Richard Sherman Breaks Down Why Super Bowl 60’s QB Battle-and One Key Matchup-Could Be a Classic
When it comes to the Super Bowl, we’re used to seeing marquee quarterback names-Brady, Mahomes, Manning. But this year?
It’s Sam Darnold vs. Drake Maye.
And according to former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, that’s exactly what makes this matchup so fascinating.
Sherman, who knows a thing or two about big-stage battles, is locked in on what’s shaping up to be one of the most unexpected quarterback duels in Super Bowl history. On his podcast this week, the former 49ers and Seahawks standout didn’t hold back in his excitement for what’s ahead on February 8.
“Sam Darnold is playing at a high enough level to win a Super Bowl,” Sherman said. “If your defense plays like it needs to, there should be no expectation for them to not go in this game and win.”
That’s a bold endorsement for Darnold, who’s had a winding road to this point. From being a top draft pick to bouncing between teams, Darnold now has a shot to deliver the Seattle Seahawks their first Lombardi Trophy since the Legion of Boom era-and he’s doing it in a completely different way than that iconic defense-first squad.
But across the field stands Drake Maye, a rookie who’s already rewriting the script for the New England Patriots. This isn’t the Belichick-Brady dynasty anymore. It’s a new chapter, and Maye’s got a chance to bring another title to Foxborough in the post-dynasty era.
Sherman sees this game as a true “dogfight”-a gritty, pride-fueled showdown between two teams with something to prove.
“This team has a lot of pride. They’ve got a lot of talent,” Sherman said. “It’s going to be a dogfight.”
Still, it’s not just the quarterbacks grabbing Sherman’s attention. He’s eyeing a different kind of chess match-one that’s unfolding in the trenches and on the whiteboard.
“This is going to be a great chess match,” Sherman said. “I cannot wait to see the things that Klint Kubiak draws up and builds into this offense to get Jaxon Smith-Njigba open.”
Smith-Njigba is emerging as a major X-factor heading into Super Bowl 60. The Seahawks have been using him like a queen on the board-moving him around, finding mismatches, and letting his route-running do the damage. Sherman expects Kubiak, Seattle’s offensive coordinator, to keep dialing up creative ways to get him loose.
But it won’t come easy. Christian Gonzalez is likely to be the man tasked with shadowing Smith-Njigba.
The Patriots’ top cornerback has the length, speed, and instincts to make things difficult. Expect him to follow Smith-Njigba in motion, trying to neutralize the Seahawks’ most dangerous receiving threat.
Still, Gonzalez won’t be alone. Sherman pointed to Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones as two players who could quietly swing the game for New England.
Davis brings physicality and experience, while Jones adds versatility and speed to the secondary. If they can disrupt the rhythm of Seattle’s passing attack, the Patriots will have a real shot to control the tempo.
There’s a lot of history between these two franchises-especially for Sherman, who was on the field for that unforgettable finish in the 2014 Super Bowl. But this year’s version of Seahawks vs.
Patriots is a whole new story. No dynasties.
No legends. Just two hungry teams with quarterbacks trying to cement their legacy and a chess match that could come down to one crucial adjustment.
If you’re looking for a flashy headliner, this might not be it. But if you love the game within the game-matchups, schemes, and players rising to the moment-Super Bowl 60 has all the makings of a classic.