Seahawks face challenges to repeat as Super Bowl champions

By ANDREW DESTIN AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO — Less than 24 hours removed from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for the first time, Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald was aware of his team’s new standing across the league.

After beating the New England Patriots, 29-13, on Sunday to win the team’s second Super Bowl, the Seahawks will now have to avoid becoming complacent if they are to join other NFL franchises that have won back-to-back championships.

“We use the term chasing edges here in Seattle. You have to live like that,” Macdonald said. “You can’t be copying anybody else. We want to be on the forefront of things. We know that we’re target No. 1 now.”

Before the Kansas City Chiefs won consecutive Super Bowls following the 2022 and 2023 seasons, it had been nearly two decades since a franchise secured back-to-back championships. The Seahawks will not only have their work cut out to do so in a competitive NFC West that features the Rams and the San Francisco 49ers, both of whom were playoff teams in 2025.

Seattle’s coaching staff will look a little different next season, since offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak confirmed he will be the next Las Vegas Raiders head coach during an on-field interview Sunday night. It is believed the Seahawks’ next offensive coordinator will be an internal hire.

There’s also a possibility that Seattle’s vaunted “Dark Side” defense won’t be quite as stout during the 2026 season.

Defensive starters such as safety Coby Bryant, cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen and edge rusher Boye Mafe will all be unrestricted free agents this offseason.

And there’s no telling whether veterans such as Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence, both of whom are past the age of 30, will be quite as dominant on the defensive line next fall.

“The sad part about it is after tonight, who knows where other guys are going to be,” linebacker Derick Hall said Sunday. “Hopefully we can keep this thing together and keep this thing rolling.”

The Seahawks’ offense, ranked fifth in the NFL in scoring in the regular season, could have significant player turnover, too. Kenneth Walker III is headed into free agency as a Super Bowl MVP.

Walker, who was drafted by the Seahawks in 2022, said he would “definitely” like to return to the franchise when asked Monday morning about his pending free agency. If Sunday’s showing was his last in a Seattle uniform, though, Walker was pretty satisfied with it.

“I’m Super Bowl MVP,” Walker said, “So, I’m happy.”

If Walker elects to sign elsewhere, Seattle president of football operations John Schneider will have to determine whether he can count on Zach Charbonnet as the top running back. Charbonnet injured his knee in the divisional round, but told The Associated Press on Sunday he hopes to play during the 2026 season.

“Oh yeah,” Charbonnet said. “I’ll be back. I’ll be back.”

It remains to be seen whether the Seahawks will be back in the Super Bowl, let alone the playoffs, in 2026. After Sunday’s win, Schneider preached humility considering the challenge of sustaining success in the NFL.

But, the Seahawks have a few cornerstones in place for the foreseeable future.

Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, is signed through the 2026 season.

Sam Darnold has proved himself in Seattle and is one of the team leaders for the Seahawks.

“We’re all rooting for people like that, right?” Schneider said. “This guy, he was the third pick in the draft for a reason. The resilience, he’s a resilient guy. And I think that’s been the reflection of our team, too.”

The Seahawks set the franchise mark for wins in the regular season (14) and total (17) this season. Still, the odds are against the Seahawks to win Super Bowl 61.

But, such a sentiment was nowhere to be found amongst Seattle’s players following Sunday’s victory that cemented the team as one of the greatest in franchise history.

“Of course,” Hall said about repeating as champions. “That’s the ultimate goal.”

PATRIOTS BELIEVE THEY CAN RETURN, WIN TITLES

Just as Patriots coach Mike Vrabel had done throughout his team’s surprise run to the NFL’s biggest stage, he made sure he was the first person to offer hugs to his players as they exited the field following Sunday’s loss.

Yes, the Patriots fell short of capturing a record seventh Lombardi Trophy.

But this season they showed that they have the coach, quarterback and the culture in place to continue to put this version of the franchise in position to add another one soon.

“That’s what motivates you,” second-year quarterback Drake Maye said. “That’s what we talk about in the locker room. That’s what fuels you.”

When Patriots owner Robert Kraft set out to course-correct after firing Jerod Mayo just a year into his effort to succeed Bill Belichick, he said only that he wanted to find a coach that could put the team in position to qualify for the playoffs in short order.

Enter Vrabel, who helped put together a roster that transformed the defense and put some much-needed playmaking ability around Maye.

That included bringing back a familiar face in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to give Maye not only someone he could learn from, but that he could trust.

The result was a regular season in which Maye was given the scheme and freedom to be himself. He used it to put together a season where he was the league’s most efficient passer on the way to finishing second in league MVP voting.

The run brought back goodwill with an impatient Patriots fan base that became used to being in the Super Bowl mix during the era led by Tom Brady and Belichick.

They just need to make some adjustments, particularly on the offensive line, following a poor Super Bowl performance.

But it’s a task the players are ready to attack for a coach who has shown them what is possible in New England again.

The biggest thing Maye leaves this season with is confidence. He drilled down on finding the balance between not “being a check-down Charlie” and throwing the deep ball.

He is now able to keep defenses off balance and has the receivers who can turn shorter routes into long gains.

The offensive line made some strides from Maye’s rookie season when he was sacked 34 times. But that number increased to 47 this season following the addition of veteran right tackle Morgan Moses and rookie left guard Jared Wilson. And a Super Bowl where Maye was sacked six times showed there is still need for improvement. Look for it to be a focus this offseason.

Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson showed why the Patriots felt he was worthy of a second-round draft pick. While he was a liability in pass protection at times, with four rushing TDs of more than 50 yards he added a needed dimension to the offense.

Rookie left tackle Will Campbell promised to fight and die to protect Maye when he was drafted at No. 4 in 2025. But a change to guard could be in order after he gave up a Super Bowl-record 14 pressures.

Maye didn’t miss a start this season. Still, the injury to his throwing shoulder he sustained in the AFC championship game will be something to watch. He acknowledged getting a shot of pain medication in it prior to the Super Bowl that numbed it so he could play.

AP sports writer Kyle Hightower contributed to this story.