Sam Darnold led the Seattle Seahawks to a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60.
Darnold is the first quarterback from the 2018 draft class to win a Super Bowl.
He completed half of his 38 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown with no turnovers in the game.
Darnold’s teammates praised his resilience and leadership after a career that has included stints with four other NFL teams.

SANTA CLARA, CA – “That was fun.”

Those were the first words uttered by Sam Darnold, who looked as if he’d barely broken a sweat, as he approached his postgame riser Sunday evening, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback a Super Bowl champion for the first time in his singular eight-year career after his team’s 29-13 beatdown of the New England Patriots.

Couldn’t have been much fun for the New York Jets. Or Carolina Panthers. Or Minnesota Vikings. Those NFL franchises have all had Darnold on their roster at some point during his peripatetic career but don’t now. Those clubs have also combined for zero Lombardi Trophies since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger … and will carry that collective doughnut for another year while Darnold, now a two-time Pro Bowler, is fitted for his first ring.

Sunday also couldn’t have been all that much fun for Baker Mayfield. Or Josh Allen. Or Lamar Jackson. Like Darnold, they were all first-round drafts picks in 2018. Unlike Darnold, who was also a member of the San Francisco 49ers when they were NFC champions in 2023, that trio has combined to win three league MVP awards … while making zero Super Sunday appearances.

“I didn’t not believe that I would be (the first 2018 QB champion),” Darnold smiled. “It’s special, man. And it’s not about that – to me, it’s never been about that. I’m just doing the best that I can. Because, every single day, I want to be the best quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks – that’s really what it comes down to.”

Mission basically accomplished.

Darnold didn’t exactly deliver a signature performance Sunday, completing half of his 38 throws for 202 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown strike to tight end AJ Barner that broke the game open in the fourth quarter.

Yet Darnold also bucked his early career reputation for carelessness with the ball that carried over from his time at USC – instead protecting the pigskin, not committing a turnover (he didn’t have one in the playoffs after leading the NFL with 20 in the regular season) and only taking one sack. Meanwhile, his New England counterpart, Drake Maye – an MVP finalist in 2025 – had three giveaways while getting bagged six times by Seattle’s swarming defense, not that Maye could be blamed for the constant jailbreaks he faced.

“I didn’t have my best stuff today, but the team had my back – our defense and special teams,” said Darnold, whose unspectacular performance was perfectly sufficient for a Seattle juggernaut that didn’t need anything more from him.

“We just played how we always play, we were resilient and we came out on top. So, it was pretty special.”

Yet his success was also special for Seahawks players who have universally come to adore their quarterback even though he hasn’t been on the roster for even 11 months.

“Unbelievable story. I don’t think there’s a quarterback in NFL history that’s done what he’s done – to go through the things that he’s had to go through,” said wide receiver Cooper Kupp. “To believe in himself, to overcome everyone that told him that he wasn’t that guy anymore, that he couldn’t be a starter.

‘I’m so thankful I got to know who Sam Darnold is as a person, because it explains everything that’s happened in his career.”

Added kicker Jason Myers, a teammate of Darnold during his rookie year with the Jets: “He’s just one of the guys, he’s just great in the locker room. I knew he’d fit in right away when we signed him here.”

And with two years left on his contract and a loaded team at his back, perhaps this only the beginning of Darnold’s dominant era.

“I don’t think it’s really hit me yet, to be honest with you,” Darnold said of his career-defining moment to date.

“But it’s special – this group is why it’s special, the connection all of us have as players, the love that we have for each other.”

Plenty happened in the past two weeks in the NHL, including the Columbus Blue Jackets surging under new coach Rick Bowness.

But the NHL is on the Olympic break, so let’s look ahead instead of backward.

The league’s players are going to the Winter Games for the first time since 2014. Every NHL team will send at least one representative and every country except Italy will have one NHL player.

This version of the NHL power rankings will rate teams based on their performance and it will have an Olympic theme with one Olympian to watch per team.

