The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl champions once again - and this time, they did it with a fresh face on the sidelines and a defense that brought the house down.
In just his second year as head coach, Mike Macdonald has led the Seahawks from a 10-7 team that missed the playoffs to a 14-3 juggernaut that steamrolled through the NFC West and capped it all off with a 29-13 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium.
Let’s be clear: this was no fluke. Seattle’s run to the title was built on a foundation of dominant defense, a resurgent quarterback, and a ground game that came up big when it mattered most.
Ken Walker: MVP on the Ground
Running back Ken Walker earned Super Bowl MVP honors with a gritty, workhorse performance - 27 carries for 135 yards. He was the tone-setter, the chain-mover, and the heartbeat of an offense that didn’t need to be flashy because the defense was downright nasty.
A Defensive Clinic
If you’re looking for the moment this game was decided, it wasn’t a single play - it was the relentless, suffocating effort from Seattle’s defense across four quarters. The Seahawks held the Patriots to just 10 first downs before the final two drives.
They forced eight punts. They picked off rookie quarterback Drake Maye twice.
They sacked him six times. And yes, they even put points on the board themselves with a defensive touchdown.
This was classic complementary football, with the defense dictating the tempo and the offense playing clean, efficient ball.
Sam Darnold’s Redemption Arc
And speaking of clean - Sam Darnold didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he didn’t have to. The veteran quarterback threw for 202 yards and a touchdown, and most importantly, didn’t turn the ball over.
That’s now two straight 14-win seasons for Darnold, who’s gone from afterthought to champion. He becomes the first quarterback from the 2018 draft class to win a Super Bowl - a group that includes Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Baker Mayfield.
It’s a remarkable turnaround for a player once labeled a bust. Now? He’s got a ring.
A New Era in Seattle
This title marks a new chapter for the Seahawks - not just because they’re champions again, but because change is already on the horizon. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is set to become the next head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Ken Walker is headed for free agency. The roster will shift, the staff will evolve, and the challenge of sustaining success begins immediately.
But for now, the Seahawks can celebrate a two-year stretch that few saw coming. Since Macdonald took over, they’ve gone 24-10, won the NFC West, and claimed the Lombardi Trophy. They’ve done what every rebuilding team dreams of - they turned things around fast, and they did it the right way.
For teams like the Arizona Cardinals, who are starting fresh with a new coaching staff, Seattle just became the blueprint.