The Seattle Seahawks opened the NFL’s 2026 regular season with a pregame tribute marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, ahead of their matchup against the New England Patriots at Lumen Field — a rematch of Super Bowl LX.
Before kickoff, a stadium announcement asked fans to observe a moment of silence. “This weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the deadliest in our nation’s history,” the announcement said. “We now ask that you join us in a moment of silence in honor of those affected by the September 11th tragedy.” The crowd, known as one of the loudest in the league, went largely quiet.
The national anthem that followed included both a sign language interpretation and a guitar solo performed by Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready. McCready’s rendition drew early comparisons to Jimi Hendrix’s famous version of the anthem before shifting into a more improvisational, grunge-inflected style. NBC broadcaster Mike Tirico described the performance as “authentically Seattle.”
The Seahawks also invited first responders to the game who had traveled across the country to assist in recovery efforts following the 2001 attacks. The pregame ceremony closed with a military flyover over the stadium.
The Seattle game was the first of several 9/11 tributes planned across the NFL’s Week 1 schedule, which continues with a game in Australia on Thursday, additional matchups Sunday, and Monday Night Football, as teams around the league mark the anniversary in their own ways.
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