They called them castoffs. Retreads. Never coulda bes. Rebels. Second chances rarely work out. But Sam Darnold or Drake Maye are one win away from proving everyone wrong.
Super Bowl LX features a matchup nobody predicted. Not the oddsmakers, not the analysts and certainly not the fans who watched both quarterbacks struggle through career lows before finding redemption in the most unlikely places. The preseason odds? 4,800-to-1 for a Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl. It’s the most improbable matchup in at least 50 years.
Darnold arrived in Seattle carrying the weight of that infamous 2019 moment against the Patriots when he was “seeing ghosts.” Four interceptions. A 33-0 humiliation. He became a punchline. Now he faces that same franchise with a chance to bury those demons for good. After bouncing through Carolina and Minnesota, Darnold bet on himself with the Seahawks and delivered a 14-3 record as the NFC’s top seed.
Maye’s path was just as improbable. The Patriots selected him third overall in 2024, and after a rocky transition, he emerged this season as the leader New England desperately needed. His response after the AFC Championship win said everything: “You have to believe things, sometimes, before you can see them.”
The supporting casts tell an even bigger story. Seattle built their roster from the rubble of other teams’ decisions. Cooper Kupp, discarded by the Rams after years of elite production. Demarcus Lawrence, let go at 32 when most thought his best days were behind him. Stefon Diggs, traded from Houston after his Bills tenure ended sourly. They all found new life in Seattle’s system.
New England followed a similar blueprint. The Patriots cycled through homegrown stars who emerged from obscurity—Malik Nabers blossoming at receiver, Doug Baldwin becoming a late-round revelation and Demario Douglas proving that draft position means nothing when opportunity meets preparation.
Then there’s Mike Vrabel. If the Patriots win, he becomes the first person to win a Super Bowl as both a player and head coach with the same franchise. A feat that speaks to New England’s unique culture of development and reinvention.
The numbers paint the picture: the Patriots allowed just 26 points across three playoff games, the fewest since the 2000 Ravens. Seattle’s defense held opponents to under 4 yards per carry all season. These aren’t flukes—they’re teams built on the foundation that second chances can become championship runs.
February 8 at Levi’s Stadium will determine which group of Lucky Rebels claims the Lombardi. One thing is certain: whoever wins, they’ll have done it their way. Cue the Sinatra.
Super Bowl LX: Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots. February 8, 2026. Levi’s Stadium.