SPOKANE, Wash. — When the Seattle Seahawks take the field at Super Bowl 60 next Sunday, they will be led by Taima the Hawk, their live mascot for the past 21 seasons.
Taima represents a dying tradition in professional sports, as only four NFL teams still employ live mascots. This marks his fourth Super Bowl appearance and the third where he will fly during the pre-game ceremony.
The hawk lives in Spokane under the care of falconers Dave Knutson and his wife Robin, who have managed this tradition for 22 years. The couple travels from Spokane to each home game, and Knutson expects Taima to sleep during the entire journey to San Francisco.
“We make people happy. Everybody we meet at the games, and there’s a thousand pictures taken of him at the games and just as many people or more petting him. It’s like walking around with a rockstar,” Knutson said.
Players routinely seek out Taima before games for good luck. Knutson believes the hawk is a good luck charm, noting that the Seahawks reached the Super Bowl in Taima’s first season with the organization.
Despite crowds and excitement, Taima maintains his composure throughout each game day. His handlers have developed a precise routine that prepares him for leading the team onto the field just before kickoff.
“He knows what’s going on, and for that final second after we’ve done all these things that are scheduled for us leading up to the run out just before kickoff, everything is a routine,” Knutson explained.
Knutson looks forward to the Super Bowl journey and hopes to create lasting memories for Seahawks fans making the trip to San Francisco. Taima already owns one Super Bowl ring from the Seahawks’ championship victory, but he has the opportunity to add another next Sunday.
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