Will Campbell Battles Through Injury, Criticism in Super Bowl Setback, but Patriots Still See Bright Future
The New England Patriots surprised a lot of people this season, making a deeper playoff run than many expected. But when the lights were brightest in Super Bowl LX, one of their most promising young players, rookie left tackle Will Campbell, found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Campbell, a high draft pick with high expectations, struggled mightily in the Patriots’ 29-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks - a game that will be remembered as one of the roughest offensive performances in Super Bowl history. Just two days after the loss, Campbell revealed he had been playing through a torn knee ligament for much of the season and wasn’t anywhere near 100% during the playoffs.
That helps explain the numbers: Campbell allowed 14 pressures in the postseason, including one of the Seahawks’ six sacks of quarterback Drake Maye in the Super Bowl. That’s a 26.9% pressure rate - a tough stat for any offensive lineman, let alone a rookie trying to anchor the blind side on football’s biggest stage.
Still, Campbell didn’t shy away from accountability.
“It comes with the job,” he told reporters. “When you don't perform - obviously, I was [drafted] high, paid a lot. So people expect a certain thing, and I expect more of myself.”
There’s a maturity in that response, especially from a 22-year-old rookie. Campbell knows the weight that comes with being a first-round pick.
He also knows the criticism isn’t just noise - it’s part of the responsibility. But if anyone thinks the criticism stings more than the player himself feels it, Campbell set the record straight: “It doesn't suck for anyone more than it sucks for me.”
After the game, Campbell initially declined to speak with the media - a decision that drew some attention. On Tuesday, he addressed it with an apology, owning up to the moment and explaining the emotion that got the better of him.
“When I get emotional, I tend to have no mind,” he said. “And that's not the way that I need to approach this thing. I know myself, and if I would have spoken after, I would have said something that I didn't need to say.”
It wasn’t just Campbell who had a tough night. The Patriots’ offense as a whole never found its rhythm.
Drake Maye, who had been steadily improving throughout the season, had his worst performance at the worst time. The rookie QB turned the ball over three times, and those giveaways directly led to 17 of Seattle’s 29 points.
Maye looked hesitant in his decision-making early, and by the time he started to settle in, the game was already slipping away.
To make matters worse, Maye now holds an unfortunate record - his 21 postseason sacks broke the mark previously held by Joe Burrow. That’s not the kind of history he was hoping to make.
He entered the game with a chance to become the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Instead, he walked off the field frustrated and battered.
But like Campbell, Maye faced the music after the game. And he made sure to go out of his way to support his left tackle.
“The expectations of a first-round pick - I think he's dealt with so much this year,” Maye said. “It’s going to be great for him in the future.
He’s going to be a great player in this league, he already is a great player in this league… I love Will. I look forward to playing with him for a long time.”
That’s the kind of leadership teams hope to see from their franchise quarterback. And it sounds like head coach Mike Vrabel is on the same page when it comes to Campbell’s future.
“He’s 22 years old. He’s our left tackle,” Vrabel said Tuesday.
“He’ll get better and get stronger. Moments where he played well... there’s plays he’d like to have back, but we’re not moving Will to center or guard or tight end or anywhere else.”
Vrabel’s message is clear: the Patriots are sticking with Campbell. They believe in his talent, his toughness, and his upside. And based on what we’ve seen - a rookie playing through a serious injury, owning his mistakes, and taking the heat head-on - there’s plenty of reason to believe Campbell will grow from this.
The Super Bowl loss was a gut punch for New England. But in the long run, this could be the kind of adversity that shapes two young cornerstones - Maye and Campbell - into the leaders the Patriots are building around.