Patriots and Seahawks will kick off
Super Bowl festivities with the annual Opening Night media blitz
[February 02, 2026]
By ROB MAADDI
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Drake Maye and Sam Darnold will face a
different type of blitz at Super Bowl Opening Night.
Here comes the media frenzy: thousands of reporters from across the
globe gathered for a zany spectacle that kicks off the week’s
festivities on Monday night.
Maye and the New England Patriots (17-3) take on Darnold and the
Seattle Seahawks (16-3) on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San
Francisco 49ers.
First, they will meet more than 6,000 credentialed “reporters” who
will pepper them with questions ranging from the standard football
topics to the silly and off-beat stuff.
An event that began as a daytime introduction of the teams has
evolved into a live, ticketed, prime-time showcase on national
television.
Maybe someone will propose to Maye, like a female reporter dressed
in a wedding dress and veil once did to another Patriots
quarterback: Tom Brady.
Maye is already married and he’s here seeking a Super Bowl ring. The
Patriots are aiming for an NFL-record seventh Lombardi trophy and
first without Brady and coach Bill Belichick.
First-year coach Mike Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a
linebacker with New England, inherited a 4-13 team and has them on
the verge of their first championship parade in seven years.
Maye had a sensational sophomore season, becoming a finalist for the
AP NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards while leading the
Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl.
A stifling defense has led the way for the Patriots in the playoffs,
holding three opponents to just 8.7 points per game.
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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye arrives, Sunday, Feb. 1,
2026, in San Jose, Calif. ahead of the Super Bowl 60 football game
between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. (AP
Photo/Brynn Anderson)
This is a Super Bowl rematch from one of the most
memorable endings among the first 59. The Patriots beat the Seahawks
28-24 when Malcolm Butler picked off Russell Wilson’s pass from the
1 in the final minute on Feb. 1, 2015.
The Seahawks had the NFL’s stingiest defense this season, led by
tackle Leonard Williams, linebacker Ernest Jones IV and cornerback
Devon Witherspoon. Seattle allowed just 17.1 points per game.
But Darnold’s resurgence will be the top storyline of the week. A
No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets in 2018, Darnold is thriving
on his fifth team.
Despite winning 14 games with Minnesota in 2024, the Vikings let
Darnold walk away in free agency. He became the first quarterback to
lead two teams to consecutive 14-win seasons and has proved his
doubters wrong. Now, he’s trying to help Seattle win its second
Super Bowl in the franchise’s fourth appearance in the game.
At least Darnold has experienced this week’s shenanigans. He was a
backup quarterback to Brock Purdy when the 49ers lost to the Kansas
City Chiefs in the Super Bowl two years ago.
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