Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

From Darnold's big day to Bad Bunny and MVP Matthew Stafford returning, an eventful Super Bowl week

Sport

From Darnold's big day to Bad Bunny and MVP Matthew Stafford returning, an eventful Super Bowl week
Sport

Sport

From Darnold's big day to Bad Bunny and MVP Matthew Stafford returning, an eventful Super Bowl week

2026-02-09 19:00 Last Updated At:19:10

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Sam Darnold and that stingy Seattle Seahawks defense captured the franchise's second Super Bowl championship on the familiar field of their rival — the San Francisco 49ers.

General manager John Schneider considered that an advantage in his team's 29-13 victory against the New England Patriots on Sunday night after Seattle won 13-3 at Levi's Stadium just last month.

More Images
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye walks off the field after a loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye walks off the field after a loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford speaks after winning the AP Most Valuable Player award during football's NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford speaks after winning the AP Most Valuable Player award during football's NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

New England Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams speaks to the media during Opening Night on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in San Jose, Calif., ahead of the Super Bowl 60 football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. (Jeff Lewis/AP Content Services for the NFL)

New England Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams speaks to the media during Opening Night on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in San Jose, Calif., ahead of the Super Bowl 60 football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. (Jeff Lewis/AP Content Services for the NFL)

Bad Bunny performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl 60 between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Bad Bunny performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl 60 between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, left, celebrates as he walks off the field after winning the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, left, celebrates as he walks off the field after winning the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

“They've been a very confident group,” Schneider said.

Here’s a look at some top moments from Sunday’s game and the week leading up to Super Bowl 60 in the Bay Area:

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye received an injection before the game to numb his troublesome shoulder, then finished 27 for 43 for 295 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions for the AFC champions.

“There were more sways in the first half where I feel like I could have made a better throw or made a better decision,” he said.

Maye returned to health in the Super Bowl lead up after he didn’t throw much last week because of his troublesome shoulder, which he injured on a scramble during the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos.

Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny brought some of his country's rich culture and history to the Super Bowl, not to mention a surprise during his colorful halftime show: Lady Gaga. Ricky Martin, too.

Bad Bunny gave a roll call of the nations of North, South and Central America, including Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, the United States and Canada. A parade of flags from those nations made its way through the sugar cane fields that functioned as the show’s centerpiece.

Lady Gaga appeared at a real wedding scene on stage. The couple parted to show her on the stage, and she joined Bad Bunny in performing “Baile Inolvidable.”

Matthew Stafford won the AP Most Valuable Player award with his four daughters in tow Thursday night, then announced he would return to the Los Angeles Rams for another season.

Stafford turned 38 on Saturday and wants to chase another championship.

“Oh yeah, I’ll be back," the quarterback declared.

For Terrell Williams, coaching at the Super Bowl meant so much after being away from the team during a nearly five-month fight with prostate cancer.

The Patriots welcomed back their defensive coordinator, who hadn't been traveling or on the sideline during his ordeal.

“It feels good,” Williams said. “Harold Landry made the comment that when I come in the building, I put a smile on their face because they see how hard I'm working and they know it's not easy. But my comment to Harold was: You guys are putting a smile on my face.’ So it's really like we're all working together. I'm happy to see them, they're happy to see me. What you realize is that we all struggle.”

The Super Bowl marked the final game for this Seahawks coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will depart to coach the Las Vegas Raiders. Kubiak will likely take some Seattle assistants along with him.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye walks off the field after a loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye walks off the field after a loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford speaks after winning the AP Most Valuable Player award during football's NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford speaks after winning the AP Most Valuable Player award during football's NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

New England Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams speaks to the media during Opening Night on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in San Jose, Calif., ahead of the Super Bowl 60 football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. (Jeff Lewis/AP Content Services for the NFL)

New England Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams speaks to the media during Opening Night on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in San Jose, Calif., ahead of the Super Bowl 60 football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. (Jeff Lewis/AP Content Services for the NFL)

Bad Bunny performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl 60 between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Bad Bunny performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl 60 between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, left, celebrates as he walks off the field after winning the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, left, celebrates as he walks off the field after winning the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

DENVER (AP) — A Frontier Airlines plane hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway of the Denver International Airport during takeoff, airport authorities said, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate.

The plane, on route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday," the airport's official X account wrote.

A spokesperson for the airport said the pedestrian, who jumped a perimeter fence, has died. They said the unidentified person was hit two minutes after entering the airport. The person is not believed to be an airport employee.

“We're stopping on the runway,” the pilot tells the control tower according to the site ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”

The pilot tells the air traffic controller they have “231 souls” on board and that an “individual was walking across the runway.”

The air traffic controller responds that they are “rolling the trucks now" before the pilot tells the tower they “have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”

Frontier Airlines said in a statement flight 4345 was the one involved in the collision and that “smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff.” It was not clear whether the smoke was linked to the crash with the pedestrian.

“The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members,” the airline said. “We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.”

Passengers were then evacuated via slides and the emergency crew bused them to the terminal. The airport spokesperson said 12 passengers suffered minor injuries and five were taken to local hospitals.

Denver Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident took place, will remain closed while an investigation is conducted. It is expected to open later today.

The pedestrian death came a day after a Delta Air Lines employee was killed while on the job at the Orlando International Airport. In a statement, the airline said the employee was killed Thursday night without providing details of the incident nor the name of the employee.

“We are focused on extending our full support to family and taking care of our Orlando team during this difficult time,” the airline said. "We are working with local authorities as a full investigation gets underway to determine what occurred.”

FILE - A Frontier Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for take off from Denver International airport on Nov. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

FILE - A Frontier Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for take off from Denver International airport on Nov. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Recommended Articles