Super Bowl LX preview: Hall of Famers’ records in sight
NFL
Published on : 2/6/2026
When the 2025 NFL season culminates with Super Bowl LX on Sunday, Feb. 8, players and coaches from the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots have the opportunity to break decades-old records set by members of the Pro Football Hall of Famer.
The AFC representative New England Patriots reclaimed the AFC East Division in AP Coach of the Year finalist Mike Vrabel’s first year at the helm. After earning consecutive playoff wins against the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos, Vrabel could become the first NFL head coach to win 18 games in his first season with a team.
Vrabel also can become only the fifth person in NFL history to win the Super Bowl as both a player and a head coach, following Pro Football Hall of Famers MIKE DITKA, TONY DUNGY and TOM FLORES as well as Doug Pederson. Vrabel played integral roles in the New England Patriots’ victories in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX.
New England quarterback Drake Maye, at 23 years and 162 days old, can become the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl, surpassing Ben Roethlisberger (23 years and 340 days old in Super Bowl XL). Maye can become the fifth quarterback to win the Super Bowl in his first or second season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER, as well as Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson.
As a franchise, the Patriots could clinch their seventh Super Bowl victory, surpassing the Steelers for the most Super Bowl victories of all time. In their NFL-record 12 Super Bowl appearances, nine former Patriots have participated or contributed: JOHN HANNAH, TY LAW, CURTIS MARTIN, RANDY MOSS, BILL PARCELLS, JUNIOR SEAU, RICHARD SEYMOUR, DARRELLE REVIS and ANDRE TIPPETT.
Seattle Seahawks’ wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba can become the fourth player to lead the NFL in receiving yards during the regular season and win the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers DREW PEARSON and JERRY RICE as well as teammate Cooper Kupp.
Although all pass-catchers could break Rice’s 37-year-old record for the most receiving yards in a Super Bowl (215 in Super Bowl XXIII), Smith-Njigba is best positioned to eclipse the longstanding mark. He is not a stranger to performing in high-stakes games, as he set an all-time FBS bowl game record for receiving yards with 347 in Ohio State’s 48-45 win over Utah in the 2022 Rose Bowl.
Midseason trade acquisition Rashid Shaheed has made a monumental impact on special teams for the NFC champion Seahawks. On the opening kickoff of their divisional round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, he returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and was recognized for his regular-season success with his second career Pro Bowl nod.
Green Bay Packers receiver Desmond Howard holds the record for most kick return yards after accounting for 244 in Super Bowl XXXI. Shaheed’s ability to vertically stretch a defense also puts him in contention to break Muhsin Muhammad record for longest pass reception (85 yards) in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
New England Patriots
The AFC representative New England Patriots reclaimed the AFC East Division in AP Coach of the Year finalist Mike Vrabel’s first year at the helm. After earning consecutive playoff wins against the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos, Vrabel could become the first NFL head coach to win 18 games in his first season with a team. Vrabel also can become only the fifth person in NFL history to win the Super Bowl as both a player and a head coach, following Pro Football Hall of Famers MIKE DITKA, TONY DUNGY and TOM FLORES as well as Doug Pederson. Vrabel played integral roles in the New England Patriots’ victories in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX.
New England quarterback Drake Maye, at 23 years and 162 days old, can become the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl, surpassing Ben Roethlisberger (23 years and 340 days old in Super Bowl XL). Maye can become the fifth quarterback to win the Super Bowl in his first or second season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER, as well as Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson.
As a franchise, the Patriots could clinch their seventh Super Bowl victory, surpassing the Steelers for the most Super Bowl victories of all time. In their NFL-record 12 Super Bowl appearances, nine former Patriots have participated or contributed: JOHN HANNAH, TY LAW, CURTIS MARTIN, RANDY MOSS, BILL PARCELLS, JUNIOR SEAU, RICHARD SEYMOUR, DARRELLE REVIS and ANDRE TIPPETT.
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks’ wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba can become the fourth player to lead the NFL in receiving yards during the regular season and win the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers DREW PEARSON and JERRY RICE as well as teammate Cooper Kupp. Although all pass-catchers could break Rice’s 37-year-old record for the most receiving yards in a Super Bowl (215 in Super Bowl XXIII), Smith-Njigba is best positioned to eclipse the longstanding mark. He is not a stranger to performing in high-stakes games, as he set an all-time FBS bowl game record for receiving yards with 347 in Ohio State’s 48-45 win over Utah in the 2022 Rose Bowl.
Midseason trade acquisition Rashid Shaheed has made a monumental impact on special teams for the NFC champion Seahawks. On the opening kickoff of their divisional round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, he returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and was recognized for his regular-season success with his second career Pro Bowl nod.
Green Bay Packers receiver Desmond Howard holds the record for most kick return yards after accounting for 244 in Super Bowl XXXI. Shaheed’s ability to vertically stretch a defense also puts him in contention to break Muhsin Muhammad record for longest pass reception (85 yards) in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
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