Yankee, so I always like paying him a little credit. He's tuned into the game and watching.”

Gardner spent his entire big league career with the Yankees from 2008-21, and Judge made his major league debut with New York in 2016. Judge started flexing for Roll Call when playing center field, Gardner's old position. Judge roomed with Gardner in 2017.

“He was a leader. He was a professional. He was a prankster. He was everything that you look for in a guy to lead the team,” Judge said, speaking slowly and choosing his words carefully. “He took me in at a young age when I first got here and he treated me just like everybody else and showed me respect. He taught me a lot of things. It kind of teaches you how to lead a clubhouse. He had a big influence on me not only on the field but inside this clubhouse, just the way he played the game and the way he held everybody to a standard. Very few guys are made like Brett Gardner.”

Gardner has been in the Yankees' thoughts even more since March 2024, when his youngest son died at age 14 during a family vacation in Costa Rica. Authorities determined carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death.

Judge, the team captain, wanted the Yankees to arrive in style after opening 5-1 on their West Coast trip.

“That's Cap, again, setting the tone,” said Ben Rice, who homered and drove in three runs. “Sent us a text late last night saying: `Hey, suits tomorrow.' So everybody was fired up and we were happy to continue that momentum out on the field.”

Trent Grisham reached leading off with the first of 11 walks by Marlins pitchers and Judge drove a slider into the left-field seats against Eury Pérez for a 2-1 lead.

Judge, who had three RBIs, hit a record 20 first-inning home runs last year, when he finished with 53. Three of Judge’s five hits this season have been home runs.

Coming off his third AL MVP award and first batting title, Judge is off to a slow start with a .185 average.

He gave his teammates a scare in the second inning when he was hit below the right wrist by a 98.9 mph fastball from Pérez, one pitch after Grisham's bases-loaded walk.

“I’ve broken my wrist like that, so that’s always the main concern,” Judge said.

Judge missed 45 games after he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City’s Jakob Junis on July 26, 2018.

“Felt like he was probably OK but I tend to jump up a little quicker when it’s to him," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) hits a two-run home run during the first inning of the Yankees' home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) walks back to dugout during the fifth inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) successfully steals second base during the eighth inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees outfielders Cody Bellinger (35), Trent Grisham (12) and Aaron Judge (99) embrace each other after wining a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of the Yankees' home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)