Pull to refresh
Logo
Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl LX

Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl LX

Built World

Kenneth Walker III earns MVP as dominant defense delivers franchise's second championship

February 9th, 2026: Seahawks Win Super Bowl LX

Overview

Eleven years after Malcolm Butler's goal-line interception ripped away what would have been back-to-back titles, the Seattle Seahawks exorcised that demon with a 29-13 demolition of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Kenneth Walker III rushed for 135 yards, the most in a Super Bowl since Terrell Davis in 1998, and became the first running back to win Super Bowl MVP in 28 years. The Seahawks' "Dark Side" defense held New England scoreless through three quarters, sacking quarterback Drake Maye six times and forcing three turnovers.

This was a matchup of preseason longshots: both teams entered the 2025 season with 60-to-1 or worse odds—the first time since 1989 such underdogs reached the championship game. Seattle's 14-3 regular season, powered by the league's top scoring defense allowing just 17.2 points per game, marked the franchise's best record since their Legion of Boom era. For the Patriots, Mike Vrabel's first-year turnaround from 4-13 to Super Bowl appearance was historic, but not enough to overcome Seattle's suffocating front.

Questions about this story

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

29-13
Final Score
Seahawks' margin of victory, with New England held scoreless through three quarters
6
Sacks on Maye
Seattle's pass rush overwhelmed the Patriots' offensive line throughout the game
135
Walker Rushing Yards
Most by any player in a Super Bowl since Terrell Davis in 1998
5
Myers Field Goals
Jason Myers set a new Super Bowl record, the first kicker to make five in a single game

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Play

Exploring all sides of a story is often best achieved with Play.

Most of these play right now — no account needed. Sign up to save scores, keep a streak, and unlock Debate and Predict. Log in Sign Up
Predict 3 ways this could play out. Back the one you believe — contrarian picks score more when a scenario has a resolution date. Log in to play

People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

February 2014 February 2026

10 events Latest: February 9th, 2026 · 6 months ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Seahawks Win Super Bowl LX

    Latest Championship

    Seattle defeats New England 29-13 at Levi's Stadium as Kenneth Walker III earns MVP with 135 rushing yards and the "Dark Side" defense holds the Patriots scoreless through three quarters.

  2. Seahawks Edge Rams for NFC Title

    Playoffs

    In a back-and-forth thriller, Seattle defeats Los Angeles 31-27 to advance to Super Bowl LX. Drake Maye suffers a shoulder injury leading New England past Denver 10-7 in the AFC Championship.

  3. Seahawks Crush 49ers in Divisional Round

    Playoffs

    Seattle's defense dominates an injury-plagued San Francisco squad in a 41-6 blowout, advancing to the NFC Championship Game.

  4. Seahawks Secure NFC's First Seed

    Regular Season

    Seattle finishes 14-3, capturing the NFC's top seed for the first time since 2014 while setting a franchise record for regular-season wins.

  5. Seahawks Trade Geno Smith, Sign Darnold

    Personnel

    Seattle trades quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a third-round pick, then signs Sam Darnold in free agency following his Pro Bowl season with Minnesota.

  6. Vrabel Returns to New England as Head Coach

    Personnel

    The Patriots hire former linebacker and Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel as their 16th head coach, reuniting him with the franchise where he won three Super Bowls as a player.

  7. Patriots Fire Mayo After 4-13 Season

    Personnel

    New England fires Jerod Mayo less than two hours after their season finale, ending his tenure after just one season marked by two six-game losing streaks.

  8. Seahawks Hire Macdonald as Head Coach

    Personnel

    Seattle names Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald as head coach, tasking him with rebuilding the defense after a 9-8 season and playoff miss.

  9. Butler Interception Denies Seattle Dynasty

    Championship

    Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepts Russell Wilson at the one-yard line with 20 seconds remaining, preserving a 28-24 New England victory in Super Bowl XLIX and denying Seattle back-to-back titles.

  10. Seahawks Win First Super Bowl

    Championship

    Seattle demolishes Denver 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII, with the "Legion of Boom" defense holding Peyton Manning's record-setting offense to just one third-quarter score.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

February 2015

Super Bowl XLIX: Butler Interception (2015)

With 20 seconds remaining and Seattle on the one-yard line, Pete Carroll called for a pass instead of handing to Marshawn Lynch. Undrafted rookie Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson, preserving New England's 28-24 victory and denying Seattle consecutive championships.

Then

The call was immediately labeled one of the worst in Super Bowl history. Carroll faced intense criticism; Wilson publicly defended the decision.

Now

The loss marked the beginning of Seattle's decline from contender. Russell Wilson was traded to Denver in 2022. The franchise spent a decade rebuilding before returning to the Super Bowl.

Why this matters now

Super Bowl LX served as a redemption game, with Seattle finally defeating the Patriots 11 years after that devastating loss. The Seahawks' conservative, run-heavy approach with Walker suggested lessons learned from the 2015 play call.

January 1998

Super Bowl XXXII: Terrell Davis MVP (1998)

Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns despite missing most of the second quarter with a migraine headache. The Broncos upset the defending champion Green Bay Packers 31-24, giving John Elway his first Super Bowl victory.

Then

Davis became the sixth running back to win Super Bowl MVP. Denver repeated as champions the following season.

Now

Davis's performance remained the rushing benchmark for Super Bowl excellence. No running back won MVP again for 28 years until Kenneth Walker III in Super Bowl LX.

Why this matters now

Walker's 135 rushing yards were the most since Davis's 157, and he joined Davis as just the eighth running back to win the award. Both performances came against heavy favorites in decisive victories.

February 2014

Super Bowl XLVIII: Legion of Boom (2014)

Seattle's "Legion of Boom" defense—featuring Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor—annihilated Peyton Manning's record-setting Denver offense 43-8. The Broncos trailed 22-0 at halftime after their first snap sailed over Manning's head for a safety.

Then

Seattle won its first Super Bowl. The Legion of Boom was crowned perhaps the greatest defense of the modern era.

Now

The defensive core carried Seattle back to Super Bowl XLIX before injuries and free agency dispersed the unit. The franchise rebuilt around a new identity.

Why this matters now

Super Bowl LX drew direct comparisons to Super Bowl XLVIII: both featured Seattle defenses dominating supposedly elite offenses. The "Dark Side" nickname consciously invoked the Legion of Boom legacy while establishing its own identity.

Sources

(10)