Overview of The Super Bowl LX characters who changed their stories this season
This Athletic Football Show episode (hosts Robert Mays, Dave Hellman and Derek Klassen) spotlights a dozen people tied to Super Bowl LX whose 2025 seasons materially altered how we talk about them — players, coordinators and general managers from the Patriots and Seahawks. The conversation uses individual arcs (free‑agent bargains, second‑chance quarterbacks, breakout coordinators, roster construction) to draw broader league lessons about talent evaluation, scheming and hiring trends.
Key takeaways
- Several formerly underrated or written‑off figures finished 2025 as central architects of their teams’ success — notably Milton Williams, Drake Maye and a collection of Patriots bargain signings.
- Sam Darnold’s resurgence in Seattle reinforces the “quarterbacks are often products of environment” thesis and spotlights the value of second‑chance QB projects.
- Drake Maye’s leap marks him as an MVP‑level, second‑year breakout whose path contrasts with other modern quick rises (Mahomes, Lamar) but is similarly transformative.
- Coordinators-turned-candidates (Clint Kubiak, Mike McDonald) permanently shifted narratives about their readiness to be head coaches; one year of strong schematic results is now more clickable in hiring markets.
- The Patriots’ free‑agency approach (target targeted bargains + depth signings) produced huge short‑term returns; whether it’s sustainable is an open question.
- Depth and interchangeable personnel (Seahawks defense) can substitute for top‑end talent in building a persistently competitive unit.
Characters who changed the narrative
Patriots
- Milton Williams (DT)
- Signed in free agency after being cast as a potential contract “overpay,” Williams became a core interior‑pressure piece. His on/off snap impact materially raised New England’s pressure rate and made the signing look like a bargain.
- Christian Barmore (DT)
- After injury questions in the past, he emerged as a productive interior pass rusher, complementing Williams and boosting the Patriots’ late‑season surge.
- Bargain/free‑agent contributors (examples mentioned)
- Guys like K’Lavon Chaisson (as referenced), Morgan Moses and Robert Spillane were low‑cost signings who delivered starter‑level performance, underscoring the Patriots’ effective short‑term “microwave” roster build.
- Zach Kerr (defensive play‑caller, Patriots staff)
- Came from a low profile to running a fluid, adaptive defense that changed packages, blitz rates and looks across the season — a living, iterative unit rather than a static scheme.
- Mike Vrabel (head coach)
- Reinforced his reputation as a strong CEO‑type coach who finds and elevates staff and players; the Patriots success revived confidence in Vrabel’s coaching profile.
Seahawks
- Sam Darnold (QB)
- From perceived free‑agent depth option to franchise‑winning QB in Seattle. His resurgence underscores how environment, scheme and coaching can unlock previously faltering quarterbacks.
- Drake Maye (QB, opponent in discussion)
- (Although on the other side of the coin) Maye turned into a league‑leading, MVP‑level passer in his second season — a different “second‑year surge” model compared to prior examples, but no less significant.
- Clint Kubiak (OC)
- Entered the season with questions; his game‑planning, empty sets and sequencing made Seattle’s offense overperform expectations and made Kubiak an obvious head‑coaching candidate.
- Mike McDonald (head coach)
- Transformed from promising defensive mind into a coach whose schematic clarity, player acquisition and cultural control created one of the league’s most admired rebuilds; his success will reverberate in future head‑coach searches.
- John Schneider (GM)
- His draft and asset management (including the ripple effects of moving Russell Wilson) were reframed after Seattle returned to the Super Bowl; his reputation recovered from earlier uneven draft stretches.
- Defensive depth pieces: Demarcus Lawrence, Leonard Williams, Tariq Woolen
- Veteran signings or breakout defenders who fit Mike McDonald’s vision and helped Seattle create a deep, interchangeable defense.
Other notable individual leaps
- Jaxon Smith‑Njigba (JSN)
- Evolved from slot/secondary role to a true primary vertical threat, validating his place among the league’s ascending receiver tiers.
- Puka Nacua, Jamar Chase and receiver market context
- The episode notes how receiver valuation is volatile and debated; emergent players keep shifting the top‑tier hierarchy.
Broader themes and league implications
- Free agency can produce championship teams quickly if target selection and schematic fit align; Patriots offer a case study in high‑variance, high‑reward microwaves versus long‑term sustainable builds.
- “Second‑chance QB” market inefficiency: teams can find high value by pairing formerly failed starters with the right offensive ecosystem (scheme + OL + weapons + coaching).
- Coaching market shifts: one standout season as a coordinator can now vault candidates into head‑coach jobs (the coaching tree is thin), increasing hiring risk but also opportunity.
- Interior pressure matters: the value of productive interior defenders (Williams, Barmore) is emphasized as a game‑deciding edge in playoff football.
- Depth and interchangeable player design: Seattle’s defense shows that meticulous personnel construction and roster flexibility can offset flashy singular talent in building a top unit.
Notable insights / paraphrased quotes
- “Most quarterbacks are products of their environment” — used to explain Darnold’s revival.
- Milton Williams as a lens on how free‑agency narratives can flip: from expected contract bust to bargain cornerstone.
- Mike McDonald is likened to the defensive equivalent of modern schematic architects (McVay/Shanahan): schematic advantage + cultural steadiness.
What to watch in the Super Bowl (angles highlighted)
- Interior pass rush matchup: Milton Williams / Christian Barmore vs. Seattle’s blockers — interior pressure will be pivotal.
- Quarterback contrast: Sam Darnold (second‑chance veteran) vs. Drake Maye (young, MVP‑caliber trajectory) — two routes to contention on full display.
- Coaching narratives: Mike McDonald’s systemic vision vs. Clint Kubiak’s offensive schematics — both will be auditioning for future job capital.
- Patriots’ free‑agency experiment vs. Seahawks’ long‑term drafting/roster construction — short‑term vs. sustainable build comparison.
- Seahawks defensive depth and situational flexibility vs. Patriots’ adaptive blitzing and player maximization.
Final thought / practical takeaway for teams and fans
- The 2025 season reinforced that smart schematic fit, targeted free‑agency signings, and coherent acquisition plans can quickly reframe careers and franchises. GMs and coaches should prioritize fit and flexibility (not just star power), and bettors/fans should watch how schemes highlight or hide individual talent when judging players' true value.