Super Bowl Rematch Stirs Up Painful Memories for Angels Fans Still Waiting for a Turnaround
When the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots square off in a rematch of their iconic 2015 Super Bowl clash, it’s not just football fans who feel a twinge of nostalgia. For Los Angeles Angels fans, that same year marks something very different: the last time their team posted a winning record. It's been over a decade since the Angels finished a season above .500, and the shadow of that 85-77 campaign still looms large.
Back in 2015, the conversation around Mike Trout wasn’t about injuries or "what could have been" - it was about greatness. Trout was at the peak of his powers, launching 41 home runs and putting up a staggering 176 OPS+.
He didn’t take home the AL MVP that year, but he was arguably the most dominant all-around player in baseball. It was the kind of season that reminded everyone why Trout was considered a generational talent.
He wasn’t alone, either. Albert Pujols, though no longer in his prime, turned back the clock with his last 40-homer season.
And Kole Calhoun chipped in with 26 long balls of his own, providing solid support in right field with an OPS+ of 104. On the mound, Héctor Santiago led the rotation, earning an All-Star nod while posting a 3.65 ERA across 33 starts and racking up 162 strikeouts.
It was a team with just enough firepower and pitching to stay competitive - and ultimately, the last Angels squad that could say so.
Fast forward to 2026, and the contrast couldn’t be starker.
The years since have been defined more by frustration than by fireworks. Shohei Ohtani’s arrival brought hope, but his departure only deepened the sting of a franchise that couldn’t capitalize on having two of the most electrifying talents of the era.
The Anthony Rendon signing - a seven-year, $245 million deal - was supposed to be the final piece of a contender. Instead, it became a symbol of the Angels’ missteps, as injuries and underperformance turned that contract into a cautionary tale.
This offseason hasn’t done much to change the narrative. The Angels made a couple of intriguing moves, trading for starter Grayson Rodriguez and outfielder Josh Lowe - two players with upside, no doubt.
But the front office’s approach has felt more like budget management than roster reinvention. They finally restructured Rendon’s deal, creating some financial flexibility, but there’s been little indication that they’re eager to reinvest those savings into immediate impact talent.
So here we are, watching the Patriots - a team that stumbled hard after the Tom Brady era - surge back into the NFL spotlight. Their turnaround this season was one of the league’s most unexpected storylines, a reminder that even the most lost franchises can find their way back to relevance with the right moves and a little bit of luck.
And that’s the kind of hope Angels fans are clinging to right now. That maybe, just maybe, their team can find its own version of a comeback. Because in Anaheim, it’s been a long time since baseball in October was anything more than a memory.