NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin calls San Francisco Super Bowl ‘worst ever’
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The Seattle Seahawks are back in the headlines this week after news broke that Paul Allen’s estate – led by the late owner’s sister, Jody Allen – has begun the process of selling the franchise.
What finally happened coincided with Allen’s final wishes and came less than two weeks after the Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX to capture the franchise’s second Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Ten years after its departure, the big game returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2026. Events throughout the week were split between the heart of San Francisco and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, about 40 miles away. Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin cited the week’s apparent problems and called Super Bowl LX “worse than ever.”
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A general view of the sky ahead of Super Bowl LX at the Moscone Center on Feb. 04, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
“Actually, you wouldn’t go anywhere on the road,” he said. “It took forever to get to the road because the traffic was so bad.” Irvin also expressed his hope that future Super Bowls are not awarded to this region.
“This was the worst Super Bowl,” the former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver said. “They should never, ever bring the Super Bowl back to San Francisco. … ‘It was ‘blah’ in the city, you know what I mean? It just wasn’t a bounce.”
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Irvin had attended many high-profile pre-game events before, but ultimately decided the host city failed to deliver the excitement.
“People, ‘blah.’ The buildings out here looked ‘blah.’ When you go to parties, it was ‘blah,'” Irvin said in a video he shared on his YouTube channel, continuing his weekly update. “I think there should be a lot of money here because the technology is here, right? But it all seems like ‘blah.’
Michael Irvin attends the FanDuel Party Powered by Spotify 2026 on Feb. 06, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Anna Webber/Getty Images for Spotify)
Irvin said he waited until after the events and the game to voice his criticism.
“I didn’t want to dampen anyone’s thoughts or hopes about the Super Bowl during the Super Bowl, so I said ‘Imma wait.’ But I couldn’t wait until this moment to tell you,” he explained. “Damn! It was, I believe, the worst Super Bowl I’ve ever been to, and I’m just talking about how the city is shaking and everything.”
Irvin won three Super Bowls during his tenure with the Cowboys.
Former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Michael Irvin looks on during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Mississippi Rebels at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8. 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
Irvin’s comments stand in stark contrast to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey’s comments, which had a positive view of the host city.
“It’s a historic city with a lot of character. The food, the hills, the homes, the water, the bridge, everything. It’s such a big city, too, and it’s really cool to see it come alive even more than it already is,” Christian McCaffrey told Fox News Digital radio in the days leading up to kickoff.
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“Man, I think San Francisco has a lot to offer,” Purdy said. “Just obviously, with the restaurants, the experience, how beautiful it is out here with the Golden Gate Bridge and the beach. It’s a great city, great people. So having the Super Bowl here is really cool.”
Next year’s Super Bowl returns to the Los Angeles area, and Atlanta will host it in 2028.
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