Super Bowl LX Is Set - But Here Are 3 Quarterbacks We Wish Were Playing
Super Bowl LX is locked in: Seahawks vs. Patriots.
Two storied franchises, two sharp coaching staffs, and no shortage of compelling storylines in a rematch that already has fans buzzing. But as we gear up for the big game, it’s hard not to think about the quarterbacks who won’t be there - especially considering the kind of seasons they had.
Every year, the playoffs leave behind a trail of “what ifs,” and this season is no different. A few quarterbacks had campaigns worthy of the game’s biggest stage, but for one reason or another, they’ll be watching from home. Let’s take a look at three signal-callers whose absence from Super Bowl LX leaves a noticeable void - including two legitimate MVP candidates and a rookie who turned heads all year long.
1. Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen’s season ended in heartbreak, and not the kind that fades quickly. The Bills fell in overtime to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round - a gut punch of a loss that feels like a turning point for the franchise.
And it was. Buffalo responded by parting ways with longtime head coach Sean McDermott, signaling just how high the stakes were this postseason.
For Allen, this one’s going to sting. With Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs already out of the picture, the path to the Super Bowl felt as open as it’s ever been.
And yet, it was the AFC West champion Broncos who slammed the door shut. It’s not the first time Allen has run into trouble against that division in the playoffs, but this time felt different.
He’d just delivered a strong performance on the road against the Jaguars - his first career road playoff win - and looked poised to finally take the next step.
Instead, Buffalo's season ends in disappointment, and Allen is left to wonder what could’ve been. This was a golden opportunity, and it slipped away. For a quarterback who’s done just about everything but reach the Super Bowl, this loss might be the toughest yet.
2. Matthew Stafford - Los Angeles Rams
There’s no sugarcoating it: Matthew Stafford not being in Super Bowl LX is a major loss for fans of high-level quarterback play. At 36, Stafford just put together arguably the finest season of his career - and that’s saying something for a former No. 1 pick with a Super Bowl ring already in his trophy case.
He threw 46 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions, earning 1st-team All-Pro honors and emerging as the front-runner for MVP. His interception rate?
A career-low 1.3%, outside of a season early in his career when he barely played due to injury. That’s surgical efficiency from a quarterback known for his arm talent and toughness.
And let’s not forget the context: Stafford had one of the best supporting casts he’s ever worked with in L.A., and he made the most of it. The Rams looked like a legitimate threat to make another run, but their postseason came to a halt before Stafford could get back to the big game.
It’s rare to see the league’s best quarterback - statistically and impact-wise - miss the Super Bowl. But that’s exactly what we’re looking at here.
Stafford was playing at an elite level, and Super Bowl LX won’t feature the player who may very well be named MVP. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
3. Bo Nix - Denver Broncos
He didn’t lead the league in touchdown passes. He didn’t top the charts in yards. But if you were watching the games - really watching - you know Bo Nix was the most clutch quarterback in the NFL this season.
Seven game-winning drives. That’s not a fluke - that’s a trend.
And when the lights were brightest, Nix delivered. Just ask the Bills, who saw him orchestrate not one, but two late-game scoring drives in the playoffs: one to force overtime, and another to win it.
Nix didn’t just manage games - he took over when it mattered most. It’s the kind of poise you don’t often see from a rookie, and it helped Denver win 14 games and lock up the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Broncos were rolling, and Nix was the engine.
Then came the injury - a fractured bone in his ankle - and just like that, the season changed. Without him, Denver fell short in the AFC Championship against New England.
And watching that game, it’s hard not to think Nix’s presence could’ve been the difference. His ability to rise in crunch time was unmatched this year.
It’s a tough break - literally and figuratively - for a young quarterback who was rewriting the narrative in Denver. Nix had the Broncos believing again, and it’s a shame he couldn’t finish what he started.
The Super Bowl Is Set, But the Story’s Bigger Than Two Teams
Make no mistake - Seahawks vs. Patriots is going to be a fascinating matchup.
But part of what makes the NFL postseason so compelling is the stories that don’t get told. The players who came close.
The moments that slipped away. And the quarterbacks who, for one reason or another, won’t be taking the field on Super Bowl Sunday - even though they played like they belonged there all season.
Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, Bo Nix - three different paths, three different stories, one common thread: they all had Super Bowl-caliber seasons. And their absence from the biggest game of the year is a reminder of just how brutal and unpredictable this league can be.