SEATTLE — Tom Brady and Drake Maye each quarterbacked the Patriots to the Super Bowl as second-year execs, so, of course, a brand new dynasty led by a Hall of Famer have to be upon us.
If solely projecting careers had been so simple as drawing that parallel.
Maye is the ninth quarterback to succeed in the Super Bowl in his second season. Some of the opposite eight have constructed Hall of Fame résumés — like Brady, Kurt Warner, Dan Marino, Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson.
Some turned regulars within the Super Bowl — like Brady, Warner and Roethlisberger.
Some have realized how onerous it’s to get again there in any respect — like Marino, Colin Kaepernick and Joe Burrow. Or a couple of different time — like Wilson and Brock Purdy.
Brady (seven) and Roethlisberger (two) are the one ones among the many eight with a number of Super Bowl victories.
Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots celebrates with teammates on the sector following the AFC Championship Playoff recreation towards the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
If the Patriots beat the Seahawks on Feb. 8, they’ll break a tie with the Steelers for many Super Bowl wins by a corporation (at present six apiece) and tie Brady for probably the most by any single entity.
Here are another Super Bowl 2026 storylines:
No. 1 vs. No. 2
Same as a decade in the past, the Seahawks are dominant within the secondary as half of the NFL’s No. 1 scoring protection.
So let’s supply a modernized model of the “Legion of Boom” nickname for use for Julian Love, Devon Witherspoon, Nick Emmanwori, Josh Jobe and Coby Bryant: Nothing says 2026 society like “Legion of Zoom.”
After dealing with the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense within the NFC Championship recreation, they’ll draw No. 2 within the Super Bowl. The Patriots don’t have the harmful Rams duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams however nonetheless ranked first in internet yards per passing try and No. 5 in passing touchdowns with 5 completely different targets between 447 and 1,013 receiving yards.
Darnold’s redemption
Written off as a draft bust after enjoying for 3 groups in six seasons and settling in as a journeyman backup, Darnold has been a Pro Bowler in back-to-back seasons and simply erased his big-game critics with a 346-yard gem within the NFC Championship recreation.
The Vikings look silly for not re-signing Darnold after his 2024 breakthrough, and the Raiders look clueless for buying and selling for Seahawks castoff Geno Smith as a substitute of pursuing Darnold in free company.
Sneaky Schneider
John Schneider (Seahawks) is the primary normal supervisor to return to the Super Bowl with a wholly new roster and a distinct head coach. He constructed back-to-back NFC champions (2013-14) with three straight robust drafts (2010-12), weathered the rebuild after which hit drafts out of the park once more in 2022-23.
For ending touches, Schneider executed the Smith for Darnold de facto quarterback swap and landed deep menace/return specialist Rashid Shaheed on the commerce deadline.
Are the Patriots frauds?
The Patriots performed the NFL’s softest regular-season schedule (.391 opponents successful share) after which confronted playoff-bedeviled Justin Herbert’s Chargers, interception-prone C.J. Stroud’s Texans and the Bo Nix-less Broncos within the playoffs.
Can they beat a very good workforce at near full energy?
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) breaks up a move ultimately zone supposed for Los Angeles Rams tight finish Terrance Ferguson (18) on fourth down throughout the second half of the NFC Championship NFL soccer recreation Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. AP
MVP (or two)
Cooper Kupp was Super Bowl MVP 4 years in the past for the Rams and simply bought a bit revenge by catching passes for a landing and a controversial late first down towards the workforce that reduce him final offseason. Now, he’s again within the recreation as a Seahawks complementary weapon.
If not for Jalen Hurts, Milton Williams simply may have been final yr’s Super Bowl MVP in his ultimate recreation with the Eagles (4 tackles, two sacks, pressured fumble and fumble restoration). He signed a four-year, $104 million contract throughout the Patriots free agent spending spree.
One of a form
Mike Vrabel seeks to change into the primary to win Super Bowls as a participant and a head coach for a similar franchise, the Patriots. He gained three rings as a linebacker (and even caught a landing move 26 years in the past in The Big Game) underneath Bill Belichick.
Tom Flores, Mike Ditka, Tony Dungy and Doug Pederson gained in each roles for various franchises, and Gary Kubiak misplaced three Super Bowls as a Broncos backup quarterback earlier than successful as their head coach. Kubiak’s son, Klint, is the Seahawks offensive coordinator.
Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots interacts with followers following the AFC Championship Playoff recreation towards the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
Backfields by committee?
After the Saquon Barkley one-man present of final postseason, the Seahawks and Patriots rode two of the most effective backfield combos this facet of Detroit into the playoffs.
But the Seahawks tandem was weakened by the season-ending damage to 12-touchdown scorer Zach Charbonnet, leaving Kenneth Walker III in a pre-free company showcase and tag workforce with … George Holani.
The Patriots had a thunder-and-lightning break up between Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson going till the AFC Championship recreation, when Stevenson out-carried Henderson 25-4.
Rematch of a traditional
Ever marvel what occurred to Malcolm Butler, who was on the middle of two Super Bowls? He made one of the nice performs in historical past when the Patriots beat the Seahawks the primary time they met within the Super Bowl, 11 years in the past, after which was mysteriously benched to start out one three years later.
Expect to listen to from him this week as his last-minute goal-line interception of Wilson is replayed time and again. On the opposite hand, Dolphins quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell — who made the decision to throw it as a substitute of run it with Marshawn Lynch — may not wish to Google this title for the subsequent two weeks.
This would be the tenth repeat Super Bowl matchup.
Unlikeliest Super Bowl
Betting on the NFL by no means has been extra well-liked. And there’s by no means been an even bigger longshot matchup.
Both the Seahawks and Patriots had been thought-about 60-1 or larger longshots to succeed in this level earlier than the season. A $1 wager on this actual matchup paid out $4,800.
