The Seattle Seahawks are once again perched atop the football world. Super Bowl 60 was never in doubt, as Seattle delivered a methodical, punishing 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots that felt decisive long before the final score confirmed it. This was not a game defined by last-second drama or offensive fireworks. Instead, it was a reminder that overwhelming defense, physical dominance, and situational control can still rule the biggest stage in sports.
Seattle never trailed. From the opening drive, the Seahawks dictated tempo, tone, and terms. A field goal on their first possession set the table, and from there, the gap between these two teams slowly widened. The Patriots struggled to breathe offensively, let alone threaten, as Seattle’s defense suffocated Drake Maye and dismantled New England’s protection schemes. By halftime, it was 9-0. By the end of the third quarter, it was 12-0. And once the Seahawks finally reached the end zone early in the fourth, the result felt inevitable.
This was a championship won through pressure, patience, and precision. It was also the culmination of a season in which Seattle outscored opponents by 246 points, the best regular-season point differential by a Super Bowl champion since the 1999 Rams. The Seahawks were not just champions. They were dominant.
With that in mind, here are the biggest winners and losers from Super Bowl 60.
Winner: Kenneth Walker III, His Agent, and His Bank Account
Kenneth Walker III delivered one of the most impactful performances by a running back in Super Bowl history, earning MVP honors after racking up 161 yards from scrimmage. He became the first running back to win Super Bowl MVP since Terrell Davis in 1998, and the honor was well deserved.
Walker has long been one of the league’s most fascinating backs. His running style is built on aggression, confidence, and an almost stubborn belief that every defender can be beaten. At times, that approach has led to inefficiency. During the regular season, Walker ranked near the bottom of the league in rushing success rate among high-volume backs, even as he remained near the top in explosive run percentage.
On Super Bowl Sunday, explosiveness mattered far more than consistency. Walker delivered five runs of 10 or more yards, repeatedly flipping field position and relieving pressure from an offense that did not ask its quarterback to do too much. With Zach Charbonnet lost to a torn ACL earlier in the postseason, Walker assumed a true workhorse role and thrived.
His playoff résumé over the past three games was staggering. He totaled 145 yards and three touchdowns against San Francisco, followed that with 111 yards and a score against the Rams, and then saved his best for last on the sport’s biggest stage. At 27 years old and nearing free agency, Walker could not have timed this run any better. Whether he returns to Seattle or cashes in elsewhere, his value skyrocketed over the final month of the season.
Loser: The Patriots Offensive Line, Especially the Rookies
New England’s offensive line was the clearest weak point in a game full of them. Though improved from the disaster of 2024, this unit was simply not ready for championship football.
Rookie left tackle Will Campbell, the fourth overall pick, endured a brutal introduction to playoff intensity. He struggled with speed, power, and the mental demands of Seattle’s pressure packages. Rookie left guard Jared Wilson also endured a difficult night, while veteran center Garrett Bradbury was overwhelmed by interior pressure. The right side of the line held up better, but it did not matter. Seattle attacked relentlessly from every angle.
Drake Maye rarely had time to set his feet, scan the field, or build rhythm. Even when the Seahawks rushed only four, the pocket collapsed quickly. Campbell, in particular, faces a critical offseason. Improvement is not optional for a player selected that high. The Patriots can feel optimistic about their future, but this game underscored just how far they still have to go in the trenches.
Winner: Sam Darnold
This was not a great performance by Sam Darnold, and it does not need to be framed as one. He missed throws, forced others, and benefitted from several near-interceptions that fell harmlessly to the turf. His stat line was modest, and his efficiency was low.
None of that matters now.
Darnold is a Super Bowl champion. He became the first starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl with his fifth team or later, a fact that would have sounded absurd for most of his career. After stints defined by disappointment with the Jets, Panthers, and 49ers, and after a dramatic collapse at the end of his Minnesota tenure, Darnold seemed destined to be remembered as a cautionary tale.
Instead, he played turnover-free football throughout the postseason and managed the game well enough for a dominant roster to do the rest. Football history does not care how you win a Super Bowl. It only remembers that you did.
Loser: Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels
Mike Vrabel’s Super Bowl decisions will be dissected for years. Several moments stood out, particularly his reluctance to embrace aggression while trailing by multiple scores. Declining opportunities to go for it on fourth down and failing to chase points earlier allowed the game to drift away rather than forcing Seattle to react.
