For Seattle's first game of the season, Ernest Jones IV arrived to the stadium donning a green shirt that has three photos of his father on the front. The shirt is a tribute to his dad who passed away this year in July from Ewing Sarcoma. Since then, Jones has kept the shirt in his locker both at the practice facility and on game days.
After that first game, Jones wore the shirt to his post-game press conference and was asked about it.
"Damn, you're going to make me cry, man," he said. "I miss him. I miss him man, every day trying to find new ways to cope."
Now, Jones will be able to sport cleats that also show his support in advancing the fight for a cure for Ewing Sarcoma. For My Cause My Cleats this year, Jones is supporting Wings for Ewing.
"I chose this cause Wings for Ewing Sarcoma just because recently lost my father to Ewing Sarcoma," Jones said through tears. "Just wanted to spread awareness and do my part and anything that I can to help and to encourage those who may be dealing with something similar to what I dealt with. That's why I chose this cause."
As a head coach, Mike Macdonald said he tries to be there to support Jones how he can.
"We've had a few guys lose loved ones, particularly fathers this year and it's tough," he said. "I mean, your heart goes out to these guys. I'm happy that they have a support system here and they feel like this is a place where they like to be and they can be around people that have their backs and that can love him up and give him the support they need. But Ernest has done a tremendous job. He's a passionate guy, he loves his teammates, he cares about how we play on defense. Takes a lot of pride in his work and I know he wants to make his dad proud and I think he's definitely done that."
Players, coaches and staff members across the league will wear customized cleats in honor of causes that are important to them as part of 'My Cause My Cleats'. Check out the custom cleats that Seahawks players and staff will wear for this year's 'My Cause My Cleats' league-wide initiative.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72) - Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Hilinski's Hope
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) - Ronald McDonald House Seattle
Seahawks tackle Amari Kight (79) - Sisters Network Inc.
Seahawks guard Bryce Cabeldue (77) - Bridge of Promise
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) - American Liver Foundation
Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt (44) - Head to Speech Inc.
Seahawks long snapper Chris Stoll (41) - THON
Seahawks guard Christian Haynes (64) - Big Brothers Big Sisters Puget Sound
Seahawks linebacker Connor O'Toole (57) - The Austin Denton Foundation
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) - Lupus Foundation of America
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) - Derick Hall One Percent Foundation
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) - Seattle Humane
Seahawks tight end Eric Saubert (81) - Freedom Service Dogs of America
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) - Wings For Ewing Sarcoma
Seahawks center Federico Maranges (62) - El Centro De La Raza
Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76) - Farm Rescue
Seahawks running back Jacardia Wright (31) - YouthCare Foundation
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) - Seattle Children's Hospital and National Breast Cancer Foundation
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) - JSN Family Foundation
Seahawks tackle Josh Jones (74) - Boys and Girls Club of America
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) - Seattle Children's Autism Center Different Not Less Foundation
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) - Odessa Brown Children's Hospital
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) - Le Bonheur Children's Hospital
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) - Water Mission
Seahawks offensive lineman Mason Richman (78) - Seattle Children's Hospital
Seahawks tight end Nick Kallerup (89) - Two Lights Foundation
Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) - Seattle Children's Hospital
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) - Jessie Rees Foundation
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) - Uchenna Nwosu Foundation
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) - Williams Syndrome Association
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald - RYR-1 Foundation
Seahawks President of Football Operations/General Manager John Schneider - Ben's Fund
President of the Seattle Seahawks and First & Goal Inc. Chuck Arnold - American Cancer Society
Assistant Head Coach Leslie Frazier - American Diabetes Association
Seahawks Running Backs Coach Kennedy Polamalu - Polamalu Foundation
Seahawks Defensive Line Coach Justin Hinds - Colorectal Cancer Alliance
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Tyson Prince - American Cancer Society
Defensive Assistant/Defensive Backs Coach Neiko Thorpe - Alzheimer's Association
Offensive Assistant Michael Byrne - Star Legacy Foundation
Director of Personnel Development/Area Scout Lamar Campbell - American Stutter Foundation
Run Game Specialist/Assistant Offensive Line Coach Justin Outten - Autism Speaks
Offensive Passing Game Coordinator Jake Peetz - Focus
Assistant Special Teams Coach Devin Fitzsimmons - Pancreatic Cancer
Head Athletic Trainer David Stricklin - NATA Foundation/Homestead Heroes
Johnathan Rainey - Antioch Adoptions
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Danny van Dijk - Kindering
Bill Nayes - Swedish Cancer Institute
Vice President of Community Engagements & Legends Mario Bailey - Everytown
Seahawks Top 50 Players - Impacting 50 Communities
Champions of Change
Seahawks Legend Walter Jones - Impacting 50 Communities
Seahawks Dancers - Broadview Women and Children's Shelter
