Happy gameday birthday to Will Tukuafu, who gets to celebrate his 31st birthday in Arizona on the field with his teammates in the final game of the regular season!
The mythical holiday of "Festivus" doesn't take place until December 23, but that didn't stop fullback Will Tukuafu and quarterback Russell Wilson from engaging in a "feat of strength" at walk thru. Each grabbed one and of a football and tried to wrestle form the other under the watchful eye of offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.
Russell Wilson and Will Tukuafu engage of round two of their football gripping game during walk thru on Saturday.
Seahawks fullback Will Tukuafu walks from the locker room to the field before the game on Sunday.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 20: (Photo by Christopher Mast/Seattle Seahawks)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 20: (Photo by Christopher Mast/Seattle Seahawks)
On the very next play, Seahawks fullback Will Tukuafu scored from one-yard out.
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Today is more than just the last game of the 2015 regular season, it's also fullback Will Tukuafu's 32nd birthday!
Tukuafu is in his second season with the Seahawks, and has already earned a multitude of praise for his versatility. In the Seahawks' 13-10 win over the Detroit Lions, Tukuafu played fullback, defensive tackle, and even returned a kickoff. When asked about his versatility following the game, Pete Carroll said that "This is extremely unique, that a guy can play on both sides of the football. He's playing tight end, fullback and defensive tackle. And he's instrumental in our special teams. Not many guys can do that. There's nobody in the league, I don't think, doing that, maybe there is, but it's a fantastic variety of skills that he brings to us."
Tukuafu repeated this performance three weeks later in the Seahawks 20-3 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He played not only 26 snaps on offense, he also joined the defense for 4 snaps, and continued in his role blocking on special teams for 6 snaps. Head coach Pete Carroll said after the game that "We're really excited about what he's doing. We're fitting together a role for him. And he's alive to play on defense as well."
These performances came after Tukuafu was inactive for the first two games of the season, a 34-31 overtime loss to the St. Louis Rams, and a 27-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers. "I'm just really proud of Will. He's a terrific kid, and you know he was kind of forgotten for a little bit, and he's back in action and we love what he's offering our team right now," Carroll said, following the win at San Francisco.
Before the Seahawks travel to Arizona for their regular season finale, we're featuring game action photos from every game played in the desert against the Cardinals, spanning from 1983 to 2014.
Arizona Cardinals running back Marcel Shipp (31) is upended November 10, 2002 at Sun Devils Stadium. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 27 - 6. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Arizona Cardinals Robert Griffith (34) and Adrian WIlson (24) can't catch up with Seattle Seahawks' Shuan Alexander from scoring on this 88-yard touchdown run to start the third quarter Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Alexander ran for 173 yards. (AP Photo/Roy Dabner)
Seattle Seahawks Marcus Trufant (23) intercepts a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald (11) as teammate Jamie Sharper (55) looks on during the second quarter Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Cardinals running back Marcel Shipp, right, brings down Trufant. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
The Seahawks defeated the Arizona Cardinals 36-18 to move into first place in the NFC West.
The Seahawks defeated the Arizona Cardinals 36-18 to move into first place in the NFC West.
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
