By Aidin Ebrahimi, SuperWest Sports
Sports
2025-26 Jan Updates for NBA Players from Schools in West
We’re getting closer and closer to the All-Star break and the NBA trade deadline.
While teams might not try to replicate last season’s chaotic and unprecedented trades, they’re still going to make big moves that will have a huge impact on the league’s landscape.
One of these big moves was the Trae Young trade, as the Hawks finally ended the Young era, sending the superstar to Washington.
But we’ve heard enough about those guys.
How are the players from programs in the West doing? As always, I’m back with my monthly SuperWest report, covering the top veterans, rookies, and everyone else in between!
Here are my selections and summaries for January.
Hot This Month
Peyton Watson (Denver Nuggets, UCLA)
Nikola Jokić started the 2025-26 season on fire, as he was hell-bent on winning his fourth MVP award. However, he suffered a knee injury in late December and has been out of action ever since.
Many fans believed the Nuggets would struggle without one of the greatest players in league history, but head coach David Adelman has done a tremendous job keeping the team afloat.
Adelman, who impressed many with his performances in last season’s playoffs following Michael Malone’s unexpected dismissal, has given the team’s younger stars the chance to shine during Jokić’s absence.
Chief among these young players is Peyton Watson, who has taken a huge leap in his fourth season and is playing like a superstar.
Since Jokić’s injury, Watson has been averaging 23.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.7 stocks (steals + blocks) a night while leading the Nuggets to an 8-5 record.
His efficiency has also been elite, as he’s been shooting 50.5% from the floor and 45.7% from deep during this stretch.
Before the start of the season, Adelman claimed he was impressed by Watson’s preseason play, and in November, he expressed his pleasure with Watson’s defensive output.
“I just expect him to bring great energy defensively,” Adelman said in November. “If he can score and pass and make plays offensively, you know, it’s kind of just the cherry on top.”
Watson has done considerably more than just “making plays” and has truly made his coach proud. “Peyton’s been giving everything he has, and that’s all I can ask for.”
Brandon Williams (Dallas Mavericks, Arizona)
In his fourth game against the Mavericks since being traded by them last year, Luka Dončić scored 33 points to help the Lakers win.
However, the Mavericks gave a valiant effort, led by Brandon Williams, who stole the show with 20 points and a crafty “Shammgod” move on Deandre Ayton.
I discussed how Williams is making the most of his opportunity two months ago, and despite his struggles with three-point shooting, Williams has gone from strength to strength since then.
In his last 12 games, Williams has scored 16.8 points in just 23.6 minutes per game, and his high field goal percentage (57.3% during this stretch) has helped mask his poor shooting from deep.
His ability to finish inside (70.6% field goal percentage from zero to three feet this season) has been a huge asset, and he can parlay his good play into a solid contract next season.
Rookie Report
Caleb Love (Portland Trail Blazers, Arizona)
Tiago Splitter made a name for himself with the 2010s San Antonio Spurs, making two Finals appearances and winning a championship as a key contributor.
However, his work as a head coach so far is arguably more impressive than his achievements during his playing days.
The Brazilian has helped steady the ship for the Trail Blazers following the Chauncey Billups gambling scandal, with Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe turning into stars, while young players such as Caleb Love are showing promise.
Love’s game was overcriticized by scouts due to his long stay in college, which led to him being undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Last month, I mentioned how Love was proving his doubters wrong, and he has continued to shine on this exciting young Blazers squad. Over his last 18 games, Love has averaged 15.7 PPG, with respectable shooting splits for a rookie (43.9/38.1/70.8).
“He’s really stepped up,” Splitter said when asked about Love. “But what I’m most impressed with is the effort he has put in defensively.”
As a 24-year-old UDFA, Love won’t receive the same number of chances as his fellow rookies, but the former UNC and Arizona superstar has the ultimate mentor on his side: Damian Lillard.
“I keep telling him: The draft happened already, but today you are a Top-10 pick,” Lillard said. “Yep, Top-10 pick. That’s Caleb.”