Here are the latest USA TODAY Sports NHL power rankings:

NHL power rankings

(Number in parentheses indicates the change from the previous rankings of two weeks ago)

1. Colorado Avalanche (0)

Forward Brock Nelson, USA: Nathan MacKinnon is a Hart Trophy candidate (plus MVP of the 4 Nations Face-Off) and Cale Makar is a Norris Trophy candidate. Two-way player Nelson, though, has 29 goals this season and on a U.S. team that chose not to bring Cole Caufield, Jason Robertson and Alex DeBrincat, he can provide some of that offense.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning (0)

Defenseman Victor Hedman, Sweden: The skilled defenseman recently returned from his second injury of the season and was ramping up his ice time. The alternate captain will need to be on top of his game.

3. Minnesota Wild (+2)

Defenseman Quinn Hughes, USA: Hughes was injured before the 4 Nations Face-Off and wasn’t able to play. His presence will help a U.S. team that fell one goal short of a championship in the 2025 tournament.

4. Carolina Hurricanes (-1)

Forward Nikolaj Ehlers, Denmark: He’s a speedster and has 43 points this season. Denmark has only three regular NHL players among its skaters.

5. Dallas Stars (+1)

Defenseman Miro Heiskanen, Finland: He missed the 4 Nations Face-Off with an injury and Finland missed him. He has twice as many points as the No. 2 defenseman on Finland, his Stars defensive partner Esa Lindell.

6. Pittsburgh Penguins (+3)

Forward Sidney Crosby, Canada: He scored the golden goal in 2010 and scored in the championship game in 2014. He’s still putting up big points at 38 and was named Canada’s captain.

7. Montreal Canadiens (+3)

Forward Juraj Slafkovsky, Slovakia: He was MVP of the 2022 Olympics, which did not feature NHL players. Slafkovsky finished with seven goals and a bronze medal. He was drafted No. 1 overall that year and is the top Slovakian NHL scorer with 45 points.

8. Detroit Red Wings (-4)

Defenseman Moritz Seider, Germany: He’s the only NHL defenseman on Team Germany and is on pace for his best overall season.

9. Buffalo Sabres (-2)

Forward Tage Thompson, USA: Thompson was a potential injury replacement for the 4 Nations Face-Off but wasn’t needed. His size, speed and stickhandling ability will make a difference for the USA at the Olympics. It did in the world championships when he scored the clinching goal as the Americans won a rare gold medal.

10. Boston Bruins (+1)

Forward David Pastrnak, Czechia: He’s the most dynamic Czech scorer and he’ll be counted on even more with Bruins teammate Pavel Zacha missing the tournament with an injury.

11. Vegas Golden Knights (-3)

Forward Mitch Marner, Canada: He set up Connor McDavid’s clinching goal in the 4 Nations Face-Off.

12. New York Islanders (0)

Forward Bo Horvat, Canada: He was the Islanders’ lone representative until the team traded for Ondrej Palat, and Horvat was injured soon after Canada’s announcement. But he’s back and heading to the Olympics on a high note. He was second star of the week with five points in three games, including a pair of game-winners.

13. Columbus Blue Jackets (+9)

Defenseman Zach Werenski, USA: He brings a lot of offense from the back end, with 20 goals this season, second among NHL defensemen and first among those at the Olympics.

14. Utah Mammoth (0)

Goalie Karel Vejmelka, Czechia: Anaheim’s Lukas Dostal is likely the No. 1 goalie, but Vejmelka has put together several long runs this season.

15. Seattle Kraken (+5)

Goalie Philipp Grubauer, Germany: Grubauer is having a bounce-back season and should be able to provide steady goaltending on a team that could get plenty of goals.

16. Anaheim Ducks (+1)

Forward Mikael Granlund, Finland: He’s the captain of Team Finland, which is missing Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov. Barkov is irreplaceable, so all of Finland’s forwards will need to step up.

17. Ottawa Senators (-8)

Forward Brady Tkachuk, USA: He had a two-goal game in the 4 Nations Face-Off and though he can’t fight at the Olympics like he did in last year’s tournament, he’ll provide a disruptive presence.

18. Edmonton Oilers (-3)

Forward Connor McDavid, Canada: McDavid and Germany’s Leon Draisaitl, the team’s lone representatives, are equally important to their countries. McDavid’s overtime winner at the 4 Nations gives him an edge.

