The Seattle Seahawks dominated the New England Patriots with a punishing defensive display, winning the Super Bowl 29-13 at Levi’s Stadium. The victory secured Seattle’s second championship in franchise history.
Two of the NFL’s toughest defences clashed in the season’s biggest game, and Seattle imposed their will from the first whistle. Briton Aden Durde made history as the first overseas coach to lift the sport’s top prize in the United States.
Seattle’s Defence Shines on the Biggest Stage
Durde, Seattle’s 46-year-old defensive coordinator, has built the league’s most feared defence, nicknamed “the Dark Side.” On Super Bowl Sunday in Santa Clara, California, it overwhelmed the Patriots.
New England quarterback Drake Maye, a close contender for this season’s MVP award, struggled under Seattle’s relentless pressure. The Seahawks recorded six sacks, forced three turnovers, and scored a defensive touchdown.
After a 9-0 halftime lead, Maye’s first turnover allowed tight end AJ Barner to score early in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu returned an interception for a 45-yard touchdown, while kicker Jason Meyers added five field goals, breaking a Super Bowl record. The Patriots were denied a record seventh championship.
“We were the better team; we’re the best team. We loved each other and believed in each other, and now we’re champions,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said. “We went to the dark side tonight. Our players made it happen. They brought it to life.”
Seahawks Shut Down MVP Contender
Most of the 70,823 fans cheered for Seattle, who entered the game as narrow favourites. The win also marked quarterback Sam Darnold’s redemption story after years of doubt.
Seattle is Darnold’s fifth team in his eight-year career and his third in three years. In his first season with the Seahawks, the former third overall draft pick claimed the league’s top prize.
Darnold had been haunted by a 2019 comment against the Patriots, saying “I’m seeing ghosts,” but he has now exorcised those demons. Maye, in contrast, faced Seattle’s fast, physical defence, built by Durde and Macdonald over two seasons.
Devon Witherspoon, Derick Hall, and Rylie Mills combined for multiple first-half sacks, despite only 2.5 sacks among them during the season. The Patriots managed just four first downs and 52 total yards before halftime. Social media even joked that performer Bad Bunny gained more yards during the half-time show than New England did.
Hall’s second sack forced a fumble recovered by Byron Murphy, who also sacked Maye twice. The Dark Side has now earned a place in Seattle history alongside the legendary 2014 Legion of Boom defence.
“My teammates and coaches believed in me,” Darnold said. “From the first training camp, we worked every day. Shout-out to our offensive line and defence. This journey has been special. So much hard work went into it, and we achieved it.”
Patriots Denied Historic Triumph
New England reached their first Super Bowl since 2019 after the departures of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick. The duo had led the Patriots to six Super Bowl wins, tying the NFL record with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Vrabel played in three of those victories.
After two 4-13 seasons, Vrabel returned as head coach, rebuilt the roster, and led the Patriots to a record-extending 12th Super Bowl appearance. Vrabel aimed to become the first man to win a Super Bowl as both player and coach with the same franchise, while Maye hoped to become the youngest quarterback to win the title.
Despite his league-leading pass completion rate, Maye could not escape Seattle’s defence. The Patriots failed to establish a running game or connect with star receiver Stefon Diggs.
Maye briefly kept New England in the game by finding Mack Hollins for a touchdown, cutting the score to 19-7. However, two interceptions later sealed the outcome, leaving Rhamondre Stevenson’s late touchdown as only a consolation.
