NFL news: Matt Hasselbeck gives Super Bowl advice to Sam Darnold, Drake Maye
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Three-time Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck accumulated a lot of experience in his 18-year NFL career, including one Super Bowl appearance.
Hasselbeck led the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl XL against the Pittsburgh Steelers but lost the game 21-10. In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Hasselbeck was asked what advice he would give to Sam Darnold and Drake Maye, both making their first Super Bowl.
The 50-year-old’s advice was simple: just be happy.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) fumbles with the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. December 6, 2015. (Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports)
“Well, enjoy yourself. I think that’s a big thing. You know, my dad (Don Hasselbeck) actually won Super Bowl XVIII with the Raiders against Washington, and I just remember that team was so happy. Like the silver and black, the Raiders, all that, but they were happy,” Hasselbeck told Fox News Digital in a recent interview with the Family Heart Foundation.
“And like when I signed up for the Green Bay Packers, they had just come off two Super Bowls in a row. And Brett Favre and those guys, like they were enjoying themselves. I would say in Seattle, like without knowing we were having fun, like we were cutting it, because it didn’t feel like work.”
Hasselbeck completed 26 of 49 passes for 279 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the loss. He urged Darnold and Maye to cut it short but, no matter what, take it one game at a time.
PRO BOWL QUARTERBACK MATT HASSELBECK ALLOWS TO TEST CHOLESTEROL AFTER FATHER’S HEART ATTACK.
Drake Maye (10) of the New England Patriots stands for the national anthem before the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Jan. 25, 2026. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
“For Sam and the Seahawks or Drake Maye and the Patriots, I’d say one game at a time, guys. Take it slow. Sixty minutes – that’s all you’ve got. At the end of the day, you look up at the scoreboard, whatever it says is what it says. Control what you can’t control. Cut it and be happy. But there’s no such thing as a touch to 1 – point down. One play at a time.
Both quarterbacks were placed on the sick list on the injury report and will be battling injuries in the Super Bowl.
Both quarterbacks face tough defenses. The Seahawks allowed the fewest points per game in the regular season (17.1).
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Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks takes the field after the Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 31-27, in the NFC Championship NFL football game in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl. Jan. 25, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
The Patriots shut out the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos in the playoffs, allowing just 8.6 points per game en route to the Super Bowl.
Hasselbeck played for four different teams in his 18-year career: 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, three with the Indianapolis Colts, two with the Green Bay Packers and two with the Tennessee Titans. In 209 games, he completed 60.5% of his passes for 36,638 yards with 212 touchdowns and 153 interceptions.
The Seahawks play the Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday at 6:30 pm ET.
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