By Katie Manzanares, Puyallup Tribal News
When Puyallup Tribal Member Sarah Bryant first stepped onto an NFL field in April 2001, she had just turned 21 years old and had no idea the history that would be made.
Encouraged by a friend she met at a local tanning salon, Bryant auditioned for the Seattle Seahawks’ famed Sea Gals and became the first Coast Salish Native American to make the team. Since then, the team has had three individuals who identify as Alaska Native or Native American. To this day, Bryant remains the first and only Puyallup Tribal Member to be on the team.
“I had been dancing since I was three,” Bryant said. “I studied classical ballet at Tacoma City Ballet, so the dance-based style of the Sea Gals really fit me.”
The audition process was grueling — hundreds of hopefuls competed through three rounds of freestyle, choreographed routines and interviews before a panel of community judges.
“It was nerve-racking,” she said. “The final team only had around 30 women, so you had to stay sharp every season.”
Bryant performed for four seasons from 2001 to 2004.
Her first year was spent at Husky Stadium while the Seahawks’ new home was under construction.
“I’ll never forget walking down those steep stairs in three-inch heel boots,” she laughed.
Beyond game days, Bryant said it was the community outreach that truly stood out.
“I loved working with Special Olympics and Seattle Children’s Hospital,” she said. “Those moments reminded me why I loved being part of something bigger.”
Bryant’s sense of community connection also extended to her roots.
“My dad was a die-hard Seahawks fan,” she said. “During my time as a Sea Gal, I’d often sell fireworks at my family’s stand around the Fourth of July. I’d sign calendars and posters for Tribal youth — some of them still tell me they have those posters today. Knowing I made them proud and left that lasting impression means the world to me.”
Bryant’s background also gave her a sense of pride in representation, she said.
“Being the first and only Coast Salish Sea Gal meant a lot to me,” she said. “When I think about the Seahawks logo and how it connects to Coast Salish culture, it fills me with pride. Seeing the Puyallup Tribe players tunnel which features our Tribe’s salmon today makes my heart swell. We are here.”
Before retiring, Bryant was part of a select Sea Gals show group that toured overseas, performing for U.S. troops in Baghdad, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.
Two decades later, Bryant was invited back to perform during the Seahawks’ 50th Anniversary celebration in October before the Seahawks game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 5.
“It was emotional,” she said. “Walking back onto that field brought tears to my eyes.”
She described the rush as a mix of adrenaline, nostalgia and pure joy — a moment that felt like coming home.
Today, the team has evolved into the co-ed Seahawks Dancers.
“I’m proud of that progress,” Bryant said. “One of the male dancers now is actually the son of a former teammate. It’s full circle.”
She added the inclusivity of today’s team mirrors the broader changes in representation and opportunity.
“It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come — the next generation gets to see themselves in every space, on every stage.”
Bryant hopes her story inspires young people to chase their dreams.
“Believing in yourself is huge,” she said. “Do hard things — the payoff is always worth it.”
Her 14-year-old daughter now studies ballet, continuing the family’s passion for dance.
“It makes me so proud to see that love live on in her,” Bryant said. “It reminds me that the spirit of dance, pride and culture continues.”
Bryant says the experience of being a Sea Gal shaped who she is.
“It taught me confidence, humility and community,” she said. “If I could tell my rookie self one thing, it would be don’t sweat the small stuff — and always smile.”
Reflecting on that time in her life, Bryant said being a Sea Gal wasn’t just about dance.
“It was about becoming something bigger than myself, something lasting,” she said. “The pride, the community, the culture — it all stays with you.
