Ranking Super Bowl 60’s most influential players as ‘steady hand’ Sam Darnold and ‘dual threat’ Drake Maye face off
Eleven years ago, the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots met in Super Bowl XLIX that redefined the two franchises.
One pass at the goal line launched a second-coming dynasty in Foxborough and left the Legion of Boom wondering what might have been.
On February 8, 2026, the turf at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara becomes the stage for the ultimate sequel.
But this isn’t a nostalgia act. Super Bowl LX features two of the most improbable journeys in recent NFL history.
In one corner, the Seahawks are led by Sam Darnold, a quarterback who spent years in the wilderness of “bust” labels only to find his salvation in Seattle under Mike Macdonald.
In the other, the Patriots have returned to the mountaintop at lightspeed, propelled by Drake Maye, the sophomore phenom who has New England fans dreaming of a Lombardi Trophy for the first time in six years.
It is a battle between the league’s #1 scoring defense (Seattle) and its most efficient young offense (New England). As we count down to kickoff, here are the 10 most influential players who will decide the fate of Super Bowl 60.
The team from the Across the Formation, talkSPORTUSA’s NFL podcast, have ranked the players who might decide Sunday’s big game.
Ranking the 10 Most Influential Players in Super Bowl 60
10. Will Campbell (OT, Patriots)
The Background: The No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 Draft and the first offensive lineman New England has taken in the top 10 since 1973. Despite a late-season knee injury that sidelined him for five games, he returned for the finale and has stabilized Maye’s blindside.
The Impact: Campbell is the anchor of a rebuilt unit that went from worst to top 10 in pass protection this year. His ability to handle Seattle’s speed rushers 1-on-1 is the only thing standing between Maye and a very long night.
9. Rashid Shaheed (WR/KR, Seahawks)
The Background: Acquired midseason from the Saints, Shaheed has become the ultimate home run threat for Darnold. He averaged nearly 12 yards per catch this season and is coming off a massive 51-yard reception in the NFC Championship win over the Rams.
The Impact: He stretches the defense to its breaking point. If the Patriots commit too many resources to stopping JSN, Shaheed only needs one step to flip the field or house a return, making him the game’s most dangerous “X-factor.”
8. Rhamondre Stevenson / TreVeyon Henderson (RBs, Patriots)
The Background: It may be cheating here, but New England’s RB duo counts as one. A devastating “Thunder and Lightning” backfield. The veteran Stevenson provided the power (7 TDs), while the rookie Henderson exploded for 911 yards and 9 TDs, including two 50+ yard scores in a single game earlier this season.
The Impact: They are the engine of Mike Vrabel’s ball-control philosophy. To keep the Seahawks’ high-powered offense off the field, this duo must combine for 100+ yards and keep the Patriots on schedule in short-yardage situations.
7. Leonard Williams (DT, Seahawks)
The Background: A Pro Bowl anchor who led the NFC with 28 quarterback hits. This season, he recorded 8 sacks and ranked 4th among all interior defenders in total pressures (58), proving to be the heart of Macdonald’s defensive front.
The Impact: Williams is a pocket collapser who creates opportunities for everyone else. If he can overpower the Patriots’ interior line early, he will take away Maye’s ability to step up, effectively neutralizing New England’s vertical passing game.
6. Milton Williams (DT, Patriots)
The Background: The massive offseason acquisition who brought Super Bowl pedigree from Philly to Foxborough. Despite an injury-shortened regular season, he has been a wrecking ball in the playoffs.
The Impact: Williams is the game’s premier interior disruptor. His ability to collapse the pocket from the inside out is the fastest way to rattle Darnold and force the “old” version of the Seahawks’ QB to resurface.
5. Nick Emmanwori (S, Seahawks)
The Background: The rookie sensation that stands at 6’3″ with 4.38 speed, has become the Swiss Army knife of Macdonald’s defense, recording 11 tackles in the divisional round and back-to-back pass breakups to clinch the NFC title.
The Impact: Emmanwori will be the “Maye-Stopper.” His freakish athleticism allows him to mirror Maye’s scrambling ability while also erasing tight ends in the red zone. He is the key to preventing Maye from turning broken plays into touchdowns.
4. Christian Gonzalez (CB, Patriots)
The Background: Now a first-time Pro Bowler, Gonzalez has solidified himself as a top-five NFL corner. He allowed a meager 45.5% completion rate this season and arrives in Santa Clara fresh off a game-sealing interception in the AFC Championship against Denver.
The Impact: He is the designated eraser. His mission is to shadow Jaxon Smith-Njigba and take away Darnold’s favorite target. If Gonzalez wins this 1-on-1 heavyweight bout, the Seahawks’ explosive passing game becomes one-dimensional.
3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, Seahawks)
The Background: JSN is having a historic breakout, finishing the regular season with 1,793 yards and 10 TDs. He was the engine of the NFC Championship, torched the Rams for 153 yards, and has cemented himself as the best wide receiver in the league.
The Impact: He is the most dangerous open-field weapon in the game. His telepathic connection with Darnold—highlighted by their recent no-look pass connection—forces New England to compromise their pass rush just to keep him bracketed.
2. Drake Maye (QB, Patriots)
The Background: At 23, Maye is the second-youngest QB to ever start a Super Bowl. He willed the Patriots through a Denver blizzard in the AFC Championship, using his legs for a crucial rushing TD and a game-sealing scramble to secure the 10-7 win.
The Impact: He is the dual-threat engine of the “New Era” Patriots. While his arm talent is elite, it’s his ability to create off-script plays that will keep Seattle’s #1 ranked scoring defense on its heels.
1. Sam Darnold (QB, Seahawks)
The Background: The NFL’s ultimate redemption story. After years of journeyman status, Darnold led Seattle to a 14-3 record and enters the Super Bowl as the betting favorite for MVP (+130). He has transformed from “seeing ghosts” to a cold-blooded distributor.
The Impact: Darnold is the steady hand. If he continues his “near-perfect” postseason play and avoids the catastrophic turnovers that defined his early career, he will lead Seattle to its second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
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