The clock is winding down to the biggest NFL football game of the year, and for the first time in seven years, the New England Patriots are participants.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is no stranger to the Super Bowl, but his second-year quarterback, Drake Maye, is. On the other sideline, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is also familiar — albeit as a former Patriots fan.
Macdonald was born in Boston and has an appreciation for Patriot Nation. It's gratifying to see an open expression of respect rather than the sour grapes we've seen from players like Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
"I have a ton of respect for New England fans... Shoot I was one of them."
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 3, 2026
Seahawks HC Mike MacDonald talks about facing the team he grew up as a fan of in Super Bowl LX. pic.twitter.com/oDhRrQviEF
Class is class no matter where you find it, and respect for one's opponent is to be encouraged. Macdonald showed his Boston roots by his comments, and win or lose, that kind of press is never a bad thing.
Super Bowl coach with Boston roots has Patriots fans respecting the enemy
The New England Patriots struck paydirt when owner Robert Kraft made a great decision to hire Vrabel, who's as good as it gets among NFL coaches and should be voted the NFL's Coach of the Year for the second time in 2025. No coach did more with less this year than Vrabel has.
Yet, Macdonald has also done a great job with the Seahawks. The 38-year-old is in his second season with Seattle and has amassed a regular-season record of 24-10, and now has a Super Bowl appearances on his resume, as well. It's a great way to begin your head coaching career.
The Patriots have to find a way to beat the favored Seahawks
The Seahawks are favorites against Mike Vrabel's Patriots. For ESPN's analysts, in another classic scenario: All 11 of those participating in a survey picked the Seahawks to prevail over the Patriots. The Patriots don't need any additional inspiration or motivation to go all out to beat Seattle and quiet the naysayers who, all season long, have been diminishing or demeaning their accomplishments.
Even actually making the Super Bowl has been dissed because the road was considered so "soft" for New England. Suffice it to say, this Patriots team, whose defense is peaking at exactly the right time (a good sign if the adage that defenses win championships is accurate) will be ready to go on Super Sunday.
It will be a battle of two top head coaches in Vrabel and Macdonald, and two quarterbacks who've had solid seasons in the Patriots' Drake Maye and Seattle's Sam Darnold. When all is said and done, it will be time to settle things on the field in Santa Clara, and all the pre-game words will be meaningless.