SAN FRANCISCO — We were hoping for some new dynamics in the Super Bowl, and here we are.
Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Andy Reid are still around, but Taylor Swift’s Chiefs collaboration? Not a thing.
Meanwhile, Rams coach Sean McVay has struck out on his third chance as he celebrates his 40th birthday.
Curiously, there are no Eagles or 49ers making a repeat appearance this decade.
Patriots versus Seahawks in Super Bowl LX feels both familiar and a bit different somehow.
Here are 11 storylines that will be explored endlessly in the coming week.
cold shoulder
Drake Maye, at just 23, is already one of the youngest quarterbacks to take the field in a Super Bowl—second only to Dan Marino—and he could become the youngest winner, surpassing Ben Roethlisberger.
Of course, he’ll need to fight through an injury. He threw sparingly during Thursday’s practice (shoulder) and sat out Friday (shoulder/illness).
It’s hard to say if this injury impacted his performance, where he completed just 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards in the AFC Championship game. Fans are watching closely.
Sam Darnold’s Salvation
I’ll go ahead and label him as “ex-Jet now thriving.”
The Jets might regret parting ways with Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick from 2018, but the decision to trade him to the Panthers made sense at the time. The real problem? Replacing him with Zach Wilson.
Both the Vikings and Raiders have their own messes to deal with after Darnold left, including a Pro Bowl season that didn’t sit well with everyone involved.
famous girlfriend
Cardi B, who happens to be Stefon Diggs’ girlfriend and co-parent, is making her return to the Super Bowl after a three-year break without Swift.
She was energetic on the field post-AFC Championship, shouting excitedly about heading to the Super Bowl. Controversially, she called out a 4-year-old girl for her team choice.
Will the NFL give Cardi B the same spotlight that Swift enjoyed near Travis Kelce over recent years?
dynasty do
This feels eerily reminiscent of the Patriots’ last ascent.
A second-year quarterback, a head coach on his second journey, and a team seen as the underdog. It begs the question—could this lead to six more Super Bowl rings and a longtime collaboration between Maye and Mike Vrabel?
Unlikely, but it’s safe to say America is ready to move past Patriots fatigue.
old guard
Bill Belichick’s recent Hall of Fame induction has drawn quite a bit of ridicule, especially with his former boss—now rival Robert Kraft—earning recognition before his eleventh Super Bowl appearance since 1994.
Vrabel will likely face questions about Belichick’s reputation, what he learned under him during their eight seasons together, and how he feels about stepping into such legendary shoes.
Interestingly, there are still 16 players left who experienced the Belichick era.
Introducing a new star
One of the most exciting matchups could be Seahawks receiver Jackson Smith-Njigba, who logged 119 catches and 1,793 yards—the highest in the NFL—against Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who secured the AFC Championship win.
In the 2023 draft, Gonzalez was picked four spots ahead of Smith-Njigba, with Devon Witherspoon as another notable cornerback rising through the ranks.
where are they now?
The classic 2015 Super Bowl has no remaining players from either the Patriots or Seahawks for a rematch.
The game turned on the infamous interception of a Russell Wilson pass, a decision that still raises questions today, especially given the alternatives that could have changed the game’s outcome.
Malcolm Butler, who famously made that interception, hasn’t played an NFL game since 2020.
What is a catch?
There’s been a lot of debate recently—Brandin Cooks’ potential interception or Cooper Kupp’s catching a ball just in front of the marker. Does it all make sense?
Sean Smith, officiating his first Super Bowl, is under scrutiny, especially given the inconsistencies seen across games regarding holding and defensive pass interference calls.
New McDonald’s
Seahawks coach Mike McDonald, at 38, previously worked under both Harbaugh brothers. He graduated with honors in finance and is one of the youngest head coaches in the league.
Sean McVay and Mike Tomlin are the only two to have won a Super Bowl at a younger age.
Interestingly, McDonald’s offensive coordinator, Clint Kubiak, is now set to lead the Raiders as their new head coach.
Schneider remains
John Schneider of the Seahawks is the first general manager to return to a Super Bowl with a completely revamped team and coaching staff. It truly represents a rebuild.
He drafted most of the starters showcased in the NFC Championship and made some bold moves, like trading notable players to secure new talent.
halftime show
The NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny for the halftime show sparked mixed reactions, particularly due to his vocal criticism of immigration policies, which has raised eyebrows amid political tensions.
A decade past controversies surrounding the national anthem, the league has decided to embrace this direction—attempting to reach Latino audiences with Bad Bunny’s predominantly Spanish lyrics.
