With just under 10 minutes to go in the second quarter of the Super Bowl, things took an unexpected - and frankly jarring - turn on the Seahawks sideline. Referee Shawn Smith found himself at the center of a chaotic sideline collision, getting slammed hard to the turf in a moment that left both teams momentarily stunned.
The play unfolded quickly, and with the action pushing toward the boundary, Smith was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Television cameras captured the moment in real time - Smith’s shoulder hit the ground first, then his body followed as he landed face-down near the sideline. Remarkably, he bounced back to his feet almost immediately, even as players from both teams rushed over to check on him.
The exact point of contact is tough to pinpoint, but the play involved Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins - all 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds of him - and a Seahawks safety who stands at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds. Both were battling for position right along the sideline, and Smith was simply collateral in a fast-moving, high-impact collision.
Fans watching from home didn’t miss a beat. Social media lit up with reactions, ranging from shock to humor.
One viewer summed it up bluntly: “This NFL ref got WRECKED.” Another chimed in, joking that the hit was worthy of the league’s concussion protocol.
It was a moment that cut through a game that, to that point, hadn’t exactly been a thrill ride.
On the field, offense was hard to come by in the first half. The Seahawks managed to grab early momentum, but neither team found the end zone. Quarterbacks Drake Maye and Sam Darnold struggled to establish any rhythm, with both passing attacks sputtering through the opening two quarters.
Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III tried to spark something with a few strong runs, showing flashes of the dynamic playmaking he’s capable of. But even his efforts couldn’t break the touchdown drought. Instead, the Seahawks leaned on the steady leg of kicker Jason Myers, who drilled three field goals to give Seattle a 9-0 lead heading into halftime.
The low-scoring affair didn’t go unnoticed by fans, who voiced their frustration online. One post captured the mood perfectly: “This might be the most boring Super Bowl of all time.” It was a sentiment echoed across timelines as the first half wrapped with more field goals than fireworks.
But if the game lacked spark, the halftime show more than made up for it. Bad Bunny took the stage and instantly flipped the energy inside Levi’s Stadium. The Puerto Rican superstar delivered a high-octane set that had fans buzzing, and the surprise appearances only added to the spectacle - Lady Gaga brought the house down with a cameo, while Pedro Pascal’s presence added a dose of Hollywood charisma to the field.
Earlier, punk rock legends Green Day had already set the tone with a pregame performance full of energy and nostalgia, giving fans a taste of the spectacle to come - even if the football itself was still waiting to catch up.
As the second half loomed, the hope was that the action on the field would finally match the electricity off of it.