Michael Dickson, the Sydney-born punter who recently became only the second Australian to win a Super Bowl, expressed his disappointment that the Seattle Seahawks will not participate in the NFL’s inaugural regular-season game in Australia. The Seahawks, who clinched the Super Bowl title this year by defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 in Santa Clara, were overlooked for the historic game set to be played Down Under next season.
Dickson’s journey began years ago as a hopeful Australian Football League recruit before being scouted by the University of Texas through the Prokick Australia program. Now in his eighth season with the Seahawks, Dickson’s rise to the NFL spotlight has been remarkable.
Dickson Celebrates Super Bowl Success and Return Home
After returning to Australia from a holiday in Bali, Dickson quickly indulged in a favorite pastime—enjoying chicken parmigiana with chicken-salted chips, a quintessential Australian meal. His affection for this dish became widely known following a viral interview where he candidly said he was “craving” this classic food after the Super Bowl victory.
“That was genuine, especially chicken salt. I love chips and chicken salt, you just cannot get it in the States,”
Dickson said, now serving as an ambassador for Mingle chicken salt.
The Super Bowl win marked a longtime dream come true for Dickson, who reflected on the achievement with heartfelt words.
“It was such a big goal of mine for such a long time, since getting to the US,”
he said.
“To finally achieve it with this team that I love so much, it’s just surreal.”
Reasons Behind Seahawks’ Absence from Australia’s NFL Opener
Dickson is preparing for the upcoming 2026-27 NFL season but remains frustrated that the Seahawks were not chosen to take part in the match scheduled at Melbourne’s MCG. Instead, the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will compete in the game.
Interestingly, the 49ers will be the away team despite having no Australian players on their roster or marketing ties to the Australian market. The NFL divides its overseas audience among specific teams, and the Seahawks, alongside the Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, and Philadelphia Eagles, are the primary franchises assigned to promote the sport in Australia.
Dickson described the exclusion as a sharp disappointment.
“It definitely stings,”
he admitted.
“I was pitching it all year, I was talking to the Seahawks lady who works with us who was trying to get it to happen.”
The tradition of the Super Bowl champion playing their first game of the season at home appears to have been a key factor in the decision.
“That was pretty much the reasoning that I heard,”
Dickson explained.
Dickson Hopes for Future Opportunities to Play in Australia
Despite this setback, Dickson remains hopeful the Seahawks will have the chance to bring their title defense to Australia in future years. He hopes that the league will consider adjusting the scheduling to allow his team to participate in a future game Down Under.
“We were a good chance to play here but I’m hoping that if we win the Super Bowl next year we can still get out to Australia.
Hopefully it’s not Round 1 (next year) or maybe they find a better system where they’ll let us. But the Seahawks definitely need to get out here.”
Playing at the MCG holds special significance for Dickson, who launched his American football career in Melbourne after joining Prokick Australia at 19 years old.
“That’s a big thing on the bucket list, to play here. That’s such a full circle moment for me. That’d be a dream come true,”
he said.
Looking Ahead: Longevity and Goals for Dickson’s NFL Career
At 30 years old, Michael Dickson is not only the longest-serving active player on the Seahawks but also under contract through the 2029 season. He is determined to continue improving his game and maintain his physical condition for years to come.
“I don’t even think I’m halfway yet. These eight years flew by,”
Dickson stated.
“My body feels great. I’m just going to keep improving and keep tweaking things and see where it gets me.”
As Dickson looks forward to the future, his passion for representing Australia on the NFL stage remains unwavering. The hope is that his Seahawks will one day showcase their talent in front of his home crowd, turning a long-held aspiration into reality.
