When the Seattle Seahawks last appeared in the Super Bowl, they faced the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 49 on Feb. 1, 2015.
Seattle entered as the defending champion, having dismantled the Denver Broncos, 43–8, in Super Bowl 48, while New England, led by legendary quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, was determined to reclaim the NFL throne and restore their dynasty after a decade without a title.
What followed was a game defined by razor-thin margins, culminating in a single play that would become one of the most infamous in NFL history.
Tom Brady Delivers Under Pressure, Leads Patriots’ Comeback Against Russell Wilson’s Seahawks
Although the famed Legion of Boom, featuring stars like Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner, and Kam Chancellor, was a defense built to disrupt elite quarterbacks, Brady was still surgical in completing 37 of 50 passes for 328 yards and 4 touchdowns, erasing a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit despite two interceptions earlier.
Trailing by three late in the fourth, Brady brought out his best and went 8 of 8 for 65 yards on a 10-play, 64-yard drive, finishing it with a three-yard touchdown pass to Julian Edelman. Following the extra point from Stephen Gostkowski, New England held its first lead of the second half, 28–24, with 2:02 left to play.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who completed 12 of 21 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, quickly led his team to the Patriots’ five-yard line in just five plays, including an unforgettable 33-yard deflected, juggling completion to Jermaine Kearse.
On first-and-goal with 1:06 remaining, Marshawn Lynch, who posted 24 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown, placed the Seahawks at the one-yard line as they ran the clock down to 26 seconds before another snap.
Malcolm Butler’s Game-Sealing Interception Stuns Seattle
Instead of handing the ball to Lynch, who was averaging over 4 yards per carry, Seattle elected to throw on second down from the 1-yard line, a decision that has been debated ever since.
Malcolm Butler, an undrafted rookie cornerback, ultimately stepped in front of Wilson’s slant pass intended for Ricardo Lockette and intercepted it with 20 seconds left, sealing a 28–24 Patriots victory.
Butler’s play, his first career interception, is widely regarded as one of the most dramatic and impactful in Super Bowl history, as it ended Seattle’s bid for back-to-back championships and propelled New England into the spotlight once again with its fourth Super Bowl win.
Super Bowl 49: Brady, Bill Belichick Join Elite Company
Shane Vereen set a Super Bowl record for running backs with 11 receptions, and Ryan Allen’s 64-yard punt was the longest in Super Bowl history at the time.
Meanwhile, Bill Belichick tied NFL coaching records with his sixth Super Bowl appearance, equaling Don Shula’s mark, and his fourth Super Bowl win matched Chuck Noll for most all time.
Brady joined Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with four Super Bowl wins and three MVP awards, while setting new Super Bowl records for all-time passing yards (1,605), completions (164), and touchdown passes (13), along with highs for first-half completions (20) and total completions (37).
Final score: Patriots 28, Seahawks 24.
