The Seattle Seahawks say their annual Salute to Service game, presented by USAA, is set for Sunday, Nov. 8 against the Arizona Cardinals.
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The Seattle Seahawks announced special military and veteran honours as part of the team’s annual Salute to Service game, presented by USAA and described as an NFL year-round initiative to honour, empower and connect with service members, veterans and their families.
The Seahawks’ Salute to Service game is Sunday, November 8, when Seattle hosts the Arizona Cardinals. The team says hundreds of military personnel and veterans will take part in on-field and gameday ceremonies.
For pregame, the Seahawks will host a Pregame Enlistment Ceremony in the Ticketmaster Tailgate, featuring more than 60 soldiers, sailors and U.S. Marine Corps recruits as they enlist in the United States military. The team said Major General Bernard J. Harrington, a senior leader in the U.S. Army, will serve as the enlisting official.
The Seahawks also announced that Master Chief Dave Suta from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island will run out with the team from the tunnel, and that Jack Hughes, age six, will deliver the game ball. The national anthem will be performed by Navy Petty Officer First Class (ret.) Generald Wilson.
During the anthem, the Seahawks said representatives from FourBlock, accompanied by Boeing veterans and 60 active-duty service members stationed throughout the Puget Sound, will hold the American flag. The team said the Honoring Our Heroes powered by Boeing program recognizes and supports an organization each year through a financial donation, increased visibility across Seahawks platforms, a special gameday recognition and a community service project, and that this year’s focus is FourBlock and its work supporting veterans and military spouses as they transition to civilian careers.
The team added that Sergeant Major Robert “Tito” Sugai will raise the 12 flags. The Seahawks said Sugai retired from the U.S. Army in March 2026 after 28.5 years of service, including 19 years with the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), and that his awards include the Legion of Merit and three Bronze Star Medals.
As part of the Salute to Service programming, the Seahawks said the USAA-presented Salute to Service Moment will recognize U.S. Army veteran Billy Shearer in-game. The team said Shearer has more than 20 years of service, including deployments across Afghanistan and the Pacific, and earned multiple honours including two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart; the Seahawks also said he coaches middle and high school football and is pursuing a master’s degree to become a public-school educator and athletic director.
At halftime, the Seahawks said fans will take part in the annual “Battle of the Branches,” with five participants from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces competing in a five-station relay race. The team also noted that throughout November, 12% of official Seahawks Salute to Service merchandise sales at Seahawks Pro Shops will benefit the GoVA Foundation, which the Seahawks said provides free financial education and resources to service members, veterans and military families nationwide.
Finally, the Seahawks said they will present a special military challenge coin, designed and created by USAA, for use in the official coin toss prior to kickoff. The team described challenge coins as a tradition where one member of the military presents another coin to reward or encourage excellence, boost morale, or recognize a fellow service member.
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