Last December, Seahawks team mascot Blitz traveled to a Utah hospital to meet teen Seahawks fan Gus Johansson, who was battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Blitz brought a special video message from wideout DK Metcalf, sending encouragement to keep fighting. A year later, Johansson is now cancer-free and set to raise the 12 Flag for Sunday's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
Johansson and his family were in town to attend the game, and were guests at the team's walkthrough on Saturday, but news of raising the 12 Flag, delivered by Pete Carroll, came as a big surprise.
After being hospitalized for 351 days, the teen has fully recovered, sporting a full head of hair and an abundance of confidence. This week, Metcalf got to meet his courageous fan, as the Johansson family was invited to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center for a few surprises. After getting an opportunity to see the Seahawks facility and practice field, Johansson was surprised by Metcalf, gifting an autographed football and bringing some special guests to meet the young 12. In addition to meeting captain linebacker, Bobby Wagner, Carroll named Johansson an honorary team captain for Sunday's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
In last year's video message from Metcalf to one of his biggest fans, the Ole Miss alum thanks Johansson for being a fan with words of encouragement, along with a signed jersey. An emotional Johansson broke into tears, which further-inspired Metcalf upon seeing video of the young fan's reaction.
"Just as I'm an inspiration to him," Metcalf said last year. "Seeing that video, he's an inspiration to me. I've never met Gus, but he acts like he knows me, so it's a big deal if somebody cares that much about me who doesn't know me. It makes me want to meet him one day to tell him thank you for his love and support."
This weekend, Metcalf finally got to meet Johansson and share those sentiments in person, and on Sunday Johansson will make the memory of a lifetime when he raises the 12 Flag prior to kickoff.
The Seahawks and Cardinals face off on Sunday, Jan 7, 2024. Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the Cardinals.