19. Washington Capitals (+5)

Forward Tom Wilson, Canada: He earned a spot with his 23 goals, his penalty killing and his physical play. But he might have to temper his big hits because the International Ice Hockey Federation uses different standards.

20. Toronto Maple Leafs (+1)

Forward Auston Matthews, USA: The Americans named him captain. If the pure goal scorer can produce at the Olympics, it would help his reputation after playoff disappointments and the lack of a goal at the 4 Nations.

21. Philadelphia Flyers (-5)

Goaltender Dan Vladar, Czechia: No guarantee he sees action, but he did have a 1.09 goals-against average and .951 save percentage in the 2025 world championships.

22. Los Angeles Kings (-3)

Defenseman Drew Doughty, Canada: He doesn’t put up the big numbers anymore, but he did win gold medals in 2010 and 2014.

23. Florida Panthers (-10)

Forward Matthew Tkachuk, USA: Look at the description of brother Brady Tkachuk, then add back-to-back Stanley Cup titles to his resume. He wasn’t able to finish the championship game in the 4 Nations, scored 23 points with a torn adductor muscle in the playoffs and recently returned from offseason surgery.

24. San Jose Sharks (-6)

Forward Macklin Celebrini, Canada: Celebrini is having a spectacular sophomore season, has been mentioned as an MVP candidate and skated on a line with McDavid during the first Olympic practice.

25. Nashville Predators (+1)

Goalie Juuse Saros, Finland: He will be the Finns’ go-to goalie. He didn’t have a good 4 Nations but followed that up with a strong world championships.

26. New Jersey Devils (-3)

Forward Nico Hischier, Switzerland: The Devils captain is also the Swiss captain and a solid two-way player.

27. Chicago Blackhawks (0)

Forward Teuvo Teravainen, Finland: Connor Bedard didn’t make Team Canada and Teravainen is the Blackhawks’ lone Olympian. His numbers are off this season.

28. Calgary Flames (+2)

Forward Martin Pospisil, Czechia: He’s the Flames’ lone representative after the trade of Rasmus Andersson. He has no points in seven games with the Flames.

29. Winnipeg Jets (-1)

Goalie Connor Hellebuyck, USA: He was the No. 1 American goalie at the 4 Nations. But which goalie is the USA getting? The one who won the last two Vezina trophies and the 2024-25 Hart Trophy? Or the one who was pulled on the road in the playoffs and whose numbers are off this season?

30. New York Rangers (-1)

Forward Mika Zibanejad, Sweden: The Rangers have been a mess this season and already have been sellers. Zibanejad has been one of their better players and recently performed on a big stage with a record five points in the Winter Classic.

31. St. Louis Blues (0)

Goalie Jordan Binnington, Canada: He led Canada to a 4 Nations championship and won a Stanley Cup in 2019. But he has struggled this season as have the Blues. Does he rebound behind a better team?

32. Vancouver Canucks (0)

Forward Elias Pettersson, Sweden: His star has faded the past couple seasons and he was held without a point in the 4 Nations. A rebound in the Olympics could help restore his reputation.

Four-time Olympian Madison Chock has deep family roots in Hawai’i.
Chock was inspired to start skating by fellow Californian and Asian-American athlete Michelle Kwan.
She and her ice dance partner, Evan Bates, are three-time world champions and seven-time U.S. champions.
Chock and Bates, who recently married in Hawai’i, are seeking their first Olympic ice dance medal.

MILAN — With her panda bear in her hand, 5-year-old Madison Chock made a proclamation to her cousin.

“I’m going to go to the Olympics!” she exclaimed.

Very ambitious of a child, and certainly got a laugh out of parents Wes and Barbara Chock. They didn’t have an idea the enjoyment they shared over figure skating that began “way before she was born” would eventually capture the attention of their daughter. She had just started learning to skate and was already making declarations to family.

But flash forward about 28 years later and it’s clear it wasn’t some young, wishful thought. That determined, fierce nature displayed on the ice has always been there.

Chock said she was going to go to the Olympics. Well, how about four of them?

“It really has been a journey and incredible,” Barbara Chock told USA TODAY Sports.

Watch Olympics figure skating on Peacock

An ice dance journey that begins in an unexpected place: Hawai’i. 

