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Super Bowl 60 set for historic showdown
The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will face off in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday, marking one of the most unpredictable championship races in recent NFL history. The game, held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, will determine the league's 2025 champion at 23:30 GMT.
Patriots' resurgence after Brady and Belichick era
New England, a six-time Super Bowl winner, last claimed the title in 2019 under quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick. Since their departure, the Patriots have rebuilt under head coach Mike Vrabel, achieving a 10-win improvement from a 4-13 record last season to 14-3 this year. A victory would give New England a record 12th Super Bowl appearance and sole possession of the most titles, surpassing the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker, could become the first person to win a Super Bowl as both a player and head coach with the same franchise.
Seahawks aim for second title with British coach
Seattle, making its fourth Super Bowl appearance and first since 2015, is led by head coach Mike Macdonald, who could become the first overseas coach to win the NFL's championship. The Seahawks clinched the NFC's top seed with a 14-3 record, defeating divisional rivals San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs.
Quarterback Sam Darnold, once considered a draft bust, has revitalized his career in Seattle. After stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, Darnold became the first quarterback to record back-to-back 14-win seasons with different teams. His connection with receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the league in receiving yards, has been pivotal.
Seattle's defense, nicknamed the "Dark Side," has allowed the fewest points per game (17.2) this season, echoing the dominance of the team's 2014 "Legion of Boom" unit.
Historic milestones and underdog narratives
New England's Drake Maye, a 23-year-old quarterback and MVP candidate, will become the second-youngest starter in Super Bowl history. Maye, who attended the last Super Bowl at Levi's Stadium as a 13-year-old fan, aims to be the first second-year quarterback to win the title since Seattle's Russell Wilson in 2014.
Despite their regular-season success, the Patriots enter the game as underdogs for the first time since 2002, when Brady won his first championship. Seattle, meanwhile, is favored by bookmakers after dominating the ultra-competitive NFC West.
Half-time show and immigration controversies
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny will headline the half-time show, becoming the first solo male Latin artist to perform. His set, expected to be entirely in Spanish, follows criticism of U.S. immigration policies. Bad Bunny previously avoided performing in the U.S. due to concerns over ICE raids at his concerts.
Local officials and federal agencies have given conflicting statements about ICE's presence at the event, sparking protests in the Bay Area. The controversy follows recent fatal shootings by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who attended last year's Super Bowl, will skip the game, calling the performers' political stances "a terrible choice." An alternative half-time show is planned by conservative group Turning Point USA, though details remain unconfirmed.
How to watch and what's next
Super Bowl 60 will be broadcast live on Channel 5, Sky Sports, and DAZN in the UK, with radio coverage on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds. NBC will air the game in the U.S., where last year's event drew an average audience of 127.7 million.
Live text commentary begins at 22:00 GMT on the BBC Sport website and app. Fans can also catch up on the season via BBC Sport's weekly NFL program, The Whole 10 Yards.
