On a cold Christmas Day, a man in a Santa suit walked around Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood, anonymously handing out gifts both to the homeless and to random people walking on the streets.
Bags of clothing, ear muffs, scarfs, hygiene products and other gifts were handed out by a man who no one at the time realized was an NFL running back looking to quietly bring a little holiday joy to some people who needed it most.
"I just wanted to do a little something different for Christmas this year, and that was to go out on the streets of Seattle, just myself, and pass out gifts," Thomas Rawls said. "It was kind of crazy, because they just knew me as Santa and not Thomas Rawls. It was a humbling experience, and I'm glad I did… I was in the holiday spirit, just brightening up people's day."
Asked if he ever revealed himself to the people receiving gifts, Rawls said, "Never. It didn't matter. It was fun and exciting just to see their reaction and their smiles without seeing me. I was in disguise."
Rawls' Christmas on the streets of Seattle came just hours after he and the team returned from Dallas following their 21-12 victory over the Cowboys, a game in which he saw his first significant playing time in six weeks. With Mike Davis taking over the starting job, Rawls has played sparingly, if at all, in recent games, twice being a healthy scratch. On Sunday, Rawls enjoyed a bit more playing time and success, rushing five times for 20 yards, including a 15-yard run that was Seattle's longest rush of the day and one of just three explosive plays for the offense. Rawls' best two runs, that 15 yarder and a 6-yard gain on his first carry of the game, both came on Seahawks touchdown drives.
"He looked good," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "He was very aggressive at the line of scrimmage. It was good to see him. He hit the line of scrimmage really well and was ready for the opportunity. He did a really good job."
Asked if Rawls earned himself more carries with that performance, Carroll said, "There's no reason for us not to. What he did this last time out was favorable, and we'll just respond to that accordingly."
Yet even with the modest success Rawls enjoyed Sunday, it has been a difficult season for the third-year back, who showed so much potential as a rookie. After making the team as an undrafted rookie in 2015, Rawls took over the starting job late in the season for an injured Marshawn Lynch, and ended up rushing for 830 yards and four touchdowns while averaging a league-best 5.6 yards per carry. Rawls suffered a serious leg injury late that year, and while he made it back for the start of the 2016 season, he sustained another leg injury early in the year and struggled to get on track. Even so, Rawls rushed for a Seahawks postseason-record 161 yards in a Wild Card win over Detroit, but for a number of reasons, he has been unable to find success this season, gaining 149 yards on 55 carries.
"I think it has been frustrating for him, without question," Carroll said. "He wants to play more and he had the intention of playing more, and so did we, it just didn't quite come together that way. He has been great attitude-wise, working hard, busting his tail every day."
Rawls described this season as "a little frustrating," but has maintained a positive attitude throughout.
"I want to be out there a little more, but I know I've got other guys in this locker room, and I've also got to trust the process of these coaches," he said. "One thing I do control is going out there working hard, continue to lead, being coachable, doing everything in my power to just continue to get better and not get distracted from those things, continue to keep my mind on the field."
And frustrating season or not, Rawls still wanted to spend part of his Christmas anonymously brightening the day for others.
"I'm all about empowering people," he said. "Just being me… I know who I am and I know I can make the world move a little bit."
Team photographer Rod Mar shares exclusive behind-the-scenes images from the Seahawks' 21-12 win over the Dallas Cowboys during Week 16 at AT&T Stadium.
Seahawks Russell Wilson and DeShawn Shead walk from the practice facility to the buses for the start of the road trip to Dallas to face the Cowboys in Week 16.
Seahawks fan Lorin Sandretzky cheers on the team buses as they approach Sea-Tac International Airport on Friday.
The Seahawks boarded a Boeing 747 for the round-trip to Dallas. It was the last flight of a Delta 747 before the fleet was retired by the airline.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett adds his signature to one of the engines of the Boeing 747 that carried the team to Dallas and back for the game against the Cowboys.
Texas native Jordan Roos arrived in Dallas properly attired for his homecoming.
Seahawks defensive backs including Mike Tyson and Neiko Thorpe leave a position meeting in the team's hotel on Saturday morning.
The team walks down a ramp to the local practice field for Saturday's walkthru.
Receiver Amara Darboh practices catching passes during walkthru on Saturday.
Quarterback Russell Wilson breaks down the team huddle before the game.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson talks with the head referee during team stretch.
Back in the locker room, the Seahawks joined hands one last time before taking the field for the game.
Quarterback Russell Wilson along with Justin Britt, Germain Ifedi and Austin Davis, wait for pregame introductions beneath a large lit Dallas star.
Receiver Doug Baldwin finds room after the catch as running back MIke Davis assists with a block.
Defensive end Frank Clark tackles Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott during the first half.
Seahawks Jarran Reed and Earl Thomas combine to stop Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.
The late winter sun streams through the end zone windows at AT&T Stadium.
Cornerback Byron Maxwell gets congratulations from Dion Jordan and defensive coordinator Kris Richard after Maxwell forced a fumble by Dallas in the first half.
Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham uses his size to screen away a Dallas defender for a three-yard touchdown that gave Seattle a 7-6 lead.
Seattle's K.J. Wright tackles Dallas' Terrance Williams in the first half.
Offensive assistants including Will Harriger, Darrell Bevell, David Canales and Nate Carroll gather for a quick strategy session in the locker room at halftime.
Defensive line coach Clint Hurt talks with his players Marcus Smith, Garrison Smith, Jarran Reed and Sheldon Richardson at halftime.
Seahawks cornerback Justin Coleman heads to the end zone with a pick-six and makes eye contact with Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.
Seahawks defensive backs Bradley McDougald and Justin Coleman celebrate Coleman's interception for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Cornerbacks Shaquill Griffin and Justin Coleman celebrate after Griffin recorded a sack of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Seattle's Tyler Lockett is on the receiving end of a personal foul face-mask penalty in the red zone in the fourth quarter.
Seattle's Doug Baldwin made himself wide-open in the end zone for a six-yard touchdown reception to give the Seahawks a 21-12 lead that they would not relinquish.
Seattle's defense took over in the fourth quarter, with safeties Earl Thomas and Bradley McDougald taking down Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.
Frank Clark celebrates after sacking Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.
The Seahawks escaped a drive after Dallas kicker Dan Bailey pushed this field goal attempt wide right.
Seattle's Michael Bennett sakes Dak Prescott late in the game.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll celebrates after the defense stopped the Cowboys and forced another missed field goal to seal the win.
Quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott shake hands after the game.
In the victorious Seahawks locker room, head coach Pete Carroll yells in the direction of receiver Doug Baldwin.
As has become a custom, head coach Pete Carroll awarded the players first class seats for the return trip to Seattle, and quarterback Russell Wilson looked cool and comfortable before takeoff.
High over the middle of the country, head coach Pete Carroll reviewed game tape on his tablet in the darkened cabin of the Delta charter Boeing 747.
Upon landing in Seattle, linebacker K.J. Wright and teammates navigated snowy conditions as they made their way from airplane to bus.
Loyal 12s braved the cold and snow to welcome the team back to the VMAC on Christmas morning.
