Seahawks NFC Championship Game hero is now a published children’s book author

Gilliam previously played for the Seahawks from 2014-2016, scoring one of the craziest and most important touchdowns in franchise history.

It’s always cool to see a former student come back to their old school to share some stories about what they’ve learned in life. It’s even cooler when that former student is an ex-NFL player.

On Friday, former Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Garry Gilliam returned to his elementary school, the Milton Hershey School, to talk to students about his new book, The Bleacher Garden. Created in collaboration with MHS teacher Christine Halliday, The Bleacher Garden aims to teach kids about the importance of gardening.

Seahawks fans will remember Gilliam for his time in Seattle, where he played from 2014 to 2016, helping the team to reach Super Bowl XLIX in his rookie season. During the 2014 NFC Championship Game, Gilliam caught a touchdown pass from punter Jon Ryan on a fake field goal attempt, which began the Seahawks’ comeback against the Packers after the team fell behind 16-0.

Gilliam later played two seasons for the San Francisco 49ers before retiring from professional football following his release from the Niners in early 2019.

Shortly thereafter, Gilliam founded The Bridge, a land development company that turns abandoned properties into “eco-villages.” One such location was at Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, Pa., whose football field and bleachers have been repurposed into a garden that has since produced a yield of more than 25,000 pounds of vegetables. This inspired the premise for his new book, which shares its name with the Bleacher Garden in Harrisburg.

Congrats on the new book, Garry!

You can purchase a copy of The Bleacher Garden here.