Wes is from the islands, born on the big island and lived in Maui and Oahu, and eventually met Barbara on an airplane. She moved to Hawai’i, danced hula and was even a backup singer for iconic Hawaiian singer Don Ho. 

They moved to California, where Madison was born, but kept that Hawaiian culture ingrained in their daughter’s life, starting off with the middle names of La’akea – sacred light from heaven in Hawaiian – and Te-Lan – unique orchid in Chinese – to honor her backgrounds.

Even though she wasn’t a kama’aina – a Hawaiian resident – Madison loved visiting and connecting with the islands. Grandma, grandpa and all the cousins were there. Wes would visit often, and Madison typically tagged along, where she was at the beach “all the time,” her dad noted.

“She just grew up loving Hawai’i,” Barbara said. “We’d go every chance we could.”

Madison spent countless hours connecting with her roots, accustomed to the sand and waves of Hawai’i while something special was building on the ice in the mainland.

Her interest in figure skating piqued with a pioneer Asian-American athlete also from California: Michelle Kwan. Madison asked her mom “Can you teach me that?” They couldn’t really, so they put her in lessons. 

It was evident early on there was something different. As other kids cried or didn’t enjoy learning, Madison didn’t complain. She just wanted more. Before they knew it, what started as once a week classes turned into six days a week.

“I said, ‘Oh, she looks different on the ice. She just kind of glides across the ice. Her arms were so pretty,” Barbara said. “I told Wes that’s something different.”

That eventually led to the Chocks moving to Michigan to pursue ice dance, and it was anything but an ordinary move. Madison made it to their new home state, but her parents took turns watching her, while the other was back in California packing everything up. 

The craziness didn’t stop there. Wes and Barbara transferred jobs to the Midwest, but to Chicago. So that meant commuting from the Detroit area to Chicago for work, all so Madison could evolve her ice dance career.

Sacrifices all made worth it. With partner Greg Zuerlein, the pair were junior grand prix, world and U.S. champions by the time she was age 17. Her partnership with Evan Bates began in 2011 and together they became one of the greatest American ice dance pairs in history.

Three-time world champions. Three-time grand prix champions. A record seven-time U.S. champions. A historic figure skater, while never forgetting what molded her. 

During their dominant run, Chock and Bates skated at the rink Ice Palace in Honolulu – the only ice rink in the state – in 2014 and 2015, showcasing their talents at a place not known for figure skating. Chock also got to meet the young skaters she was inspiring, as Wes recalled how many were excited to see her.

“I take my Hawaiian roots very seriously,” Chock said. “They’re so near and dear to my heart.” 

It was the perfect place for the couple to tie the knot: They got married in 2024 at Lanikūhonua Cultural Institute on the west side of Oahu. All during this, Bates learned quickly how connected people are on islands. In true Hawaiian ohana fashion, Chock’s cousin manages the rink. 

“It feels like there are Chocks all over Hawai’i,” Bates said.

The Chocks and Hawai’i will be watching the 2026 Winter Olympics as the fourth trip is expected to be the last for the girl who said she would make it. With team gold in hand, captured on Sunday night, Chock and Bates are now going for the only accolade missing from their storied careers: an Olympic ice dance medal, with a great chance of it being gold. 

Barbara said it will be a bittersweet experience in Milano Cortina. Of course, Barbara and Wes are proud of everything their daughter has achieved. But most of all, “we’re most proud that she’s a really nice, nice person.”

The pair have said several times they feel like they are hitting their stride at the right time. They haven’t said this is the end, but it would be the perfect way to cap it off if it is.

If they do capture that long desired ice dance Olympic medal, what better way than to celebrate back on the islands? Now that marriage ties have made it feel a little bit more like home for Bates, he is certain “we’ll spend more time on the islands.”

The Milano Ice Skating Arena will be the setting for Chock to display that determined, fierce spirit she’s had since she vowed to be on this stage. A stage on which she’ll be able to show off the cultural background that shaped her — guided her every step of the way.

“It’s a joy to be a part of and I’m really happy to have that fusion of Hawai’i and a winter sport together,” Chock said. “It means so much to us to be able to showcase and have that representation of Hawai’i on the ice.”

SANTA CLARA, CA – Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte sat quietly by each other in a somber New England Patriots postgame locker room.

