Rookies Who May Swing the Post-Super Bowl Season
Relive the rookies who impacted Super Bowl LX. From key blocks to tackles in Seattle's 29-13 rout of the Patriots, these first-year stars influenced the championship.
Super Bowl LX delivered everything we expected in Santa Clara. The playoffs were exciting, and the countdown for Super Sunday was well worth the wait.
The NFL power shifted this season, but Levi’s Stadium still welcomed familiar foes. The Patriots had stumbled through seasons with just eight wins over two years, but Mike Vrabel’s leadership and Drake Maye’s emergence sparked a 16-of-17 win streak, an AFC East title over Buffalo, and a deep postseason run that ended in the finale.
Seattle entered as a five-point favorite according to online sportsbooks, carrying the NFL’s top defense, allowing just 18.9 points per game. Sam Darnold had wowed in the NFC Championship, leading a 31–27 win over the Rams, but it was the full unit and contributions from rookies that ultimately secured the Lombardi.
Veterans like Vrabel, Maye, and Darnold drew the headlines, yet the deciding edges in the Super Bowl came from young players stepping up and rewriting what it means to make an impact as a rookie.
History shows most rookies can sometimes ride the bench in these moments, but a select few etch their names in confetti forever. Some of the biggest stories this postseason come from the youngest players in the league who've broken through, making waves and proving they can influence the biggest games.
Here are some of the rookies that played their part for both teams during the SuperBowl.
Grey Zabel, Seahawks OL
North Dakota State’s mauler did not take long to justify the hype. Zabel started in Week 1 and never let go of the job, anchoring all 17 regular-season games and the playoff run as Seattle leaned heavily on its ground attack. His presence up front helped power Kenneth Walker to a 1,300-yard campaign and gave the Seahawks a level of consistency they had lacked in previous years.
In Super Bowl LX, his impact showed up in the details. Early in the first quarter he pulled across the formation to shield off K’Lavon Chaisson, springing Walker for a 30-yard burst that set the tone. He didn’t allow a sack in the NFC Championship Game and handled Mike Vrabel’s pressure looks with the composure of a veteran. Against a Patriots defence that ranked 28th against the run, Zabel was central to everything Seattle wanted to do on the ground.
Nick Emmanwori, Seahawks S
Nick Emmanwori brought range and edge to Seattle’s secondary all season. The former Notre Dame standout finished with 78 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles, highlighted by a pick-six against Detroit and a nine-tackle showing against the Rams.
On the biggest stage, he played with the same authority. Emmanwori recorded four solo tackles and an assist in the Super Bowl, consistently sitting underneath routes and driving on Drake Maye’s quick throws to tight ends and running backs. His physicality helped disrupt play-action and kept the Patriots from finding rhythm. In a defensive performance that smothered New England, he was the heartbeat.
TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots RB
TreVeyon Henderson’s rookie season suggested New England had found its next offensive centrepiece. He rushed for 911 yards and nine touchdowns, added 221 receiving yards on 35 catches, and stepped up fully after Rhamondre Stevenson’s injury. By season’s end he had earned All-Rookie honours and the trust of the coaching staff.
The Super Bowl was a different challenge. Henderson carried six times for 19 yards and caught three passes for 26, flashes of his burst but not enough to change the flow of the game. Seattle’s front closed lanes early and often, preventing him from settling into a rhythm or controlling the clock. His speed tested the Seahawks, yet the script never allowed him to take over.
Craig Woodson, Patriots S
Craig Woodson proved to be one of the quieter steals of the draft. The fourth-round pick started 15 games, finishing with 79 tackles and two fumble recoveries. His interception in the AFC Championship Game only strengthened the view that New England had found real value.
In the Super Bowl he was active in support but unable to shift momentum. Seattle moved the ball efficiently, and with the Patriots allowing six sacks, the defense spent too much time reacting. Woodson’s instincts were evident, as they had been all year, but this time the confetti fell in the Northwest.
Post-Game Take
Super Bowl LX ultimately came down to Seattle’s experience and structure outmatching New England on the biggest stage. The veterans set the tone and the schemes held firm, but the rookies played their part in shaping the night.
Grey Zabel and Nick Emmanwori were not passengers in the win. They were active contributors, helping tilt key moments Seattle’s way and showing a level of composure that belied their first-year status. On the other sideline, TreVeyon Henderson and Craig Woodson had their flashes, small reminders of what the future could look like, even if they could not alter the outcome.
All four walked away having proved they belong here. One pair leaves with rings and a place in franchise lore. The other leaves with lessons, and perhaps a little edge. The story of the night belongs to Seattle, but the league has been put on notice about the class of newcomers who helped shape it.