On April 16, 2024, Jon Ryan signed a one-day contract to retire as a Seahawk, but his journey and contributions to the organization started 16 years prior when he was acquired by the Seahawks after he was released from the Green Bay Packers. That transition marked the beginning of what would be a memorable 10 seasons for the Canadian native. Ryan spent those seasons in Seattle setting multiple franchise records, two of which still stand -- number of punts (770) and number of punts downed inside the 20 (276). He was also an integral part of one of the most iconic plays in Seahawks history. During the 2014 NFC Championship game vs. the Green Bay Packers, he threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Garry Gilliam on a fake field goal attempt that gave Seattle its first score of the game and ignited a comeback win in overtime. He helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII the year prior.
Ryan’s impact on the Seattle community extended beyond the football field, where he became a fan favorite. He was known for his sense of humor, and his care for others, as he grew out his hair for two years to be able to donate it to Locks of Love, an organization that uses the hair to make wigs for those going through hair loss.