The Seahawks’ ‘Dark Side’ defense had just turned the lights out on the Patriots in a 29-13 Super Bowl 60 victory.

“We struggled. Some plays we probably want back. We didn’t play our best. We lost. Got to take it on the chin,” Diggs said. “They played a better game. That was a good (expletive) team we played.”

Super Bowl 60’s final score wasn’t even indicative of what transpired on the field. The Patriots were held scoreless through the first three quarters. New England’s offense was neutralized until it scored 13 points and gained 253 yards in what essentially was a futile fourth quarter with the game already decided. The Patriots offense never got within Seattle’s 40-yard line prior to the final quarter.

“They have a hell of a defense. One of the top defenses in the league,” Diggs said. “They are fast in the back end, they have fast backers and they got a good interior.”

The irony of Seattle’s Super Bowl 60 win is that Drake Maye was the one seeing ghosts.

Sam Darnold, notoriously known for his ‘seeing ghosts’ comment, was the quarterback who managed the game, took what the defense gave him and avoided costly turnovers.

Maye was the quarterback that had multiple errant throws, an ill-advised interception to Seahawks safety Julian Love and a pick-six to linebacker Uchenna Nwosu.

“I’d like to go back to the beginning and redo it,” Maye said. “There are so many plays that can decide and change the game. I had an (interception) returned for a touchdown. There were plays in the first half where I feel like I could’ve made a better throw or make a better decision. It really just comes down to who makes the plays and who doesn’t. They made plays tonight.”

Maye completed 27-of-43 passes for 295 yards (235 yards coming in the fourth quarter) to go with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Maye was sacked six times and fumbled once. According to Next Gen Stats, the Seahawks generated a 52.8% pressure rate, the highest in a Super Bowl since at least 2018.

“It definitely hurts,” Maye said. “It’s been a long ride. They played better than us (Sunday). They deserved to win that game.”

What might hurt New England even more is the fact its defense played well enough to win … until things went off the rails in the fourth quarter. Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III was the sole provider of consistent offense and kicker Jason Myers’ four field goals were the only points given up through three quarters. But when Darnold tossed a 16-yard touchdown to tight end AJ Barner to put the Patriots in a 19-0 hole, the deficit was insurmountable.

“It’s tough,” Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams told USA TODAY Sports. “We just didn’t make enough plays to win the game. We didn’t make enough plays when we needed to.”

The Super Bowl loss won’t quiet critics who were up in arms about the Patriots’ strength of schedule this season. New England had the NFL’s easiest schedule (in terms of opponent combined win percentage). Then the Pats defeated a Los Angeles Chargers team with a patchwork offensive line, a turnover-happy C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans without Nico Collins, and a Bo Nix-less Denver Broncos club in a blizzard en route to Super Bowl 60.

There’s no guarantee that they’ll make it back to the NFL’s ultimate game. The AFC figures to be better in 2026 and the conference’s postseason featured no Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. But the Patriots spent over $200 million in guaranteed money on free agents in 2025. Most of their impact players will return next season and they have invaluable Super Bowl experience to go along with the agony of defeat.

“It’s definitely gonna sting. It’s gonna sting all the way up to the start of next year. But I’m proud of the guys. I’m proud of this team,” Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez said. “All year nobody believed in us. … To make it to where we were, is a testament to our work. We came up short. Every year a team loses the Super Bowl.”

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin are teaming up again.

The newest Olympic champion and the two-time Olympic gold medalist are paired for the team combined, which they won at last year’s world championships. The event includes one run of downhill, which Johnson will do, and one run of slalom, which Shiffrin will do.

The other teams for the race on Tuesday, Feb. 10 are:

Jackie Wiles (downhill) and Paula Moltzan (slalom)

Bella Wright (downhill) and Nina O’Brien (slalom)

Keely Cashman (downhill) and A.J. Hurt (slalom)

U.S. Skiing created the teams based on results, which could have meant a highly anticipated pairing of Lindsey Vonn and Shiffrin, two of the most successful Alpine skiers in history. Shiffrin, the all-time leader with 108 World Cup wins, leads the overall and slalom season standings. Vonn, whose 84 World Cup wins trail only Shiffrin and Ingemar Stenmark, leads the downhill standings.

