The Seattle Seahawks might not have been a juggernaut in the NFL’s early decades, but since the turn of the millennium, they’ve carved out a reputation as one of the NFC’s most consistent contenders. With 16 playoff appearances since 2000, three Super Bowl trips, and one Lombardi Trophy to their name, the Seahawks have become a postseason fixture-and in 2025, they added another feather to their cap by locking up the NFC West title and securing the conference’s No. 1 seed.
But here’s where things get... intriguing.
Some fans have noticed a pattern-one that stretches beyond the gridiron and into the halls of the Vatican. It’s a trend that’s as bizarre as it is oddly consistent: every time a new pope has been elected since 2000, the Seahawks have gone on to reach the Super Bowl.
Let’s break it down.
In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI was elected. That same season, Seattle went 13-3, earned the NFC’s top seed, and made it all the way to Super Bowl XL, where they ultimately fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fast forward to 2013. Pope Francis took the papal throne, and once again, the Seahawks followed suit with a 13-win season, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and a Super Bowl appearance.
This time, they didn’t miss. Seattle dominated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII to capture the franchise’s first championship.
Now, here we are in 2025. Another pope-Leo XIV-was elected earlier this year.
And what do you know? The Seahawks went 13-4 and claimed the NFC’s top seed once again.
The script is eerily familiar.
Here’s the full breakdown:
| Year | Pope Elected | Seahawks' NFC Playoff Seed | Playoff Result |
|---|
| 2005 | Pope Benedict XVI | No. 1 (13 wins) | Lost to Steelers in Super Bowl XL | | 2013 | Pope Francis | No. 1 (13 wins) | Beat Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII |
| 2025 | Pope Leo XIV | No. 1 (13 wins) | TBD |
It’s the kind of statistical oddity that feels like it belongs more in a trivia night than a playoff preview, but it’s hard to ignore the symmetry. Three popes, three 13-win seasons, three No. 1 seeds. Two Super Bowl appearances already in the books-and now, a third potentially on deck.
Of course, correlation doesn’t equal causation. The Seahawks didn’t earn the NFC’s top seed because of papal transitions-they did it with a balanced roster, smart coaching, and consistent execution. But in the world of sports, where superstition and storytelling often go hand-in-hand, the “Pope Theory” has taken on a life of its own.
It’s not uncommon for fans to latch onto patterns, especially when they’re backed by real results. And with Seattle sitting in a familiar position-top of the NFC, brimming with confidence, and poised for a deep playoff run-it’s easy to see why this theory has gained traction.
Whether divine intervention or just a quirky coincidence, the numbers are what they are. And if history holds, Seahawks fans might want to keep one eye on the postseason-and the other on Vatican City.
Because if this trend continues, the road to the Super Bowl might just be paved with papal smoke signals.