Super Bowl-winning punter Jon Ryan said he was “shaking with anger” after catching wind that some current members of his former team were celebrating with cigars after missing a playoff birth.
The Seahawks would close out their final game of the 2023 season with a down-to-the-wire 21-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Despite ending the season on a high note, Seattle would the year with a 9-8 record, just narrowly missing out on the postseason.
However, some players on the Seahawks defense still found a reason to celebrate in the locker room by smoking cigars after former New York Giants safety Julian Love was selected to the Pro Bowl and welcoming a newborn child, cornerback Tariq Woolen’s Instagram story showed.
Ryan took notice of the atmosphere in the locker room and saw no cause for celebration.
“The Seahawk way is a bit different these days, I guess,” the Super Bowl-winning punter posted on X.
“I could say a lot of things right now because I’m shaking with anger, but I’ll just say I’m really disappointed.”
His Tweet, which has received over 400,000 views since being posted, received harsh backlash for his open criticism of the player’s celebration.
“Shaking with anger seems a bit dramatic, Jon,” one user commented, with Ryan replying, “Meh, I’m a drama queen. Haha.”
“I get your point of view, but these young guys are optimistic about their future. They haven’t experienced the winning culture you did in your time. they just don’t know that yet,” another commented on his post.
Ryan doubled down on the haters, replying “time and place” for celebration.
While Ryan was getting called out for his comment, others on X shared his displeasure for the locker room antics.
“I’m with you. The 2012-2016 regime would not have behaved this way. Just as disappointed to see this,” One user wrote.
“I agree bro,.. don’t understand how that’s a good look after a poor season and missing the playoffs… The @Seahawks players seem way too satisfied! we miss your grit, heart and attitude bro!”
Though Ryan and diehard fans of The ‘Hawks may be upset about the flaunting of cigars, FOX 13 Seattle reporter Ian Furness noted that not all on the team were on board with the move.
“This will be discussed a lot. Will just add-Not everyone in the locker room was happy with the ‘celebration’ and cigar smoke following a season when they fell short of the postseason,” Furness posted on X.
“Everyone will have an opinion but I know there are many vets in there who share Jon’s opinion.”
Ryan, 42, who punted for Seattle from 2008 to 2017, was a part of their Super Bowl XLVIII win against Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos in 2014.
The team released him at the end of the 2017 season.
He retired from the league after the Buffalo Bills released him before the start of the 2018 season.