But Vonn broke her left leg in a crash during Sunday’s downhill. Johnson won gold in the race, elevating her to the top spot among the U.S. downhillers.

‘I’m really excited for the team combined. I’m excited to get another crack down the slope,’ Johnson said after winning gold on Sunday, Feb. 8, joining Vonn as the only American women to win the Olympic downhill title.

‘I think it could be a really good event for us,’ Johnson added.

It gives Johnson a chance to duplicate what she did at last year’s worlds. She won the downhill title before pairing with Shiffrin to win the inaugural team combined event.

‘The vibe around it, teaming up and feeling like we’re doing it together, was so cool,’ Shiffrin said last year after they won.

Shiffrin and Johnson have been friends since they were children, and Johnson credits Shiffrin and her mother Eileen for encouraging her to keep going early in her career.

‘In many ways, I don’t know if I would be sitting here without Mikaela because she and her family took me under their wing and allowed me to have confidence in myself,’ Johnson said last fall. ‘We were both very intense kids. People were like, ‘Breezy, you need to chill out. You need to have more fun.’ And I was like, `I don’t understand. I just really like skiing and I like competing and I like getting better.’ And I wasn’t getting anybody who was telling me that.

‘(Mikaela) was like, ‘There’s nothing wrong with you. Keep doing what you’re doing.’ And her mom was like, `No, there’s tons of kids out here. They’re having fun and some of them may be good, but if you do that you will not be good,” Johnson recalled. ‘And that helped me to be like, no, I’m going to be intense. I’m going to be serious. And if people say that that’s wrong, that’s on them.’

Now both are Olympic champions, with the possibility of winning more gold.

American skier Lindsey Vonn’s story of determination ended Sunday at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Vonn suffered a torn ACL injury in the days leading up to her fifth Olympics appearance.

Vonn decided to compete for Team USA despite the injury, but she suffered a crash during the women’s downhill ski event final and needed to be airlifted to a hospital.

A replay of the crash was shown during the NBC broadcast in the moments that followed the conclusion of Super Bowl 60. The broadcast was edited down, spending just three minutes on Vonn, from the start of her race at the gate to her being airlifted off the course and taken to a hospital.

The three-minute window also included two replays and showed the reactions from some of her peers who were also competing.

She was in stable condition and underwent surgery for a broken left leg.

Just here for the commercials?

Super Bowl ads are as big a part of the annual tradition as buffalo wings, with brands shelling out enormous sums – over $10 million in 2026 – to secure commercial space during the big game.

Since 1989, USA TODAY Ad Meter has let viewers judge all the game’s national commercials, helping decide the best every year. Budweiser won the contest for the ninth time last year – and 15th overall for Anheuser-Busch – by bringing back their beloved Clydesdale horses.

This year’s commercial slate includes plenty of familiar national brands but fans should expect to learn about a bunch of new companies and products, with the AI and weight-loss drug industries set to each air multiple ads.

Here’s a look back at 2026’s Super Bowl commercials:

Rate the best and worst Super Bowl ads!

Good Will Dunkin’ Super Bowl ad

Lay’s Super Bowl commercial

Budweiser Super Bowl commercial goes ‘Free Bird’

Ring Super Bowl commercial

Sabrina Carpenter Pringles commercial

Poppi Charli XCX Super Bowl commercial

Mr Beast Super Bowl commercial

Cadillac Formula 1 Super Bowl commercial

Hims Super Bowl commercial

Hellmann’s Super Bowl commercial

Coinbase Super Bowl commercial

Liquid IV Super Bowl commercial

Levi’s Super Bowl commercial

Marshawn Lynch Super Bowl commercial

Svedka Super Bowl commercial

Volkswagen Super Bowl commercial

Redfin Rocket Mortgage Super Bowl commercial

Kurt Russell Michelob Super Bowl commercial

Claude Super Bowl commercial Anthropic AI

OpenAI Super Bowl commercial

Bon Jovi in State Farm Super Bowl commercial

DraftKings Super Bowl commercial

Jurassic Park Super Bowl commercial

Matthew McConaughey Uber Eats Super Bowl ad

Bud Light Super Bowl commercial

Toyota Super Bowl commercial

Ben Stiller Super Bowl commercial: Instacart

How much does a Super Bowl commercial cost?

