NFL showpiece suffers delay after pitch invader runs onto field and is tackled by Patriots player
The Super Bowl was delayed after a streaker ran onto the field during the final quarter and was tackled by a Patriots player.
The man burst onto the pitch at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara as the Seattle Seahawks held a commanding 19-0 advantage over the New England Patriots.
His dash across the turf was cut short when Patriots linebacker Marty Mapu intervened, helping to bring the trespasser to the ground.
Security personnel swiftly converged on the scene, with several guards piling onto the man to prevent any further disruption.
The incident occurred with approximately 12 minutes and 54 seconds remaining on the clock.
The pitch invader first appeared at the south end zone before embarking on an ambitious sprint that took him nearly the full length of the playing surface.
Video footage circulating on social media showed him weaving through a cluster of security guards as he crossed the halfway line.
Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams also gave chase as the man continued his run towards the opposite end of the field.
The Super Bowl was delayed after a streaker ran onto the field during the final quarter and was tackled by a Patriots player
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REUTERS
The intruder eventually slid to the ground near the 10-yard line as Williams and security closed in on him.
Broadcasters cut away from the incident, adhering to NFL policy designed to discourage copycat behaviour during events watched by over 100 million viewers.
The chaos intensified when a member of the security team slipped during the commotion and sustained what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
The stricken guard required assistance from his colleagues to leave the playing surface, adding an unexpected layer of drama to the already bizarre scene.
The man burst onto the pitch at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara while the Seattle Seahawks held a commanding 19-0 advantage
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REUTERS
Players from both sides looked on as they waited for the situation to be resolved and the match to resume.
As photographers captured the intruder being led away, he appeared to relish the attention, winking and grinning at the cameras in an apparent attempt to maximise his moment in the spotlight.
The man bore a cryptic message scrawled across his chest: “Trade in the blind spot,” though the phrase’s meaning remains unclear.
At the time of the intrusion, New England were enduring a torrid evening, having failed to trouble the scorers against a dominant Seattle defence.
Sam Darnold won his first Super Bowl
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REUTERS
But the bizarre interruption appeared to provide a turning point.
The Patriots finally found the end zone moments later when quarterback Drake Maye launched a 35-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins.
The score reduced the deficit to 19-7 with just over 12 minutes left to play.
However, it was ultimately too little, too late as the Seahawks comfortably cruised to victory.
