This is the moment Seahawks fans have been waiting for – the team’s return to the Super Bowl for the first time in a decade!
For most people, this is a dream come true.
For a man battling grade four brain cancer, it’s everything.
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“If the Seahawks are watching, my wish list is for you guys to take me to the Super Bowl with you,” Kyle Dreesen told KIRO 7 in November.
Now, after winning the NFC Championship on Sunday, his dream is halfway to reality.
Kyle Dreesen is the Seahawks’ biggest fan. He has a “12” tattooed on his hand and his connection to the team goes way back. His mother was a Seahawks cheerleader in the 1980s.
“It was the love of a lifetime,” Kyle said. “We’ve had tough years, we’ve had good years, we’ve had great years, but they’re always there. There’s always a team to root for.”
They endured his toughest battle yet.
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In November 2024, Kyle was diagnosed with grade 4 astrocytoma. This is an aggressive form of brain cancer, and the typical survival time is about two years. He underwent emergency brain surgery on his 38th birthday.
“We were all in complete shock. You really don’t have time to process any type of information,” said his wife, Blair Drayson.
They say the Seahawks are having a memorable season.
“Last night’s win was exciting for us on so many levels,” Blair added. “We don’t know how many more seasons we have to spend together as a family. This is a very important season for us.”
Kyle and his family hope he can overcome these difficulties so they don’t waste any time.
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“We’re just in wait and pray mode,” Kyle said. “They said it’s not a matter of if it happens, it’s a matter of when, and we just want to get as far ahead as possible and enjoy what we have and the time we’re given.”
Between radiation, chemotherapy, and physical therapy, Kyle found moments to celebrate.
The treatment has taken its toll – he’s lost a lot of his vision – but he’s moving on.
“Why do we try so hard in those dark days? Well, it’s because you have people like this who care about you. It’s because of your family,” Kyle said.
This season, Kyle raised the 12th Man flag with his son at the Veterans Day game.
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“Just being able to hold it and watch it go up, you know what this flag means to us and what this flag has meant to me as a fan over the years,” Kyle said. “No matter what happens in life, you can always choose the Seahawks and cheer for them.”
During radiation therapy, Mayo Clinic technicians surprised him with a hand-painted Seahawks mask.
“It’s really sweet. I’m really excited to see it because just to see them taking the time and effort to do something during such a difficult and trying time as a family is going through,” Blair said.
Support came in from social media, with Blair documenting his to-do list.
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“It’s so sweet to see people who are usually competitors come out and pour so much love and say, ‘I’ll root for the Seahawks for your husband,'” Blair said.
The Seahawks have one more game to play in San Francisco.
Kyle hopes he can go further, too.
“We did it again. I want to be able to take it in and experience it as best as I can, especially in this big moment, especially with this team and how great they are and how great they are. It’s just awesome,” Kyle said.
His final chemo session is scheduled for the day after the Super Bowl, so he hopes to celebrate two wins this week.