All those eyes aren’t cheap for advertisers, and the cost of some national 30-second commercials during Super Bowl 60 have topped $10 million, according to Bloomberg – a huge jump from the $8 million that brands shelled out just one year ago.

Super Bowl commercial by year

Super Bowl I, 1967 – $37,500
Super Bowl II, 1968 – $54,500
Super Bowl III, 1969 – $55,000
Super Bowl IV, 1970 – $78,200
Super Bowl V, 1971 – $72,500
Super Bowl VI, 1972 – $86,100
Super Bowl VII, 1973 – $88,100
Super Bowl VIII, 1974 – $103,500
Super Bowl IX, 1975 – $107,000
Super Bowl X, 1976 – $110,000
Super Bowl XI, 1977 – $125,000
Super Bowl XII, 1978 –$162,300
Super Bowl XIII, 1979 – $185,000
Super Bowl XIV, 1980 – $222,000
Super Bowl XV, 1981 – $275,000
Super Bowl XVI, 1982 – $324,300
Super Bowl XVII, 1983 – $400,000
Super Bowl XVIII, 1984 – $368,200
Super Bowl XIX, 1985 – $525,000
Super Bowl XX, 1986 – $550,000
Super Bowl XXI, 1987 – $600,000
Super Bowl XXII, 1988 – $645,500
Super Bowl XXIII, 1989 – $675,500
Super Bowl XXIV, 1990 – $700,400
Super Bowl XXV, 1991 – $800,000
Super Bowl XXVI, 1992 – $850,000
Super Bowl XXVII, 1993 – $850,000
Super Bowl XXVIII, 1994 – $900,000
Super Bowl XXIX, 1995 – $1.15 million
Super Bowl XXX, 1996 – $1.085 million
Super Bowl XXXI, 1997 – $1.2 million
Super Bowl XXXII, 1998 – $1.29 million
Super Bowl XXXIII, 1999 – $1.6 million
Super Bowl XXXIV, 2000 – $2.1 million
Super Bowl XXXV, 2001 – $2.2 million
Super Bowl XXXVI, 2002 – $2.2 million
Super Bowl XXXVII, 2003 – $2.2 million
Super Bowl XXXVIII, 2004 – $2.3 million
Super Bowl XXXIX, 2005 – $2.4 million
Super Bowl XL, 2006 – $2.5 million
Super Bowl XLI, 2007 – $2.385 million
Super Bowl XLII, 2008 – $2.699 million
Super Bowl XLIII, 2009 – $2.999 million
Super Bowl XLIV, 2010 – $2.954 million
Super Bowl XLV, 2011 – $3.1 million
Super Bowl XLVI, 2012 – $3.5 million
Super Bowl XLVII, 2013 – $3.8 million
Super Bowl XLVIII, 2014 – $4 million
Super Bowl XLIX, 2015 – $4.25 million
Super Bowl 50, 2016 – $4.5 million
Super Bowl LI, 2017 – $5 million
Super Bowl LII, 2018 – $5.2 million
Super Bowl LIII, 2019 – $5.3 million
Super Bowl LIV, 2020 – $5.6 million
Super Bowl LV, 2021 – $5.5 milllion
Super Bowl LVI, 2022 – $6.5 million
Super Bowl LVII, 2023 – $7 million
Super Bowl LVIII, 2024 – $7 million
Super Bowl LIX, 2025 – $8 million
Super Bowl 60, 2026 – $10 million

SANTA CLARA, CA – Kenneth Walker III’s impressive playoff run was punctuated with a Lombardi Trophy and a Super Bowl MVP.

Walker provided consistent offense in what was a defensive battle throughout the 29-13 win. The Seahawks running back rushed 27 times for 135 yards. He registered 161 yards from scrimmage in the victory.

Walker’s ground total was the most rushing yards by a player in the Super Bowl since Terrell Davis romped for 157 yards in Super Bowl 32. He’s also the first running back to win Super Bowl MVP since Davis won the award in Super Bowl 32.

Buy Seahawks championship posters, gear

Walker found room to run against a stout Patriots defense and was tough to tackle.