Kobe Sanders (Los Angeles Clippers, Colorado State)
If they go 15-3 in any stretch this season, I will print and eat this tweet”, said Clippers writer Robert Flom on December 20. The Clippers beat the Lakers that day, marking the beginning of an incredible 15-3 run.
Flom was forced to eat his words, quite literally, and now the Clippers are looking scary again. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden will receive much of the plaudits, and rightfully so.
But their younger players, such as Kobe Sanders, have made telling contributions.
Sanders proved to be the difference maker in a 103-102 win against the Warriors with a 20-point performance, and has drained 19 of his 44 three-pointers (43.2%) during the Clippers’ 15-3 run.
This solid stretch has many Clippers fans excited for the future, and they will place their hopes on Sanders when their franchise superstars get older and retire.
Settling In
Corey Kispert (Atlanta Hawks, Gonzaga)
We’re used to NBA stars forcing trades to contenders, so when Hawks superstar Trae Young forced a trade to the up-and-coming, small-market Washington Wizards, it was viewed as a breath of fresh air.
Young was traded for the veteran CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
Many, including myself, waited years for Kispert to break out in Washington, but despite showing some flashes of greatness, such as two 15-game, 17+ PPG stretches to end his second and third seasons, it never truly materialised.
Kispert scored 19 points against the Lakers in his second game as a Hawk and dropped 16 against the Celtics in his first game at State Farm Arena since the trade. This led to him replacing Vit Krejci in the starting lineup, which hasn’t worked out at all.
Kispert has failed to score over eight points in each of his four games as a starter, and patience is running thin. Hopefully, the former Gonzaga Bulldog can turn things around on his new team.
Top Veterans
Russell Westbrook (Sacramento Kings, UCLA)
The Sacramento Kings are an absolute mess.
But at least they did the basketball world a huge favor by signing Russell Westbrook before the start of the season, ensuring at least one more season of the former MVP playing in the NBA.
Westbrook has been quietly having a solid season, as he became the NBA’s all-time highest-scoring point guard on January 3.
In his last 13 games, Westbrook has put up 18.2 points and 6.0 assists a night while shooting 46.4% from the floor, which is very impressive for his standards and considering his age.
Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics, California)
No one is laughing at Jaylen Brown now.
Many thought the Celtics would struggle this year without Jayson Tatum, but Brown has put the team on his back.
Since the start of the new calendar year, Brown has been averaging 29.8 points and 8.0 rebounds a night, and his numbers have helped the Celtics stay relevant as the Eastern Conference’s 2nd seed.
With Tatum nearing a return, the C’s could gear up for yet another Finals run, just like how the Patriots returned to the Super Bowl this year.
Aidin Ebrahimi covers the NBA for SuperWest Sports.
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While he is widely considered the greatest player in NFL history, Tom Brady has given that unofficial title to another gridiron great. A diehard 49ers fan during his childhood, Brady anointed former San Francisco receiver Jerry Rice as the greatest football player of all time.
“Jerry sets the standard for every football player that’s ever played and will play in the future,” Brady said during the second episode of “Rise of the 49ers,” an AMC documentary about the 49ers’ dynasty. “He had a relentless drive to pursue his own excellence.
“Jerry Rice is still the GOAT.”
A fixture in the documentary, Brady conducted a sit-down interview Rice during the episode. Like Brady, Rice said that the secret to his success was in the dirt. His peerless work ethic led to him becoming unquestionably the best receiver of his era, but any era.
While their greatness can be debated, everyone can agree that Rice is to receivers what Brady is to quarterbacks. Both players at the top of their proverbial food chains.
Rice is the NFL’s all-time career leader in receptions (1,549) and receiving yards. His 22,895 receiving yards are 5,403 more than Larry Fitzgerald, who is second all time behind Rice in both categories. Rice’s 197 career touchdown receptions are 41 more than the next closest receiver, Randy Moss.
