Super Bowl 60: A Matchup of Records and Firsts
The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots are set to face off in Super Bowl 60, a highly anticipated showdown with a wealth of intriguing facts and storylines.
A Repeat Offender
This isn't the first time these two teams have met in the Super Bowl. It's the 10th repeat pairing in Super Bowl history, with the previous nine being:
- Steelers-Cowboys (1976, 1979, 1996)
- Dolphins-Washington (1973, 1983)
- 49ers-Bengals (1982, 1989)
- Cowboys-Bills (1993, 1994)
- Patriots-Giants (2008, 2012)
- Patriots-Eagles (2005, 2018)
- Patriots-Rams (2002, 2019)
- Chiefs-49ers (2020, 2024)
- Chiefs-Eagles (2023, 2025)
Missing the Playoffs, Then the Super Bowl
Both teams missed the playoffs the previous season, a rare occurrence. The Seahawks went 10-7 last year, losing the strength of victory tiebreaker to the Los Angeles Rams. The Patriots had a disappointing 4-13 record. This last happened in Super Bowl 38 between the Patriots and Carolina Panthers.
Season Openers and Super Bowls
Interestingly, this is the first time both teams lost their season openers and then made it to the Super Bowl. The Seahawks lost to the San Francisco 49ers 17-13, while the Patriots suffered a 20-13 defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Divine Intervention?
There's a curious trend involving the election of new Popes and the Seahawks reaching the Super Bowl. In 2005 (Pope Benedict XVI), 2013 (Pope Francis), and 2025 (Pope Leo XIV), the Seahawks have been on a Super Bowl journey. Will this trend continue?
Defensive Mastermind
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald aims to make history as the first defensive play caller to win a Super Bowl as a head coach. He's also the third-youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl, following Sean McVay and Mike Tomlin.
Mike vs. Mike
Coaching rivals Mike Macdonald and Mike Vrabel will face off, marking the third time in Super Bowl history that head coaches with the same first name have battled. The previous instances were between Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren, and Mike McCarthy and Mike Tomlin.
The Young Quarterbacks
This Super Bowl features the first-ever starting quarterback duo under 30 and both top-five draft picks. Sam Darnold (28) and Drake Maye (23) are set to write a new chapter in NFL history.
Surprising Firsts
Sam Darnold becomes the first quarterback from the 2018 NFL Draft class to start in the Super Bowl. That class includes stars like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Baker Mayfield. USC, Darnold's alma mater, has produced 26 NFL quarterbacks, and he'll be the first Trojan to start in the Super Bowl.
Turnovers and Triumph
Darnold led the league in turnovers during the regular season, a rare feat for a quarterback reaching the Super Bowl. Only Eli Manning in 2007 achieved this, and his Giants team upset the Patriots.
Receiving Yards and Super Bowl Glory
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba joins an elite group of players who led the league in receiving yards and reached the Super Bowl in the same season. Jerry Rice, Cooper Kupp, and Drew Pearson all achieved this, and they all won the Super Bowl.
Top-Ranked Defense vs. All-Pro QB
Seattle's top-ranked defense will face off against the Patriots' All-Pro quarterback, Drake Maye. This marks the seventh time the NFL's top-ranked defense has faced an All-Pro QB in the Super Bowl, with a 5-1 record in previous matchups.
The GM Connection
Seahawks GM John Schneider and Patriots GM Eliot Wolf worked together in the Green Bay Packers' front office from 2004-2009. Their shared history adds an interesting dynamic to the rivalry.
