Seahawks star went from ‘1% survival chance’ to Super Bowl glory after Patriots thrashed


The Seattle Seahawks secured their second Super Bowl title yesterday with a commanding 29-13 triumph over the New England Patriots in Santa Clara, California.

Sunday’s NFL championship decider showcased Seattle’s defensive prowess in emphatic fashion.


The victory represents a remarkable culmination of storylines that captured the imagination of American football enthusiasts worldwide.

From a linebacker who defied medical odds simply to survive, to a quarterback finally silencing his doubters, this Seahawks squad embodied resilience throughout their championship campaign.

Seahawks star Derick Hall recorded two sacks to help defeat the Patriots

Seahawks star Derick Hall recorded two sacks to help defeat the Patriots

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REUTERS

Perhaps most notably for British observers, the triumph marked a historic moment for coaching on the global stage.

Seattle’s comprehensive victory demonstrated that their success was no fluke, with contributions across all phases of the game proving decisive in claiming American sport’s most coveted prize.

Linebacker Derick Hall’s contribution proved pivotal, with the 24-year-old recording two sacks in a dominant defensive showing.

Remarkably, Hall entered the world four months premature in 2001, weighing under three pounds and requiring life support.

Medical professionals gave him merely a one per cent chance of survival, yet his mother refused to discontinue treatment.

Now standing 6ft 3in and weighing 254lb, Hall embraced his mother on the pitch following Seattle’s triumph.

Derick Hill put on a starring show against the Patriots, giving praise to his mother after

Derick Hill put on a starring show against the Patriots, giving praise to his mother after

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REUTERS

“Everyone knows my story, what it took for me to get here, what it took for me just to be alive and have the chance,” Hall reflected.

“Kudos to Mom. That was a special moment after the game. I feel like she’s an unsung hero, an unsung warrior through this whole process. She always fought for me. She never gave up.”

Quarterback Sam Darnold’s journey to championship glory proved equally compelling, with Seattle representing his fifth franchise in eight seasons.

The 28-year-old had appeared destined for a career as a reserve following a difficult start in the professional ranks.

“My team-mates and my coaches, they believed in me since the first training camp, every single day we came to work,” Darnold explained.

He credited his parents’ unwavering faith for sustaining his self-belief through challenging periods.

“Some people called me crazy throughout my career for believing in myself so much, but it was because of my parents,” he added.

Wide receiver Cooper Kupp claimed his second championship, having won MVP honours with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.

“My wife was the first person to believe in me,” Kupp said. “She’s believed that this story was written so long ago.”

\u200bAden DurdeAden Durde made sporting history as he became the first overseas coach to win the Super Bowl | GETTY

Defensive coordinator Aden Durde etched his name into sporting history as the first coach from overseas to claim a Super Bowl ring.

The 46-year-old’s coaching odyssey began in British amateur American football before ascending to the pinnacle of the professional game.

“We put a plan together and the guys executed at an elite level,” Durde remarked of his unit’s performance.

The Londoner expressed gratitude for those who supported his unconventional path to the top.

Super Bowl 60 trophy lift

The Seattle Seahawks destroyed the New England Patriots 29-13 to claim victory at Super Bowl 60

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“A lot of people sacrificed a lot for me to be sitting here, but you don’t see that,” he acknowledged.

His mother and brother watched proceedings from an NFL viewing party in Britain, whilst his wife and sons joined him on the pitch after the final whistle.

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