When a head coach does not call offense or defense, the margin for coordinator error shrinks dramatically. Josh McDaniels was outmatched. New England rarely adjusted protections, failed to move the pocket, and did not fully leverage Drake Maye’s athleticism. Meanwhile, Seattle unveiled wrinkles and pressure looks that clearly benefitted from two weeks of preparation.
The contrast in creativity was stark. One staff dictated. The other reacted.
Winner: Mike Macdonald
Mike Macdonald did not just win the chess match. He flipped the board.
Seattle’s defense was overwhelming in every phase. The Seahawks finished with six sacks, countless pressures, and complete control of the game’s rhythm. Four different players recorded sacks, while seven defenders logged quarterback hits. Through three quarters, Seattle outgained New England 271-78, a jaw-dropping margin in a Super Bowl.
Macdonald’s rise remains remarkable. He never played college or professional football. At one point, he nearly left coaching entirely for a career in finance. Instead, he climbed the ranks in Baltimore, became one of the league’s most respected defensive coordinators, and now stands as a Super Bowl-winning head coach at just 38 years old. Though he will need to replace offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, his defensive foundation is as strong as any in the league.
Loser: Drake Maye
Drake Maye’s future remains bright, but Super Bowl 60 was a sobering reminder of how unforgiving the stage can be. Under constant pressure, Maye missed throws he typically makes and forced others he should not have attempted. His night included two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown by Uchenna Nwosu, along with six sacks and a lost fumble.
Over the entire postseason, Maye absorbed 21 sacks and committed eight turnovers. His expected points added per dropback in the Super Bowl ranked among the worst of his season. Context matters, and the offensive line failed him badly, but this was still a performance he will want back.
Growth rarely comes without pain. This was a painful night.
Winner: The Seahawks Defense
Seattle’s defense may not be loaded with household names, but it is stacked with impact players who thrive in Macdonald’s system.
Devon Witherspoon, one of the league’s best cornerbacks, recorded a sack and three quarterback hits while continuing to erase receivers in coverage. Ernest Jones IV led the team in tackles and added his second Super Bowl ring. Derick Hall and Byron Murphy II each recorded two sacks, while Leonard Williams continued his career resurgence.
Uchenna Nwosu’s interception return sealed the game, and rookie Nick Emmanwori showcased the versatility that has already made him a foundational piece. DeMarcus Lawrence, signed in free agency, finally found the championship home he believed he could not reach elsewhere.
This was a collective masterpiece.
Loser: Fans of Offense and Aggressive Play Calling
Despite a final score that suggested balance, this game was a defensive slog for most of the night. New England failed to score in the first half, continuing the Super Bowl trend that teams shut out before halftime never recover. Neither quarterback played at an elite level, and conservative decision-making limited offensive creativity.
Defense deserves credit, but missed opportunities and cautious calls also played a role. Fans hoping for a shootout were left wanting.
Winner: The Patriots Secondary
While the offensive line faltered, New England’s secondary gave fans real reasons for optimism. Christian Gonzalez was excellent throughout the postseason and capped it with another strong performance, limiting completions and delivering a highlight-worthy deep pass breakup.
Rookie Craig Woodson also impressed, particularly against the run. The fourth-round pick led the team in tackles and showed the physicality that has defined his rookie season. For a Patriots team still building its foundation, the back end looks promising.
Loser: Stefon Diggs
After 178 games waiting for a Super Bowl appearance, Stefon Diggs finally reached the mountaintop only to be largely neutralized. He finished with three catches for 37 yards and struggled to create separation against Seattle’s physical coverage. A late-game scuffle summed up a frustrating night.
His comeback season was impressive, but the ending fell flat.
Winner: John Schneider
John Schneider has now built two Super Bowl champions in Seattle with completely different rosters and coaching staffs. That alone places him among the elite executives of his era.
From draft hits to bold trades and calculated risks, Schneider consistently pushed the right buttons. He capitalized on the Russell Wilson trade, identified undervalued veterans, and trusted his evaluations even when it meant moving on from popular players. Championships require courage, and Schneider displayed it repeatedly.
Winner: The Happy Couple
Yes, the wedding during the halftime show was real. In a night full of dominance and disappointment, it was the one moment where a lot of people walked away smiling.