Speaking of Moss, Brady helped him break one of Rice’s most iconic records in 2007, when Moss broke Rice’s single-season touchdown receptions mark. Moss caught 23 that season, one more than Rice caught during the strike-shortened 1987 season. Rice caught 22 touchdowns in 12 games.
Rice was at his best on the game’s biggest stage. He is the Super Bowl’s career leader in receiving yards (589) and touchdown catches (8). Rice’s 215 receiving yards in Super Bowl XXIII remains a single-game Super Bowl record. He caught seven passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns a year later in Super Bowl XXIV and pulled down 10 passes for 149 yards and three scores in the 49ers’ win over the Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. He was truly a cut above the rest.
In all, Rice won three Super Bowls with the 49ers before playing in a fourth Super Bowl with the Raiders.
Getty Images
Brady tops the charts in career passing yards (89,214) and has nearly 9,000 more yards than Drew Brees, the second most prolific passer in league history. His 649 career touchdown passes are 78 more than Brees, who retired as the career leader in both categories before Brady passed him.
Super Bowls, however, may define Brady’s NFL career more than anything else. His seven Super Bowl wins are two more than any other franchise. He won a record five Super Bowl MVP awards and owns just about every Super Bowl career record and also owns the single-game record for passing yards (505). He also helped engineer the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history that was also the first Super Bowl to go to overtime.
Getty Images
Another similarity between the two is how well they both played well into their 40s.
Brady won two Super Bowls after turning 40 while becoming the second starting quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with multiple franchises. During his age-44 season, Brady led the NFL with 5,316 yards and 44 touchdown passes.
At the age of 40, Rice earned his 13th Pro Bowl nod after catching 92 passes for 1,211 yards and seven touchdowns. He capped off that season with a 48-yard touchdown catch in the Super Bowl.
While their careers did overlap, Brady and Rice never played together, which would have been similar to watching LeBron James and Michael Jordan join forces on the hardwood. And like LeBron/Jordan debate, any debate between Rice and Brady simply comes down to preference.
For Brady, though, there is no debate to be had when it comes to the greatest football player of them all.
Feb 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier (61) celebrates his goal scored against the Seattle Kraken with defenseman Jackson LaCombe (2) during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Cutter Gauthier scored his team-leading 25th goal of the season as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the visiting Seattle Kraken 4-2 Tuesday night.
Jacob Trouba, Alex Killorn and Ross Johnston also scored and Jackson LaCombe and Jansen Harkins added two assists apiece for the Ducks, who won their second in a row and for the ninth time in their past 11 games to move past Seattle and into third place in the Pacific Division entering the Olympic break. Goaltender Lukas Dostal made 26 saves.
The Kraken, who saw their four-game winning streak snapped, will have a chance to regain that spot in the standings as they have one game left, Wednesday night in Los Angeles, before their three-week hiatus.
Seattle’s Jordan Eberle scored on a tip-in of Jared McCann’s shot at 15:31 of the third to spoil Dostal’s bid for his first shutout of the season.
The Kraken’s Shane Wright tallied at 17:29 after Dostal’s attempt at an empty-net goal was knocked down.
Seattle goalie Philipp Grubauer stopped 27 of 31 shots.
Tuesday’s game completed the regular-season series between the division rivals, with the teams splitting the four matchups.
The Ducks outshot Seattle 11-7 in a scoreless first period. Anaheim opened the scoring at 4:01 of the second on a one-timer from the top of the right faceoff circle by Gauthier past a screened Grubauer just after a Kraken penalty had expired.
The Ducks made it 2-0 on defenseman Trouba’s goal at 19:27 of the period. Harkins carried the puck down the right wing before dropping a pass back to Trouba for a slap shot from the point that made it through a maze of players in front of the net.
Anaheim extended its lead to 3-0 as Killorn tallied just 24 seconds into the third on a wrist shot from low on the right wing through a screen.
Johnston made it 4-0 at 13:54 after Grubauer mishandled the puck behind his own net. –Field Level Media
French footballer N’Golo Kanté has joined the Turkish side Fenerbahce after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intervened to push through a transfer deal with Saudi club Al-Ittihad.
