The New England Patriots are heading back to the Super Bowl after a gritty 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. And waiting for them on the other side?
The Seattle Seahawks, who outlasted the Los Angeles Rams in a 31-27 NFC title game thriller. That sets the stage for a Super Bowl 49 rematch-Patriots vs.
Seahawks, a showdown that still echoes in NFL lore.
But while these two storied franchises prepare for the biggest game of the year, there’s another subplot quietly brewing beneath the surface-one that might sting a bit for fans of the Minnesota Vikings.
Several former Vikings will be suiting up-or at least standing on the sidelines-for a shot at the Lombardi Trophy. On the Seahawks’ side, quarterback Sam Darnold leads a group of four ex-Vikings, and he’s currently the only one on the active roster.
Running back Cam Akers and cornerback Shaquill Griffin are on Seattle’s practice squad, while linebacker and special teams contributor Chazz Surratt is on injured reserve. That said, Surratt has been a full participant in practice recently, so there’s a chance he could be activated ahead of Super Bowl Sunday.
New England, meanwhile, has its own group of familiar faces from Minnesota. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs, center Garrett Bradbury, defensive lineman Rhyiris Tonga, offensive lineman Vederian Lowe, and backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs all spent time in purple and gold. And now the Patriots have added another former Viking to the mix-wideout Trent Sherfield, who rejoined New England’s practice squad this week.
This is Sherfield’s second stint with the Patriots in just over two weeks. The 29-year-old veteran was signed earlier this month ahead of New England’s Divisional Round matchup with the Houston Texans but was released the day before the AFC Championship Game. Now he’s back, along with linebacker Patrick Johnson, a fifth-year pro who played in nine games for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2025 season.
Sherfield’s journey through the league has been one of persistence and adaptability. After going undrafted out of Vanderbilt in 2018, he earned a roster spot with the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent three seasons. From there, it was a series of one-year stops-first with the 49ers, then the Dolphins, and most recently the Bills.
In 2024, Sherfield signed a one-year deal with the Vikings and appeared in all 17 regular-season games. While he wasn’t a focal point of the offense, he made the most of limited opportunities, hauling in eight catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. He added two more receptions in Minnesota’s Wild Card loss to the Rams.
This past offseason, Sherfield signed a two-year deal with the Broncos, but his time in Denver was short-lived. He caught just three passes for 21 yards across 10 games before being waived. He then returned to Arizona as a practice squad addition and was elevated to the active roster twice, though he saw just one target during that stretch.
Now, with the Patriots back in the Super Bowl, Sherfield is getting another shot-however small-to contribute to a championship run. Whether he sees the field or not, his return to New England is a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in the NFL. One week you’re released, the next you’re back in the building with a Super Bowl berth on the line.
And for Minnesota fans, it’s hard not to notice how many familiar names are still in the mix this deep into the postseason-just not in Vikings uniforms.