Pull to refresh
Logo
Daily Brief
Following
Why
Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl LX

Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl LX

Built World
By Newzino Staff |

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—becoming 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.

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

Interactive

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

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

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Sign Up

Debate Arena

Two rounds, two personas, one winner. You set the crossfire.

People Involved

Kenneth Walker III
Kenneth Walker III
Running Back, Seattle Seahawks (Super Bowl LX Most Valuable Player)
Mike Macdonald
Mike Macdonald
Head Coach, Seattle Seahawks (Super Bowl champion in second season as head coach)
Drake Maye
Drake Maye
Quarterback, New England Patriots (Super Bowl runner-up; finished second in regular season MVP voting)
Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel
Head Coach, New England Patriots (2025 NFL Coach of the Year; first Super Bowl appearance as head coach)
Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold
Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks (Super Bowl champion; completed postseason without a turnover)
Malcolm Butler
Malcolm Butler
Former Cornerback, New England Patriots (Retired; hero of Super Bowl XLIX)

Organizations Involved

Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
NFL Franchise
Status: Super Bowl LX Champions

National Football Conference (NFC) West franchise that captured its second Super Bowl title, 12 years after their first championship.

New England Patriots
New England Patriots
NFL Franchise
Status: Super Bowl LX Runner-up

AFC East franchise that completed a remarkable one-year turnaround from 4-13 to Super Bowl appearance under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel.

Timeline

  1. Seahawks Win Super Bowl LX

    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.

Scenarios

1

Seahawks Establish New Dynasty

Discussed by: ESPN, CBS Sports, and Field Gulls analysts covering Seattle's championship window

With a dominant defense, a quarterback playing mistake-free football, and Walker under contract through 2027, Seattle could build sustained success. The "Dark Side" defense returns all key starters, and Mike Macdonald's system produced the league's top scoring defense in just his second season. The 2026 draft and free agency cycle will determine whether Seattle can reload for a repeat run.

2

Patriots Complete Turnaround with 2027 Title

Discussed by: Patriots.com, Boston media, and NFL analysts covering Drake Maye's development

Despite the Super Bowl loss, New England's foundation looks solid. Drake Maye finished second in regular-season MVP voting at age 23, and Mike Vrabel won Coach of the Year for transforming a 4-13 team into championship contenders. If the Patriots address their offensive line issues that allowed six Super Bowl sacks, they could return as favorites.

3

Walker Injury Derails Seattle's Title Defense

Discussed by: NFL injury analysts and fantasy football platforms discussing running back durability

Running backs historically face high injury rates, and Seattle's offense leaned heavily on Walker's 313 playoff rushing yards. Should he miss significant time, the Seahawks would need to find alternative offensive production. Their defense could keep them competitive, but Walker's absence would fundamentally change their championship calculus.

Historical Context

Super Bowl XLIX: Butler Interception (2015)

February 2015

What Happened

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.

Outcome

Short Term

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

Long Term

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 It's Relevant Today

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.

Super Bowl XXXII: Terrell Davis MVP (1998)

January 1998

What Happened

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.

Outcome

Short Term

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

Long Term

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 It's Relevant Today

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.

Super Bowl XLVIII: Legion of Boom (2014)

February 2014

What Happened

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.

Outcome

Short Term

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

Long Term

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 It's Relevant Today

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)