Seahawks vs Patriots Super Bowl rematch is set; NFL coaching hire updates; NBA trade deadline

TRENDING FAN CONVERSATIONS FROM THE WEEKEND IN SPORTS

JANUARY 23-25, 2026

Top Story

Super Bowl LX is set! The Seattle Seahawks vs New England Patriots will meet for the seventh Super Bowl rematch pairing in NFL history

Let it first be known that Matt Stafford had an absolute legacy performance in the NFC Championship game and was example 5,000 of why wins are not a quarterback stat. Similar to Jordan Love losing a playoff game despite 300+ passing yards, 4 TDs, and 0 INT, Stafford tossed for 374 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 INT without a win. For context, Tom Brady lost two games in his career with those numbers, while Stafford lost twice in five weeks to the Seahawks top defense with 370+ and 450+ passing yards, 6 total TDs, and 0 INT.

Anyways, let’s get into the storylines that make up Super Bowl LX!

• 1st year coach (Mike Vrabel) vs 2nd year coach (Mike Macdonald)

• Neither team made the playoffs last year

• Super Bowl LX will be the third time that both head coaches share the same first name

  • In all three cases, both coaches were named Mike

• Two defensive head coaches alter the traditional “you need an offensive coach to win a Super Bowl in the modern NFL” thinking

• Sam Darnold is the first QB from the 2018 draft to start in a Super Bowl (beating Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Baker Mayfield)

  • Both Drake Maye and Darnold will have a Super Bowl start before Lamar, Allen, Mayfield, Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, and Trevor Lawrence

• Maye becomes the youngest QB to make a Super Bowl since Dan Marino

• Vrabel + Maye become first ever 1st year coach + 2nd year QB to ever make a Super Bowl

• Maye is 3-0 in his first playoffs, but his line is worse than Trent Dilfer's for the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive-led 2000 Super Bowl-winning team

  • Dilfer: 590 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 33.7% success rate, 8.1 yards/attempt

  • Maye: 447 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT, 34.8% success rate, 8 yards/attempt

    • 6 total turnovers, 15 sacks taken

• Darnold becomes the first QB to win 14+ regular season games & reach the Super Bowl in his first season with a team

• Darnold becomes the first QB with 3 pass TDs under pressure in a playoff game since NFL NextGen Stats started tracking the stat (2011)

• Both Darnold and Maye were 3rd overall picks

• Both the Patriots GM (Eliot Wolf) and Seahawks GM (John Schneider) were Packers player personnel executives and have now combined for more Super Bowl appearances than the Packers have since Brett Favre became their starter

The Seahawks’ offseason was truly a revolutionary one. They made substantial gambles to move on from Geno Smith and DK Metcalf in favor of a $100 million bet on Sam Darnold after he was run out of Minnesota, despite a 14-win season. This all after the Jets traded him, the Panthers let him walk, and he was the 49ers backup. Not only is Darnold’s career arc to the grandest stage one of the most inspiring in recent memory, but he shook all the “seeing ghosts” narratives with arguably the greatest game of his career to get there. Darnold put up 346 yards, 3 TDs, and a 127.8 rating to overpower the Rams in front of the 12s.

The remainder of the Seahawks’ overhaul was every GM’s wet dream. The Demarcus Lawrence signing, nails! Drafting Nick Emmanwori and Grey Zabel, nails! Bringing in Klint Kubiak, nails! Signing Cooper Kupp (huge NFC Champ game TD), resigning Ernest Jones (makes an All-Pro), bringing back Jarran Reed to anchor one of the best defensive lines in football, all nails!

The Patriots are a hell of a story in their own regard. For Mike Vrabel, this is a guy who led the Tennessee Titans to success their franchise hasn’t sniffed in ages, just to let him walk. It was fairly universally agreed upon at the time that it was the wrong decision and now only amplified as such after needing only one year to turn a Patriots rebuild into a Super Bowl appearance. He continues to prove his situational expertise separates him from other coaches in the league. Making matters worse for the rest of the league, there are uncanny traits reflecting the Patriots’ dynasties of past in the current team, quarterback, coach, and culture. Maye has returned MVP quarterback play to New England, in what will go down as one of the greatest sophomore QB seasons in history.

