Super Bowl Sunday will be a challenging day for several current and former NFL figures, as the event pits the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks against the AFC champion New England Patriots. Here's a list of individuals who will have a particularly difficult time watching the game:
Jerod Mayo: As the former head coach of the Patriots, Mayo was fired after a single season, despite a weak roster. He will have to root for the Pats, as his brother, Deron, is now the team's strength and conditioning coach. It's a bittersweet situation for Mayo.
Jimmy and Dee Haslam: The owners of the Cleveland Browns, the Haslams had their eyes on Mike Vrabel as a potential head coach. However, they decided to stick with Kevin Stefanski, who later got fired. Vrabel ended up coaching the Patriots, who are now in the Super Bowl. It's a reminder of what they missed.
Tom Brady: Brady, a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, made a controversial decision by trading a third-round pick to the Seahawks for Geno Smith, instead of pursuing Sam Darnold. This move could impact the Raiders' future, as they might need to decide on a quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft.
See AlsoSteelers 2026 Coaching Staff: Meet the New Additions2026 NFL Honors: Myles Garrett, Tetairoa McMillan, Joe Thuney & Christian McCaffrey Win Big!Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa: Will 2026 Cap Hit Determine His Fate?Jim Schwartz's Surprising Resignation: What's Next for the Former Browns Coordinator?Offset: The rapper Offset, who shares children with Cardi B, might be annoyed by the sight of Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs, who is currently dating Cardi B. Offset's team, the Seahawks, will be competing against the Pats.
A.J. Brown: Brown, a star receiver, was frustrated with the Eagles' underutilization of his skills. He was considering a trade to the Patriots, where Vrabel and Maye were making a strong team. Watching the Super Bowl might be difficult for him, especially after experiencing a championship the previous year.
Jed York: As the owner of the San Francisco 49ers, York will have to watch his team's rivals, the Seahawks, in the Super Bowl. The 49ers had a chance to win the Lombardi Trophy in their own stadium but lost to the Seahawks in the divisional round. It's a bitter pill to swallow.
The Frustrated Four: Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Patrick Mahomes will be disappointed by the success of Maye, who is only in his second season. It's a stark contrast to their own struggles and highlights the challenges of the NFL.
Sean McVay: McVay, the Rams' coach, will have to root for the Patriots, who defeated his team in the previous Super Bowl. It's a reminder of his loss to Mike Macdonald's Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.
DK Metcalf: Metcalf, a wide receiver, requested a trade from the Seahawks and was shipped to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will be watching his former team, the Seahawks, in the Super Bowl, which might be difficult for him.
Bill Belichick: Belichick, the legendary coach, will have to confront the prospect of his former boss, Robert Kraft, winning a Lombardi Trophy without him. The disconnect between the two men is well-documented, and Belichick's ban on Patriots scouts from Tar Heels practices adds to the tension.
Pete Carroll: Carroll, the former coach of the Seahawks, will have to watch two billionaires who fired him—Kraft and Jody Allen—compete for the Lombardi Trophy. It's a bittersweet moment for him, especially considering his least-favorite play, Malcolm Butler's interception, in the previous Super Bowl.
Amy Adams Strunk: Adams Strunk, the owner of the Tennessee Titans, has had a challenging season, marked by intermittent firings and a lack of alignment between coaches and the front office. The Super Bowl might be the final straw, as the Titans had a disappointing 3-14 record in 2025.
Kevin O'Connell: O'Connell, the Vikings' head coach, will have to reflect on his decisions regarding quarterback trades. He helped Darnold relocate, but the Vikings ended up with J.J. McCarthy, who didn't perform as expected. O'Connell might be rooting for interceptions on Super Sunday.