Miach Parsons was named to the Pro Bowl in his first year with the Green Bay Packers. Although the superstar defensive end was in San Francisco to attend the Pro Bowl festivities on Tuesday, he was on an electric scooter while moving around Moscone Center due to his knee injury. In one of the videos from the festivities that went viral on social media, Parsons was spotted filming the female cheerleaders doing a routine for the crowd.
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When fans caught wind of the video clip in which Parsons was filming the cheerleaders while on an electric scooter, they slammed the Packers star.
•
“Creep behavior,” one tweeted.
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“Nfl star or creep in training,” another added.
“He not slick,” a third commented.
Here are a few more reactions.
“NAH THIS IS MESSED TF UP,” one wrote.
“Kinda hate that this streamer a*s dude is a packer now. Like bruh… get us to the nfc championship mr highest paid ever,” another added.
“Tell that lame a*s podcaster to show up in the playoffs. Don’t nobody care bout Micah,” a user tweeted.
Micah Parsons finished the 2025 season with 41 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 6.5 stuffs, two forced fumbles and one pass defended. However, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 15 against the Denver Broncos.
Although Parsons helped the Packers qualify for the playoffs, his team was eliminated in the wildcard round with a 31-27 loss to the Chicago Bears.
Micah Parsons explains how his relationship with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones soured last offseason
Micah Parsons’ relationship with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones soured last offseason, which led to the team trading the DE to the Packers in August. On Tuesday, Parsons opened up his acrimonious split with the Cowboys.
“I just wish some of those things never happened. You know what I mean?,” Parsons told Clarence Hill of All City DLLS Cowboys. “I wish that he never brought me into the office and just let the agent speak. And I wish he hadn’t compromised our relationship. I thought me and Jerry had a good relationship up to that point until this offseason, and it’s sad that it went to sh*t like that.”
Parsons played four years with the Cowboys, earning a Pro Bowl selection in each season. He signed a 4-year, $188 million extension with the Packers after the Cowboys traded him last year.
Edited by Arnold
PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, February 4, 2026: Team USA’s Olympics base camp is making headlines since it had to change its name from Ice House to Winter House. But first, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced the country is planning a social media ban for under-16s. Next, Russian athletes could soon be back competing under their national flag. Meanwhile, the 2030 Olympic Games in France are off to a slow start. Finally, scientists study what love might look like in space.
Snooker legend and BBC commentator John Virgo has died aged 79. Virgo enjoyed an 18-year professional career, but is perhaps best known for presenting popular snooker TV show Big Break alongside comedian Jim Davidson from 1991 to 2002.
READ MORE: Snooker legend Virgo dies aged 79
If this year’s Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots is even half as good as the last time these two franchises met on this stage, it will be a wild ride. Eleven years after a Super Bowl XLIX thriller, the teams meet again with the Lombardi Trophy on the line.
The Seahawks, similar to their previous Super Bowl trips, have been powered by one of the NFL’s best defenses. Seattle allowed the fewest points in the league this season and finished first in yards per pass attempt allowed and yards per rush attempt allowed. The defense flexed its muscle in Seattle’s 41-6 divisional-round win over the San Francisco 49ers, allowing a paltry 3.9 yards per play — San Francisco’s worst mark all season.
But it was the offense that stepped up most in the NFC Championship Game. Sam Darnold threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams, with 153 yards and a touchdown going to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kenneth Walker III had 111 yards from scrimmage and a score, and Cooper Kupp and Jake Bobo also found the end zone.
Though the offense was hit-or-miss down the stretch of the regular season, it seems to have found its footing in the playoffs and, crucially, has zero turnovers. Overall, Seattle has a plus-four turnover differential this postseason.
Speaking of turnovers, no one has forced more than New England this postseason, and it’s not particularly close. The Patriots’ defense has absolutely wreaked havoc, first against the Los Angeles Chargers, then the Houston Texans and finally, in the AFC Championship Game, the Denver Broncos. The Patriots’ 8.7 points per game allowed is the fewest by any team through three playoff games since the vaunted 2000 Baltimore Ravens defense.
