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.”

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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)

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Polls opened across Bangladesh on Thursday for voters to cast ballots in a parliamentary election seen as a critical test of the country’s democracy after years of political turmoil.

After a slow start, crowds came to polling stations in the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere by midmorning. Balloting will continue through Thursday with results expected Friday.

More than 127 million people are eligible to vote in Bangladesh’s first election since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government collapsed in 2024 after weeks of mass protests. Hasina fled the country and her party is banned from the polls. She is living in exile in India.

Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is a leading contender to form the next government. He is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years in self-exile in London. Rahman has pledged to rebuild democratic institutions, restore the rule of law and revive the struggling economy.

Challenging the BNP is an 11-party alliance led by the Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party, which was banned under Hasina but has gained prominence since her removal. The conservative religious group’s growing influence has fueled concern, particularly among women and minority communities, that social freedoms could come under pressure if they come to power. Bangladesh is more than 90% Muslim, while around 8% are Hindu.

Shafiqur Rahman, chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, expressed optimism after casting his vote in a polling station.

“It (the election) is a turning point,” he told The Associated Press. “People demand change. They desire change. We also desire the change.”

The vote is taking place under an interim government headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, which has said it is committed to delivering a credible and transparent election. As part of that effort, around 500 international observers and foreign journalists will be present, including delegations from the European Union and the Commonwealth, to which Bangladesh belongs.

Bangladesh’s Parliament has 350 seats, including 300 elected directly from single-member constituencies and 50 reserved for women. Lawmakers are chosen by plurality and the parliament serves a five-year term. The Election Commission recently postponed voting in one constituency after a candidate died.

The election could reshape the domestic stability of Bangladesh, a country whose post-1971 history since gaining independence from Pakistan has been marked by entrenched political parties, military coups and allegations of vote rigging. Young voters, many of whom played a central role in the 2024 uprising, are expected to be influential. Some 5 million first-time voters are eligible.

“I think it is a very crucial election because this is the first time we can show our opinion with freedom,” said 28-year-old voter Ikram ul Haque, adding that past elections were far from fair.

“We are celebrating the election. It is like a festival here,” he said. “I hope Bangladesh will have exponential change.”

Thursday’s election is a critical test not just of leadership but of trust in Bangladesh’s democratic future. Voters can say “Yes” to endorse major reform proposals that stemmed from a national charter signed by major political parties last year.

If a majority of voters favor the referendum, the newly elected Parliament could form a constitutional reform council to make the changes with 180 working days from its first session. The proposals include the creation of new constitutional bodies and changing Parliament from a single body to a bicameral legislature with an upper house empowered to amend the constitution by majority vote.

The BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami both signed the document with some changes after initially expressing some dissent. Hasina’s Awami League party, which is a major party, and some of its former allies were excluded from the discussion. The referendum has still been criticized for limiting the options put before voters.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman, centre, addresses to the media after casting his vote at a polling station during national parliamentary election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A woman casts her vote at a polling station during national parliamentary election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A person shows victory signs after casting his vote outside a polling center during the national parliamentary elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman, center, addresses to the media after casting his vote at a polling station during national parliamentary election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Tarique Rahman waves as he comes out after casting his vote during the national parliamentary elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Voters wait in line outside a polling center to cast their ballots during the national parliamentary elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Voters wait in line outside a polling center to cast their ballots during the national parliamentary elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Bangladeshi people stand in queue to cast their votes in a polling station during national parliamentary election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

An army official announces to the voters to maintain discipline in a polling station during national parliamentary election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Bangladeshi women stand in queue to cast their votes in a polling station during national parliamentary election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

People ride on three wheelers on a street ahead of Thursday's national parliamentary election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Security personnel arrive to collect ballot boxes and voting materials at a distribution centre ahead of Thursday's national parliamentary election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

An official stands near ballot boxes and voting papers before its distribution to various polling centers ahead of Thursday's national parliamentary election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)