SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Landry’s Journey to the Super Bowl
Harold Landry understands the frustration of sitting out an entire season. But missing the Super Bowl? That’s a whole different level of disappointment.
Currently, he’s dealing with a knee issue and was limited during the Patriots’ practice on Friday, making him questionable for the big game against the Seahawks on Sunday.
Landry sat out the AFC Championship but had seemed optimistic about playing in the Super Bowl during his last interview earlier this week. After struggling with knee soreness since Week 6, he stated, “I feel pretty confident that I can contribute to the team however they need me.” He added, “It’s been tough going in and out all year trying to get through this.”
The word “harsh” doesn’t fully capture the frustration he’s feeling.
Another term? “It was garbage,” Landry remarked.
With 40 sacks over the past four seasons—averaging at least 8.5 per season—Landry possesses impressive stats, despite missing the entire 2022 season due to a torn ACL. His comeback with the Titans has been noteworthy.
Notably, only ten players in the NFL have reached that 40-sack mark across the same time frame.
His performance helped him follow head coach Mike Vrabel to the Patriots, where he recently signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract to return to Boston College’s area.
“I really dislike not practicing; I’m the type who likes to focus on preparing for each specific game,” he admitted. “Not practicing leaves you hoping everything goes right in the game.”
As for the Seahawks, offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak is about to call his last game before taking the head coaching position with the Raiders.
Questions lingered about whether he’s focused on his current role or distracted by what lies ahead.
“I’ve devoted my life to this game, and that’s where my attention is,” Kubiak noted.
Seahawks head coach Mike McDonald described losing Kubiak as “bittersweet,” though he expressed happiness whenever one of his assistants moves up in the ranks. He recalled witnessing that kind of growth under John Harbaugh with the Ravens.
There was a time when Josh McDaniels, the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, found himself in a similar situation as Kubiak—on track to become the Colts’ head coach, but that deal fell through after Super Bowl 52.
McDaniels eventually left the Patriots for the Raiders, yet his second head coaching stint didn’t match the success of his first run with the Broncos.
Will the 2025 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year regain that opportunity?
“I think it’ll take a while for Josh to get back into the conversation,” Chris Sims, a player under McDaniels’ guidance in Denver, mentioned. “Regardless of his head coaching record, he has one of the greatest minds in football. The Seahawks may have more talent than the Patriots, but I can’t dismiss a coach like Josh McDaniels being able to close that gap.”
Defensive tackle Milton Williams is in the running for back-to-back titles.
After coming close to MVP honors in Super Bowl 59 with the Eagles, Williams joined the Patriots with a four-year, $104 million contract. This will mark his third Super Bowl in just five years.
“I always dreamed about entering the NFL and playing, but winning consecutively? That was never something I envisioned,” Williams expressed.
Seahawks wide receiver Jackson Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon, both first-round picks in the 2023 draft, feel a strong sense of accomplishment as a team.
“We looked at each other and thought, ‘This is our moment; we need to seal the deal,'” Witherspoon said. “Winning this game is crucial for solidifying that achievement.”
