Aussie Super Bowl champion Michael Dickson voices disappointment over Seahawks' snub for historic NFL game in Australia
Sydney-born punter Michael Dickson, who recently celebrated a Super Bowl victory with the Seattle Seahawks, has admitted it "definitely stings" that his team was overlooked for the NFL's inaugural regular-season match in Australia. The historic clash, scheduled for early September next year, will feature the LA Rams and San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a decision that has left Dickson and fans disheartened.
From AFL hopeful to Super Bowl hero: Dickson's remarkable journey
Dickson's path to NFL stardom began over a decade ago when he was scouted by the University of Texas from the Prokick Australia program in Melbourne. This month, he capped an 11-year journey by becoming only the second Australian to play on a winning Super Bowl team, as the Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13 in Santa Clara. Reflecting on his achievement, Dickson described it as "surreal," stating, "It was such a big goal of mine for such a long time, since getting to the US. To finally achieve it with this team that I love so much, it's just surreal."
Celebrating with a taste of home: Chicken parma and chicken salt
Following his Super Bowl triumph, Dickson returned to Australia for some downtime, including a holiday in Bali. Upon arrival, he wasted no time indulging in a classic Australian pub meal: a chicken parmigiana with chicken-salted chips. This craving was famously expressed during a viral on-field interview after the Super Bowl, where he told a US TV reporter he was "craving" the dish. Dickson, now an ambassador for Mingle chicken salt, explained, "That was genuine, especially chicken salt. I love chips and chicken salt, you just cannot get it in the States."
Seahawks snubbed for NFL's Australian debut despite strong ties
Despite the Seahawks' strong connections to Australia, including Dickson's role and the team's assignment as one of four NFL franchises with marketing rights in the country, they were not selected for the landmark game. The NFL splits key overseas markets among its 32 teams, with the Seahawks, Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, and Philadelphia Eagles assigned to Australia. Dickson revealed he had been "pitching it all year" to bring the Seahawks to Australia, but tradition may have played a part in the decision. He noted, "Tradition is for the Super Bowl champions to play their first match of the new season at their home stadium, which I feel may have precluded our side. That was pretty much the reasoning that I heard."
Dreaming of a full-circle moment at the MCG
Dickson, who ignited his American football dream by moving to Melbourne at age 19 to join Prokick Australia, expressed a strong desire to play at the MCG. He said, "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." With his contract extending through the 2029 season and feeling physically great at 30 years old, Dickson is optimistic about future opportunities. He added, "I don't even think I'm halfway yet. These eight years flew by. My body feels great. I'm just going to keep improving and keep tweaking things and see where it gets me."
Looking ahead: Hopes for future NFL games in Australia
While disappointed, Dickson remains hopeful that the Seahawks could still make it to Australia in the coming years, especially if they secure another Super Bowl win. He stated, "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." As he prepares for the 2026-27 season, Dickson's focus is on continuing his career and potentially achieving that dream of playing on home soil.
