The Seattle Seahawks cruised to Super Bowl triumph on Sunday night, overpowering the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold completed a remarkable transformation from much-criticised quarterback to winner of the NFL’s most coveted prize.
Shaking off a long-held reputation for struggling on the biggest stages, the well-travelled Darnold delivered a composed performance, throwing for a touchdown and close to 200 yards under the brightest lights to secure Seattle’s second Lombardi Trophy.
“It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Darnold.
Seattle’s success was anchored by a suffocating defensive effort and an extraordinary night from kicker Jason Myers, who set a Super Bowl record with five field goals.
The occasion proved far more painful for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. The 23-year-old endured relentless pressure, being sacked six times and throwing two interceptions as his attempt to become the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl ended in disappointment.
“I’d like to have the game back and go back to the beginning and redo it,” said a dejected Maye.
The halftime show was headlined by Bad Bunny, who made history by performing entirely in Spanish for the first time at a Super Bowl. The global superstar, known for his outspoken criticism of Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, delivered a colourful set featuring appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, largely steering clear of overt political messaging.
Nevertheless, Trump—who did not attend the game—took to social media to label the performance an “affront” to the United States, claiming it was incomprehensible.
‘Evil Empire’
The contest began cautiously, with neither side finding the end zone through the first three quarters. New England’s offense was effectively neutralised, while Seattle adopted a conservative approach built around its running game and dependable kicking.
Kenneth Walker powered the Seahawks throughout the night, rushing for 135 yards and earning the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award.
“We went through a lot of adversity this year, but we came together and stuck together, and this is what we got,” Walker said afterwards.
The game finally ignited in the fourth quarter, producing four touchdowns. Darnold connected with tight end AJ Barner on a 16-yard throw into the right corner of the end zone to break the deadlock.
As the spectacle threatened to descend into chaos, a topless streaker briefly halted play after evading security, a disruption that momentarily sparked life into the Patriots.
Maye responded by launching a spectacular 35-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins, putting New England on the scoreboard and cutting the deficit to 19-7.
Any hopes of a comeback were short-lived. Maye was soon strip-sacked, allowing linebacker Uchenna Nwosu to scoop up the ball and sprint into the end zone. Rhamondre Stevenson later added a consolation rushing touchdown for the Patriots.
The victory also carried a sense of revenge, as Seattle avenged its Super Bowl loss to New England from the Seahawks’ previous appearance in 2015.
For the Patriots—once so dominant they earned the nickname “Evil Empire”—it was a sobering end to a season that had promised renewal under coach of the year Mike Vrabel.
The defeat denied New England a record seventh Super Bowl title and their first championship since Tom Brady’s departure.
Porous Patriots
More than 120 million viewers across the United States were expected to tune in to the showpiece event, held at the 75,000-seat Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
From kickoff, Seahawks fans made their presence felt, and early nerves were calmed when Myers slotted a field goal on Seattle’s opening drive.
New England’s fragile offensive line was repeatedly exposed, trapping the Patriots deep in their own half as Seattle added two more field goals to take a 9-0 lead into halftime.
Bad Bunny’s halftime show provided a brief reprieve for Patriots supporters, with social media users joking that the artist had “gained more yards than the Patriots” during his performance.
The late surge of touchdowns that followed sealed the night for Seattle and capped an emotional triumph for head coach Mike Macdonald, who at 38 became the third-youngest coach to win a Super Bowl in only his second season in charge.
“Just the best team I’ve ever been around, the closest, the toughest, most connected team I’ve ever been on,” he said.
For Darnold, now 28, the win represented long-awaited validation after stints with four different NFL franchises following his early promise as a high draft pick.
“So proud of my guys,” Darnold said.
“I know we won the Super Bowl. We could have been a little bit better on offense but I don’t care about that right now. An unbelievable feeling.”
What you should know
Seattle’s Super Bowl victory is as much a story of team balance as individual redemption.
A dominant defense, flawless kicking, and a powerful rushing attack allowed the Seahawks to control the game despite a cautious offensive approach. Sam Darnold’s performance symbolised perseverance, completing a turnaround that few predicted after his earlier career struggles.
For New England, the defeat exposed ongoing issues on the offensive line and highlighted the challenge of transitioning into a new era without past icons.
Beyond the football, the halftime show and political reactions underscored how the Super Bowl remains a cultural as well as sporting event.