The narrative around the Patriots’ and Maye’s success was “it’s the weak schedule,” but their three wins against the Chargers, Texans, and Broncos came against three of the top defenses in football. Did it take the bottom-ranked Chargers’ offensive line, a historically terrible playoff game from CJ Stroud, and playing against backup QB Jarrett Stidham to barely pull out their three wins? Sure. Drake Maye certainly has not been in MVP form this playoffs, but in his place, the Patriots’ defense has ascended into an impenetrable state. Signing Milton Williams to head up the middle of their defensive line has turned out to be every bit of the grand slam New England banked on it being.

In sum, two defensive coaches headed to the Super Bowl, both within their first two seasons with their teams, will only unsettle recent traditional practices around offensive head coaches seen as favored candidates, as well as head coaching tenures dragging on without early success.

Super Bowl LX is primed to be an all-time Super Bowl rematch that no one saw coming to start the season, between two teams who closely mirror the traits of their teams from the last time they met in February. Hopefully for some, this time doesn’t come down to a pass on the 1-yard line…

NFL

The NFL coaching landscape continues to get chipped away at: The Steelers agree to terms with Mike McCarthy as their next head coach, the Packers sign Jonathan Gannon as their DC, the Cowboys make Christian Parker the youngest DC in football, and the Giants tab Dennard Wilson as their DC to pair with John Harbaugh.

Mike McCarthy to Pittsburgh

The fanbase feels the hire will, at best, bring more of the same: Maybe scrape into the playoffs after a mostly frustrating season and then crash out in the first round. Afterall, McCarthy does only have one playoff win since 2016 despite three 12-win seasons in Dallas recently.

However, there are a few upsides to the McCarthy hire to take note of once fans come to terms with being stuck with regular game management frustrations.

1) Mike is not a long-term hire. He’s a maintainer of stability and a bridge to the future hire.

2) There was no better coaching option available at developing quarterbacks & the Steelers actively have a QB problem.

3) The Steelers have an old, underperforming, aging defense that is due for an overhaul and an offense lacking pass catcher talent or a QB. This would traditionally be a very tall task for any first-time head coach, especially one who has not called plays before, especially in what is a weaker head coach market. There’s arguably more inherited risk in that plan, as shiny as the option to get an energetic, young option looks.

4) McCarthy is 11-11 in the playoffs with a Super Bowl win. It’s almost an identical resume to Harbaugh, who was seen as the top coaching candidate this cycle.

5) Yes, he is a “safe hire.” But he can prime Pittsburgh into a top destination for the next top head coach candidate in 2-3 years, after he takes them through likely significant roster changes and can develop what they believe is their next franchise QB.

6) Bonus: Steelers fans were confident Rams DC Chris Shula was the best hire, and his unit got taken for a ride by the Seahawks in the NFC Championship and gave up 31 points twice in the playoffs.

Jonathan Gannon to Green Bay

Eagles fans will tell you Gannon doesn’t make good in-game adjustments, and the talent carried him. Meanwhile, coaches around football rave about his scheme being notoriously difficult to game plan against and he’s well respected by other defensive minds. Understandably so being that he worked under and learned from Mike Zimmer.

Once fans see past his defense giving up 28 second-half points in the Super Bowl to a legendary Chiefs offense, and that he was dealing with one of the worst rosters in football throughout his tenure with the Cardinals, where he wasn’t even the defensive play caller, there is absolutely upside to the hire.

1) The Packers coaching staff lacks deep playoff and Super Bowl experience, whereas Gannon has called the defense for two top 10 defenses, leading one to a Super Bowl win.

2) Gannon prioritizes adjusting his scheme to the talent, but will run at a league high out of quarters formations and often relies on a four-man pass rush. For the Packers, this all but assures they will finally beef up their lacking DT and CB groups in the draft to accommodate Gannon’s schematic strengths and style. Giant first step!

3) His 2022 defense racked up 71 sacks in a season, the most since 1989, while also allowing the fewest passing yards, 2nd fewest total yards, and 8th best scoring defense per game. Once he left, the Eagles’ defense imploded and ranked 30th in yards per game without him.

4) Parsons, Cooper, McKinney, Bullard and Williams are strong candidates for a tenacious 2026 season. Under Gannon in Philly, Brandon Graham racked up a career-high in sacks at age 34, while Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, T.J. Edwards, Darius Slay, Milton Williams, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Avonte Maddox, and James Bradberry to date all had the best season(s) of their career.

