For more than half a century, it was one of the NFL’s most stubborn quirks: no team had ever played a Super Bowl in its own stadium. That changed in back-to-back seasons when Tom Brady and the Buccaneers broke the seal in Super Bowl 55 at Raymond James Stadium, and the Rams followed suit the next year at SoFi Stadium in Super Bowl 56.
This year, the San Francisco 49ers were hoping to become the third team to pull off the hometown Super Bowl feat, with Levi’s Stadium set to host Super Bowl 60. But the Seattle Seahawks had other plans-and they made that crystal clear with a dominant 41-6 win over the Niners in the Divisional Round.
Seattle then punched its ticket to the Big Game with a 31-27 victory over the Rams in the NFC Championship, setting up a showdown in Santa Clara against the New England Patriots. The Pats, meanwhile, secured their 12th Super Bowl appearance-extending their all-time record-by taking down the Denver Broncos in the AFC title game.
And while the Patriots are chasing another ring, they’re also on the verge of making a little more history. Their win over Denver marked their 40th postseason victory, tying them with, you guessed it, the 49ers.
San Francisco had picked up its 40th playoff win earlier in the Wild Card round against the Eagles. If New England wins Super Bowl 60, they’ll stand alone atop the all-time postseason wins list-a record the Niners have held or shared for years.
Now, with the Super Bowl returning to Levi’s Stadium, you might expect a long list of former 49ers making a homecoming. But the list is surprisingly short. Still, one name stands out-and he’s not just back in familiar territory, he’s playing the best football of his career.
Former 49ers suiting up in Super Bowl 60
Seattle Seahawks
The most notable former 49er in this game? That’s easy: Sam Darnold.
Darnold spent the 2023 season in San Francisco backing up Brock Purdy. It wasn’t a headline-grabbing year, but it was a pivotal one.
That season served as a hard reset for the former No. 3 overall pick, who had bounced around the league trying to find stability. He found it-just not in the Bay Area long-term.
After that stint with the Niners, Darnold signed a one-year deal with the Vikings in 2024. When rookie J.J.
McCarthy went down with a season-ending knee injury in the preseason, Darnold stepped in-and lit it up. He guided Minnesota to a 14-3 record, putting up career highs across the board: 66.2% completion rate, 4,319 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and a 102.5 passer rating.
That performance earned him a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seahawks, and he didn’t miss a beat. In 2025, he led Seattle to another 14-3 regular season, this time completing 67.7% of his passes for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns.
But it’s not just the regular season where Darnold has impressed-it’s what he’s done in the playoffs that’s turned heads. After a solid outing against his former team in the Divisional Round, he was sensational in the NFC Championship against the Rams: 25-of-36 passing, 346 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions. That’s the kind of performance that puts you squarely in the Super Bowl MVP conversation.
If he delivers anything close to that against the Patriots, don’t be surprised if he’s the one holding the MVP trophy when the confetti falls.
Seattle also has another former 49er on the roster: tight end Eric Saubert. He played all 17 games for San Francisco in 2024, catching 11 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. He’s now serving as a backup in Seattle, providing depth and experience in the tight end room.
New England Patriots
On the Patriots’ side, there’s just one former 49er on the active roster: quarterback Joshua Dobbs. He spent the 2024 season in San Francisco, making three appearances and one start. That start came in Week 18 against the Cardinals, where he threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns-but also two interceptions-in a 47-24 loss.
Also in the mix is wide receiver and special teams contributor Trent Sherfield. He’s on New England’s practice squad, but Niners fans might remember his 2021 season in red and gold, when he caught nine passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Looking ahead
Super Bowl 60 is shaping up to be more than just a clash between two storied franchises. It’s a full-circle moment for a few players who once called Levi’s Stadium home-and for Sam Darnold, it’s a chance to turn a career reboot into a championship legacy.
From a backup in San Francisco to a franchise quarterback in Seattle, Darnold’s journey has been anything but linear. Now, he’s one win away from a Lombardi Trophy-and maybe even a little Super Bowl MVP hardware to go with it.