Patriots Meet Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 with Bad Bunny Halftime Show and Trump Snub
Updated (3 articles)
Super Bowl 60 scheduled for Feb 8 at Levi’s Stadium The NFL championship will be played Sunday, 8 February 2026, kickoff 23:30 GMT (6:30 p.m. EST) in Santa Clara, California [1][2]. NBC will carry the U.S. broadcast, with BBC Sport providing UK radio, text and TV coverage, while Peacock, Hulu + Live TV and other streaming services will simulcast [2]. The Patriots and Seahawks each finished the regular season 14‑3, earning the AFC and NFC top seeds respectively [1][3].
Coaches and quarterbacks anchor both squads Mike Vrabel, in his first season as New England head coach, guided the Patriots from a 4‑13 record in 2024 to a Super Bowl berth, becoming the first former player to potentially win a title as both player and coach with the same franchise [1][3]. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye started for the Patriots, though he missed a practice due to illness before the game [2]. Seattle’s Mike Macdonald, also in his second year, paired veteran quarterback Sam Darnold with a roster built by GM John Schneider, delivering back‑to‑back 14‑win seasons [1][2][3].
Bad Bunny headlines historic halftime, Trump declines attendance Grammy‑winning Bad Bunny will headline the Apple Music halftime show, performing entirely in Spanish and becoming the first solo male Latin artist to do so [1][2]. Green Day will open the ceremony, while pre‑game anthem duties go to Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlile and Coco Jones [2]. Former President Donald Trump called the halftime acts “terrible” and said he would not attend, prompting Turning Point USA to propose an alternative Kid Rock show [1].
Betting odds, viewership outlook, and new fan‑access measures BetMGM lists the Seahawks as 4½‑point favorites over the Patriots [2]. NBC expects an audience comparable to last year’s 127.7 million viewers, with UK broadcasters also preparing extensive coverage [1]. The NFL will introduce a tactile device that tracks the ball for blind fans and is discussing replay review for missed safety penalties [2].
Discrepancies in political commentary Only the BBC article mentions Trump’s New York Post interview and the Turning Point USA alternative show; the King5 pieces focus solely on the entertainment lineup without political remarks [1][2].
Sources
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1.
BBC: Patriots and Seahawks set to clash in Super Bowl 60 amid historic halftime show and political controversy – Details game date, teams, coaches, Bad Bunny halftime, Trump’s refusal, broadcast plans, and viewership expectations .
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2.
King5 (Jan 30): Patriots vs. Seahawks: Super Bowl 60 details, lineup and entertainment – Provides kickoff time, broadcast platforms, rookie QB Drake Maye health note, betting odds, pre‑game anthem performers, and new accessibility/safety initiatives .
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3.
King5 (Jan 29): Seahawks and Patriots Reach Super Bowl Under New Coaches – Highlights coaching changes, season turnarounds, defensive stats, and quarterback duel record in conference championship .
Timeline
1984 – The 1984 AFC championship records the first conference title game in which both quarterbacks throw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, a benchmark later matched in the 2026 NFC championship [3].
2008 – The 2008 Super Bowl features the fourth‑ever matchup of head coaches in their first or second season, a rarity that reappears in Super Bowl 60 with Mike Vrabel and Mike Macdonald [3].
2024 – The Patriots finish 4‑13 under Jerod Mayo, prompting the dismissal of long‑time coach Bill Belichick and opening the door for Mike Vrabel’s hiring [3]; the Seahawks capture only ten wins, miss the playoffs and see Pete Carroll replaced by Mike Macdonald [3].
2025 – Mike Vrabel guides the Patriots to a 14‑3 record, tying the league’s biggest single‑season improvement and positioning him as the first former player to potentially win a Super Bowl as both player and head coach with the same franchise [1]; Sam Darnold steers the Seahawks to a second straight 14‑win season, linking with league‑leading receiver Jaxon Smith‑Njigba and the “Dark Side” defense engineered by Macdonald and Aden Durde, earning the NFC’s top seed [1].
Jan 2026 – The NFC championship pits Matthew Stafford against Sam Darnold, each throwing over 300 yards and three touchdowns, creating only the second conference title game with dual such performances since the 1984 AFC championship [3]; the Patriots’ defense concedes just 26 points across three playoff wins, tying the second‑fewest ever for a team needing three victories to reach the Super Bowl [3].
Jan 2026 – BetMGM lists the Seahawks as 4½‑point favorites over the Patriots, reflecting market expectations ahead of Super Bowl 60 [2].
Jan 27, 2026 – Rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots’ offensive catalyst, misses a practice due to illness, adding a health concern as New England pursues a seventh Lombardi Trophy [2]; the league announces that Super Bowl 60 will air on NBC and Telemundo at 6:30 p.m. EST (23:30 GMT) on Feb 8, with streaming on Peacock, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, NFL+ and DirecTV, while the UK receives coverage via BBC Sport, Channel 5, Sky Sports and DAZN [2].
Jan 27, 2026 – The NFL unveils new accessibility and safety measures for the championship, including a tactile device that tracks the ball for blind fans and a plan to consider replay review for missed player‑safety penalties [2].
Jan 27, 2026 – Apple Music announces Bad Bunny as the halftime headliner, marking the first solo male Latin artist to headline a Super Bowl show and delivering an entirely Spanish set; Green Day opens, while Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlile and Coco Jones perform the national anthem, “America the Beautiful,” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” respectively [2]; Bad Bunny, Spotify’s most‑streamed artist in four of the past six years, previously voiced concerns about ICE raids, influencing his current tour schedule [1].
Feb 2, 2026 – President Trump declines to attend Super Bowl 60, calling the halftime acts “terrible” and “anti‑them,” while Turning Point USA announces an alternative Kid Rock halftime performance; uncertainty persists over ICE deployment at the event amid recent protests [1].
Feb 8, 2026 – Super Bowl 60 unfolds at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, pitting the Patriots—making their first appearance since 2019—against the Seahawks—returning since 2015—at 23:30 GMT (6:30 p.m. EST); NBC leads the U.S. broadcast, Telemundo provides Spanish coverage, and the UK receives live text, radio and TV via BBC, Channel 5, Sky Sports and DAZN, with expected viewership comparable to last year’s 127.7 million [1]; Bad Bunny delivers a historic Spanish halftime show while the Seahawks enter as 4½‑point favorites per BetMGM [2]; the NFL implements the tactile ball‑tracking device for blind fans and discusses replay review for safety penalties, enhancing inclusion and player protection [2]; Mike Vrabel, age 50, stands poised to become the first former player to win a Super Bowl as both player and head coach with the same franchise [1].
External resources (1 links)
- https://www.americanhalftimeshow.com/ (cited 1 times)