5) Somehow, despite being void of talent, the Arizona Cardinals last season with Gannon had the 1st-ranked defense in EPA/play in the first 3 quarters of games.

Christian Parker to Dallas

Despite only being 34, it’s reasonable to see why the Cowboys are excited about their new DC. After all, their pass defense is abysmal and Parker, a Vic Fangio disciple, has been a defensive back coach on five defenses that ranked inside the top 12 in pass yards allowed per game.

Despite Parker’s inexperience as a play caller, Cowboys fans are particularly excited that Jerry Jones was not leading his coaching search. There comes an inherited risk and additional unknowns bringing on a coach who has yet to call a defense, but the upside is absolutely there.

1) Known for great preparation, high standards for accountability, strong communication, and teaching traits that have propelled his rapid seven-year rise to his first NFL DC role.

2) Helped develop Jaire Alexander, Pat Surtain, Justin Simmons, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper Dejean into All-Pro players.

3) Dallas will likely move away from their common single high safety look of the past five seasons to more two high safeties, disguised coverages, and simplified zone coverages.

4) Described as a “nerd” with the “it factor” and obsessed with learning.

5) Parker is an exact match, schematically and personality-wise, with what head coach Brian Schottenheimer sought out in his next DC after firing Matt Eberflus.

Dennard Wilson to the New York Giants

At first glance, no one sees “former Titans defensive coordinator” and gets excited. But it’s fair to say the Titans may regret letting Wilson out of the building, despite less-than-great run defenses.

While he’s hidden away on bad Tennessee teams, with generally less-than-ideal defensive talent, and while there are certainly question marks about his play-calling that will soon be answered with a new defense, Giants fans should take solace in Titans fans advocating for Wilson.

1) In 2024, the Titans ranked 2nd in total defense and passing defense, which were their best marks since 2000. That same year, they also ranked in the top five in first downs allowed per game and opponent yards per play.

2) Wilson’s defenses are trademarked with a violent, attacking philosophy, smart blitzing, gap integrity, and bringing multiple fronts and coverages. Expect a lot of press coverage in New York.

3) His disguised coverages and blitz packages should help elevate the Giants’ pass rush and get the most out of their defensive backs, especially the safeties.

4) Head coaches and DCs that Wilson has worked under view Wilson as a head coach, not just a coordinator.

5) Eagles and Ravens defensive backs he’s coached vouch for him as a DC and rave about him as a leader.

NBA

The NBA trade deadline is approaching on February 5th, and fans are hoping things will finally start to shake up. The trade deadline was set to hinge around Giannis Antetokounmpo, but with his newest injury, the landscape could finally take shape without him in the mix.

With less than two weeks until the February 5th deadline, the NBA trade market has seen one single trade. What began as a cautious landscape driven by apron restrictions has now been complicated by injuries to two of the market's biggest potential names: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant.

Right now, even teams like the Kings and Nets, who are potentially looking to run a fire sale on their roster, remain in a holding pattern waiting on Milwaukee's decision regarding Giannis. At 18-25 and sitting 2.5 games outside the play-in, Giannis' subsequent calf strain might ironically ease pressure, allowing Milwaukee to delay any discussions until summer, when they can assess his willingness to extend beyond 2027. There are also contenders, like Boston, Philadelphia, and Phoenix, who are expected to shed salary instead of fighting for playoff positioning.

Then you have Dallas, Golden State, and Memphis, who might be better served waiting until the offseason to explore moves for once again injured Anthony Davis, newly injured Glock Morant, and now Jimmy Butler has a season-ending ACL tear. Teams are also hoarding expiring contracts for summer flexibility. The Lakers, Chicago, and Utah carry 21 combined potential free agents, but talks are heating up around the Lakers adding a player or two on the perimeter.

Historical trends suggest 77% of trades occur during deadline week, but 2026 may end up a relatively boring deadline. Keep an eye on the Celtics to be aggressive in pursuing a new Center, the Bulls looking to send off Lonzo Ball and/or Colby White, and the Cavs disappointing season could add intrigue amid rumors of a LeBron reunion at the deadline.