After a season full of improbable comebacks and some stunning playoff upsets, two unexpected teams will meet for the NFL’s biggest prize. Super Bowl LX arrives Sunday with a matchup few pundits predicted back in September.
Seattle, coming off a 10-7 campaign in 2024, made a bold move at quarterback this offseason. The Seahawks cut Geno Smith — a former high draft pick who had resurrected his career late but was ultimately let go — and brought in another ex top pick, Sam Darnold, who had a similar arc earlier in his career. That gamble paid off: Smith spent part of the year sitting on the Raiders’ bench after a rough stretch, while Darnold built on the comeback he began with Minnesota, helping Seattle finish among the league’s highest-scoring offenses.
In New England, the front office moved on from Jerod Mayo after only one season and hired Mike Vrabel — the ex-Tennessee coach dismissed in 2023 — to lead the team. Quarterback Drake Maye flashed potential as a rookie but needed refinement. Under Vrabel’s guidance, Maye’s growth accelerated; in Year 2 he’s in the MVP conversation and has emerged as arguably the best quarterback from the talented 2024 draft class.
With everything on the line Sunday, here are the top 10 storylines to watch in Super Bowl LX.
1) Can Sam Darnold complete his comeback?
Darnold’s early NFL career was marked by awkward moments and setbacks that became viral — from an infamous “I see ghosts” mic incident to being sidelined with mono — and by 2023 he looked like a career on life support. Between 2020 and 2023 he threw 27 TDs and 28 INTs in 40 games and served as a backup in San Francisco. Then he reinvented himself with the Vikings, posting a career-best 35 TDs and 12 INTs, earning a Pro Bowl nod and helping Minnesota to a 14-3 record (though they fell in the wild-card game). Now, after beating the Rams this postseason, Darnold has a chance to finish his redemption story on the biggest stage — a Super Bowl victory over the Patriots would go a long way toward erasing past mistakes, including that infamous game against New England.
2) Is Drake Maye the true heir to Tom Brady in New England?
The Patriots are suddenly back among the NFL elites, and much of the credit goes to their young signal-caller. Maye has vaulted into MVP talks in only his second season — an earlier rise than Brady experienced — and if he leads New England to a title comparisons to Brady are sure to follow. That said, Brady’s legacy was built over decades, seven Lombardi trophies, and a host of late-career MVP-level seasons; expecting Maye to mirror that is unrealistic. Nevertheless, having a high-end, young quarterback who already compares favorably to Brady’s early résumé would be huge for the franchise if Maye wins on Sunday.
3) Can Seattle finally move past the Malcolm Butler moment?
This Super Bowl rematch evokes memories of Super Bowl XLIX when the Seahawks stood at the 1-yard line late and opted to pass, only to have Malcolm Butler intercept Russell Wilson’s throw and end Seattle’s title hopes. That play has haunted the franchise ever since and spawned endless “what if” debates — what if Marshawn Lynch had been trusted to run it in? A Super Bowl victory on Sunday would help exorcise that memory for Seattle and let fans close that chapter.
4) Will Stefon Diggs shake off previous playoff heartbreaks?
Diggs has been to the postseason multiple times and has produced big playoff performances, including a 61-yard game-winner in the “Minneapolis Miracle.” Still, a Super Bowl appearance has eluded him, and he’s had moments of visible frustration after postseason defeats — notably watching the Chiefs celebrate from the sidelines following the 2020 AFC title game. Winning Sunday would deliver the championship he’s chased and replace a lasting image of disappointment with one of triumph and perseverance.
5) Could Mike Vrabel now be among the NFL’s elite coaches?
Vrabel arrived in New England with a solid but unspectacular resume from Tennessee — a respectable regular-season record and a few playoff trips but limited postseason success. He’s dramatically altered the Patriots’ trajectory, taking them from 4-13 to 14-3 and into the Super Bowl in short order, boosting his overall head-coaching numbers and postseason record. A Super Bowl win would cement a rapid rise in stature and put Vrabel in the conversation with premier coaches of the era, though time and continued success would be needed to make that label stick.
6) Is John Schneider a future Hall of Fame executive?
Seahawks GM John Schneider has now guided his franchise to another Super Bowl with a very different roster and coaching staff than in past appearances. Achieving success across multiple organizational eras — trading away Russell Wilson, seeing Pete Carroll depart, and rebuilding the defense — highlights Schneider’s personnel work. Key moves this cycle, including acquiring both Geno Smith and Sam Darnold at different times, drafting contributors like safety Nick Emanwoli, and signing veterans such as DeMarcus Lawrence, helped return Seattle to title contention. Continued success and ownership of these personnel decisions could put Schneider in serious Hall of Fame consideration.
7) JSN vs. Christian Gonzalez: Who wins the 2023 first-round matchup?
The 2023 draft produced a marquee matchup: cornerback Christian Gonzalez (17th overall to New England) versus wideout Jackson Smith-Njigba (picked three spots later by Seattle). Both have been pivotal this season — Gonzalez earned a Pro Bowl nod and racked up numerous pass breakups, while Smith-Njigba led the league in receiving yards and took home first-team All-Pro honors. How they match up on Super Sunday could swing the game; if Gonzalez can contain JSN, he’ll rattle Seattle’s offense, but if JSN gets free, New England’s defense could be in deep trouble.
8) Is a new Patriots dynasty beginning?
A Patriots championship would inevitably spark comparisons to the early-2000s dynasty, given a young franchise QB and a defense-first head coach at the helm — a formula that once delivered six Lombardi trophies. It’s premature to equate Maye and Vrabel with Brady and Belichick, but Maye’s high draft status and immediate impact raise expectations. With strong draft classes and savvy roster building, New England could be set up for sustained success, a prospect that should worry the rest of the league.
9) How will these preseason long-shot odds influence the offseason across the league?
One coach or player on the winning sideline will surely proclaim, “Nobody believed in us,” and for once that cliché will ring true. Both Seattle and New England entered the 2025 season with long-shot odds, making this matchup one of the most unlikely Super Bowls in recent history. Their success may encourage other franchises to be bolder in the offseason — upgrading personnel, betting on high-upside players, or making coaching changes — rather than committing to long, incremental rebuilds.
10) Could the Seahawks become the next major coaching tree?
Seattle’s recent hires have paid off. Head coach Mike McDonald, a former Ravens defensive coordinator, has posted a strong 26-10 record in two seasons and is shaping a staff that looks likely to produce head coaches. Offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak and defensive coordinator Aiden Hurdé (who’s drawn interest from other clubs) are gaining traction as head-coach candidates. If Seattle’s staff members keep succeeding, a new coaching tree could emerge, challenging the influence of recent dynastic developers like Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan.
Fan Take: This Super Bowl matters because it rewards bold roster decisions and coaching changes, showing that rapid turnarounds are possible in today’s NFL. If either underdog prevails, expect more teams to embrace risk — both in personnel moves and hiring — reshaping offseason strategies leaguewide.