The MVP award capped off a superb postseason campaign for Walker. He amassed more than 100 yards from scrimmage in all three of Seattle’s playoff games. Including the regular season, and produced at least 100 yards from scrimmage in four straight games. It’s the longest such streak of his career.

Walker had a 30-yard run and a 29-yard scamper in the second quarter that set up a successful Jason Myers field goal. The running back had a catch and run that went for 20 yards in the third quarter that led to another Myers field goal which extended the Seahawks’ lead, 12-0.  

The Seahawks running back averaged five yards per carry.

Walker’s contract is set to expire this offseason. But the running back proved his worth throughout the postseason and underscored his value in Super Bowl 60.

Seattle’s win now gives the franchise two Super Bowl titles.

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The dust has now settled on the 2025 NFL season, as the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl 60 to capture their second-ever Lombardi Trophy.

With a winner now determined in that contest, NFL fans will eagerly look ahead to next season, which is shaping up to bring a lot of change.

Already, 10 NFL teams have hired new coaches. Soon, clubs will make major changes to their rosters through free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft, hoping to shape themselves into contenders for what figures to be another wide-open playoff race.

Of course, many teams will also be looking to get healthier during the offseason. Notably, the Kansas City Chiefs will be hoping Patrick Mahomes can quickly recover from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 16 while the Indianapolis Colts will have to make a decision about Daniel Jones in free agency and hope he can recover from a torn Achilles in time to start Week 1.

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Add in the uncertainty surrounding veteran players like Kirk Cousins, Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa and Aaron Rodgers, and the NFL’s quarterback carousel could spin at a dizzying pace this offseason.

All that potential change makes it difficult to prognosticate exactly who should win the Super Bowl next season. Here’s an early look at the Super Bowl 61 odds for every NFL team as the league’s 2025 season and playoffs wind to a close.

Super Bowl 61 odds

The Seahawks (+950) and Rams (+950) are co-favorites to win Super Bowl 61, according to odds from DraftKings Sportsbook. They are the only teams to boast better than 10-1 odds to win the Lombardi Trophy.

The Baltimore Ravens (+1300) have the shortest Super Bowl odds among teams that failed to make the playoffs last season. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins – who each changed coaches during the offseason and are dealing with questions at the quarterback position – are tied with the longest odds to win the 2027 Super Bowl.

Below is a full look at the latest odds to win Super Bowl 61:

Seattle Seahawks (+950)
Los Angeles Rams (+950)
Buffalo Bills (+1100)
Philadelphia Eagles (+1300)
New England Patriots (+1300)
Baltimore Ravens (+1300)
Los Angeles Chargers (+1400)
Green Bay Packers (+1400)
Detroit Lions (+1400)
Kansas City Chiefs (+1500)
San Francisco 49ers (+1700)
Houston Texans (+1900)
Denver Broncos (+1900)
Jacksonville Jaguars (+2000)
Chicago Bears (+2500)
Cincinnati Bengals (+2800)
Dallas Cowboys (+3500)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+4000)
Washington Commanders (+6000)
Pittsburgh Steelers (+6000)
Minnesota Vikings (+6000)
Indianapolis Colts (+6000)
New York Giants (+7000)
Atlanta Falcons (+8000)
Tennessee Titans (+10000)
New Orleans Saints (+10000)
Carolina Panthers (+10000)
Cleveland Browns (+15000)
New York Jets (+18000)
Las Vegas Raiders (+18000)
Miami Dolphins (+20000)
Arizona Cardinals (+20000)

SANTA CLARA, CA — Super Bowl 60 was disrupted early in the fourth quarter when a fan bolted onto the field. 

A shirtless man ran on from the direction of the Seattle Seahawks end zone, briefly forcing a pause in the action. He ran a good length of the field as security tried to converge on him but actually split them on the opposite half of the field, spreading his arms in a victorious pose as he continued his sprint. As he approach another pocket of guards deploying to stop him, Patriots receiver Kyle Williams left his huddle and jogged toward the man in what appeared to be a half-hearted attempt to stop him. 

Williams stood near the fan as security finally apprehended the fan around the 10-yard line and took him away. 

Fan on the field at Super Bowl 60

Coincidentally or not, the Patriots scored their first points of the night on a touchdown pass to Mack Hollins shortly thereafter.

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