The kickoff of Super Bowl LX signaled the final day of the 2025 season, with the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots holding media sessions Monday at the San Jose Convention Center ahead of Sunday’s title game.
Here are my observations.
1. Embracing the underdog label
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel shrugged off New England being viewed as the clear underdog, saying someone has to fill that role and suggesting the team doesn’t mind it. The Pats leaned into that identity all season after consecutive four-win campaigns through 2025, and skeptics pointed to a soft schedule and opponents’ defensive strengths as reasons to discount New England’s playoff run. Vrabel insisted the underdog tag never affected the team’s focus.
2. Darnold on the mindset that revived his career
Sam Darnold’s turnaround is the most compelling storyline of this Super Bowl. Once written off after a rocky start in New York, the former No. 3 overall pick has emerged as one of the league’s top passers with his fifth team, earning a second Pro Bowl nod and delivering a 346-yard, three-touchdown performance in the NFC title game. Darnold credited belief in himself and steady, incremental improvement for keeping him ready when the opportunity arrived.
3. Gonzalez lauds Maye’s leadership
Rookie promise gave way to stardom for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who became an MVP finalist in his second season thanks to eye-popping efficiency and production — including a league-best 72.0% completion rate, 4,394 yards, 35 total TDs and a 113.5 passer rating in the regular season. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez says Maye’s biggest growth has been finding his voice in the locker room, calling him a relentless competitor who asks questions and leads teammates.
4. Thoughts on coaching candidate Clint Kubiak
Seahawks offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak, widely expected to be named the Raiders’ next head coach after the Super Bowl, earned praise from Darnold for his relentless work ethic and candid communication with players. Kubiak guided a Seattle offense that ranked third in scoring and eighth in total yards during the regular season, and his approach appeals to a Las Vegas franchise seeking a cultural reset after a disappointing season. In Las Vegas he would inherit young offensive pieces like tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Giunty, and the Raiders are also widely projected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
Fan Take: This week’s storylines — an unheralded Patriots team, Darnold’s redemption, a rising young QB in Maye, and coaching movement to Las Vegas — show how quickly narratives can shift in the NFL and why parity keeps the league compelling. For fans, these developments matter because they reshape expectations for franchises and could influence how teams prioritize coaching hires, quarterback development, and roster building going forward.
