Aden Darde continued to “build a legacy” as the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive coordinator, helping them to a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday, becoming the first British coach to win a Super Bowl title.
Durd’s No. 1 scoring defense had a dominant performance in Super Bowl 60, sacking Patriots quarterback Drake Maye six times, returning one of his two interceptions for a touchdown, and stealing a fumble.
Dard began his playing career in England, and went on to play in NFL Europe with Scotland’s Claymores and Hamburg Red Devils, and also enjoyed time on the practice squads of the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs.
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Highlights from Super Bowl 60, when the Seattle Seahawks played the New England Patriots in California.
He then spent six seasons as the defensive coordinator for the London Warriors and was the founder of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program before moving into coaching positions around the league, serving on staffs with the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys before becoming Seattle’s DC this season.
“There’s no one like him,” Phoebe Scheckter said on her podcast “Inside The Huddle” while reflecting on the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory.
“No one has put in as much effort as Aden, playing in NFL Europe and then putting in all the internships, hard work and time.
“He’s had two head coaching interviews this year. If he can be consistent in back-to-back seasons like he’s been, he’s going to be hard to ignore.
“But it’s also a path. We often say, ‘If you can see it, you can do it,’ and Aden is living it.
“I can’t wait to see how many people he inspires with what he accomplished this Super Bowl.”
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New England quarterback Drake Maye was intercepted by Seattle’s Uchenna Nwosu and ran in unopposed for a 44-yard touchdown.
Durde’s defense was relentless Sunday night in Santa Clara, especially in the first half. The Patriots punted on eight of their first nine drives, and the team’s 51 total first-half yards were the fewest in the past 35 Super Bowls.
Maye also became the first player since Tom Brady in Super Bowl 42 against the New York Giants to be sacked three times in the first four drives of a Super Bowl.
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Maye was sacked four times in the first three quarters as Seattle’s defense proved dominant.
“This is an opportunity to give real credit where credit is due,” Jeff Reinbold added on Inside The Huddle.
“(Head coach) Mike McDonald deserves a lot of credit for building this defense and (general manager) John Schneider deserves a lot of credit for bringing in the players, but it’s Aden Daade who is adjusting the defense every day.
“And look at this defensive effort, the pressure that the Patriots couldn’t withstand. I thought this was a great job by Dahde and his defensive staff.”
“I’m telling you, the Super Bowl is the defining game. You make money during the regular season, but you build your legacy in the Super Bowl.”
“Well, Aiden Durde did that and now he can be in the same shoes as some of the great defensive coaches of the past like Rex Ryan, Buddy Ryan and Wade Phillips.”
Speaking to Sky Sports immediately after the game, Dard was asked if he had ever dreamed of being in the position he is in – winning a Super Bowl.
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Seattle defensive coordinator Aden Daade was in good spirits after becoming the first British coach to win a Super Bowl.
“No, not at all,” he said. “I think you take every moment as it comes, but this is incredible, knowing that my family is with me and that my whole family and the people back home who supported me are watching over me.”
“I’m proud of our players. They committed at the beginning of the year to push themselves to play like that every play. And today they came out and showed the best version of themselves.”
“I appreciate everything they do. I appreciate the work they do. I like how we all keep each other accountable. We have a common goal.
“When you’re pushing like that and you’re getting results, that’s when you’re moving forward. That’s what happened with this team, and now we’ve got to keep pushing.”
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Actor Chris Pratt was emotional as he celebrated the Seattle Seahawks’ victory over the New England Patriots
Darnold has the perfect response to Super Bowl skeptics
Seattle not only boasted the league’s No. 1 defense led by Dahde, but also ranked third in scoring offense (28.4 per game) and eighth in yards allowed (351.4 per game) during the 2025 regular season.
At the forefront of the offense’s success is quarterback Sam Darnold, who completed his own remarkable story by winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy aloft
Darnold entered the league as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and spent three tumultuous years with the New York Jets before being dumped by the Carolina Panthers and facing competition for a starting spot.
He then spent one year as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers and his resurgence culminated in a stellar season that saw him reach the playoffs with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, but his opportunity to start there came after J.J. McCarthy was injured.
However, Minnesota trusted McCarthy during the offseason, and Darnold signed a $105 million contract with the Seahawks in his place.
“What’s that old saying? ‘What about me now?'” Reinbold said on Inside The Huddle.
“Jets, Carolina, San Francisco, what about me now? Minnesota, what about me?” He’s a Super Bowl champion now!
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As the Seahawks took another step forward against the New England Patriots, Darnold found AJ Varner for a 16-yard touchdown.
“Credit to Darnold, because there were some plays that didn’t really show up on the stat sheet. He got out of trouble a few times, got some first downs, and showed all the athleticism you’d expect from a first-round draft pick.
“He was the youngest quarterback taken in the draft that year, so he had a maturing process to go through.
“They always talk about how in pro football they never ask how, they just ask ‘how many’.
“He’s been to one Super Bowl. He’s been to one, won one. And there’s a lot of guys who can’t say that.”
