Derick Hall's strip-sack opens the way to Seahawks' second title

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The Seahawks had throttled the New England Patriots all game but still only managed a 12-0 lead when Derick Hall made the play that opened the way for Seattle to win its second Super Bowl.

The linebacker sacked Drake Maye in the third quarter and stripped the ball for a fumble that was recovered by Byron Murphy II. Five plays later, Seattle reached the end zone for the first time on a 16-yard touchdown catch by A.J. Barner on the way to a 29-13 victory Sunday.

It was the first turnover of the game and essentially helped Seattle put the game away. Hall finished with two sacks after getting only two all season.

“It’s been a little bit of a crazy year for me," Hall said. "Obviously, the pressures and the hits have been there, but no sacks, and man, what a more rewarding time to be blessed and have opportunities there to go out in this game and help lead this team to success tonight.”

For the 24-year-old Hall, to even play in his first Super Bowl — let alone make it to the NFL — was an impressive accomplishment in its own right. Hall was born four months premature in Gulfport, Mississippi, and was pronounced dead at birth without a heartbeat before being resuscitated.

Doctors believed Hall would likely be in a permanent vegetative state and advised his mother, Stacy Gooden-Crandle, to allow life support to be discontinued. But Gooden-Crandle refused, and Hall survived five months in an intensive care unit, frequent hospitalizations and intense asthma throughout his childhood.

He began playing flag football at 4 years old, and after a standout career at Gulfport High School was a star defensive end at Auburn.

“I started playing the game just to be able to get my lung capacity up. Just to be able to run around a little bit," Hall said. "I fell in love with the game. It allowed me to be a normal kid.”

He was selected by the Seahawks in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft and quickly entrenched himself as a key cog in Seattle’s defense. Less than three years after he was drafted, Hall was one of a number of standout defenders for the Seahawks as they dismantled the Patriots.

Shortly after the win, Gooden-Crandle tapped Hall on the shoulder so they could hug. The waterworks came soon after as both broke down and shed tears of joy.

“Mom doesn’t miss a game," Hall said. "From the time I started playing football at 4 to tonight, my mom has been at every single game.”

All season, it wasn't just Gooden-Crandle that showed up at Seahawks games; it was Seattle's entire “Dark Side” defense that did so.

During the regular season, no defense allowed fewer points per game (17.2) than the Seahawks. It was a unit that featured a trio of players — cornerback Devon Witherspoon, linebacker Ernest Jones IV and defensive lineman Leonard Williams — that were selected to The Associated Press 2025 NFL All-Pro second team.

Jones, who led the Seahawks with 11 tackles on Sunday, had five interceptions during the season, which was tied for second-most in the NFL. Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu tied for the team lead with seven sacks in the regular season, and then intercepted Maye before returning it 45 yards for a pick-6 to put the Super Bowl out of reach.

But it was Hall who set in motion the Seahawks' victory. It wouldn't have been possible without decades of perseverance, which isn't lost on teammates such as Murphy.

“Hell of a player, hell of a guy, man, been through so much,” Murphy said. “That’s a determined dude, man. I love him to death — I love him to death.”

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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) fumbles as he is sacked by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New England Patriots tackle Will Campbell (66) and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall exchange words during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) celebrates after sacking New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) sacks New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) causing a fumble during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said Friday he's remaining with the Wildcats after being mentioned as a potential candidate to fill the coaching vacancy at blueblood program North Carolina.

“I'm happy to announce I'm staying at Arizona,” Lloyd said during his pre-practice news conference at the Final Four. “We've been able to get some things done the past couple days.”

The school also announced it had reached an extension with Lloyd through the 2030-31 season, though it didn't release financial terms. Lloyd had previously been under contract through the 2029-30 season worth an average of nearly $5.5 million in base and supplemental pay for the coming seasons, along with a buyout that dropped from $11 million to $9 million on Wednesday.

Lloyd, 51, had been considered a top potential target for the Tar Heels, who fired Hubert Davis on March 24 after five seasons. He had deflected questions about the UNC opening as the Wildcats (36-2) kept advancing in the NCAA Tournament to their first Final Four since 2001, including as recently as Thursday in Indianapolis.

Lloyd praised UNC as “a first-class organization” and said he appreciated “the way they've handled this.”

“Arizona basketball, you guys know what it means to me, and when I say it’s a special place, that always comes from the bottom of my heart,” Lloyd said.

“I didn’t want to make this entire Final Four about that because I’m just a small part of something much bigger. But on that same note, I’d also like to let you know that North Carolina is an amazing place. I mean, it’s a 1 of 1. It’s an honor to even be considered for that job.”

Lloyd's comments came a day before the Wildcats (36-2) were set to face Michigan in Saturday night's national semifinals in a matchup of the two 1-seeds in Indianapolis.

Wolverines coach Dusty May has also been mentioned as a possible UNC candidate, but said Friday he'll “never respond to any job speculation.”

“I think it’s well documented how happy I am at Michigan,” May said. “Obviously my private life, my personal life, my family, their happiness is very important. Yeah, I love it at Michigan, but you’ll never hear me comment on any other job unless Michigan lets me go and then I’ll comment on every job.”

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd watches during practice ahead of an NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game against against Michigan at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd waves as he cuts down the net after a win over Purdue in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd speaks during a news conference ahead of a national semifinal NCAA college basketball tournament game against Michigan at the Final Four, Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)