The Patriots offense, which powered much of the team’s regular-season success, hasn’t fared as well. New England’s 18.0 postseason points per game is the fewest entering a Super Bowl appearance since the 1979 Rams. Still, Drake Maye has made several big plays — both with his arm and his legs — and New England’s firepower will certainly be a major test for Seattle’s defense.
Here’s how to watch the game, followed by keys to the contest and a prediction.
Super Bowl LX: Where to watch Seahawks vs. Patriots
- Date: Sunday, Feb. 8 | Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
- Halftime performer: Bad Bunny
- TV: NBC, streaming on Peacock
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Betting odds: Seahawks -4.5 | O/U 45.5 (DraftKings Sportsbook)
Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl big questions
Can the Patriots force Sam Darnold into mistakes?
For as good as Darnold has been this season — and especially this postseason — he does have a penchant for turnovers. In fact, his 20 turnovers this season were most in the NFL, and his 14 interceptions were third-most. Eight of those 14 turnovers happened when he was pressured, tied with Geno Smith for most in the NFL.
Now (mostly) healthy, the Patriots’ pass rush has been dominant this postseason with an NFL-best 52% pressure rate. For comparison’s sake, the highest pressure rate during the regular season was 45% (by the Minnesota Vikings).
The Seahawks have done a good job keeping Darnold clean for the most part, and play-caller Klint Kubiak does a good job of getting him out of the pocket via play-action and giving him easy answers.
But Milton Williams, who had a big impact in last year’s Super Bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles, K’Lavon Chaisson and other members of the New England front seven will hope to make an impact so talented cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis have a chance to make Darnold pay for a poor decision.
Can the Patriots’ offensive line hold up?
The path for the underdogs to come out on top starts with getting to Darnold. The next step is protecting their own quarterback. Maye has taken five sacks in all three of his playoff games so far, and while that’s come against three of the NFL’s best defenses, it’s not as if the Seahawks’ unit is any easier.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald dials up a variety of different schemes and pressure looks, and he has both a disruptive duo inside (Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II) and a plethora of edge rushers to generate pressure.
When the Seahawks do get pressure, Maye has to be careful with the ball: He has six fumbles (three lost) this postseason, both most of any player.
Can Maye hit the deep ball?
The Seahawks’ excellent cornerbacks play very aggressively, and it almost always works. The results speak for themselves.
But if the offensive line holds up, Maye might have the opportunity for a deep ball or two, and he’s been as good as anyone in those scenarios: His 35 completions at least 20 yards downfield this regular season were second-most in the NFL behind Matthew Stafford.
Super Bowl LX pick, prediction
Expect some nerves early, especially from the quarterbacks, but as both settle in, this should be a great, close battle between an ascending star and an unlikely one.
Maye is looking to become the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, and Darnold is looking to become the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl after playing for at least five different teams.
Ultimately, the Seahawks’ defense gets a few timely stops, and Seattle leaves with its second championship.
Pick: Seahawks 24, Patriots 20
Nigeria have intensified preparations for their Davis Cup World Group II tie against Uzbekistan by moving their training base to the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, the venue for the February 7 to 8 encounter.
The move from the National Stadium, Surulere, is part of final match readiness as the players familiarise themselves with the courts and surroundings ahead of the two day contest.
Uzbekistan, which arrived in Lagos on sunday have also settled in and held their first training session on Monday. The visitors travelled with three players and four officials, with their leading player, Khumoyun Sultanov, joining the squad after his recent title win at the ITF M15 tournament in Kuwait.
Sultanov, 27, reached the second round of the Australian Open qualifiers in 2025 and achieved a career high ATP ranking of 216 in January. He is joined by Ilya Ignatov, Abdulaziz Usmonjonov, and 17 year old Sukrob Saidov.
Nigeria will be led by national number one Daniel Adeleye, alongside Canice Abua and Michael Emmanuel, all selected based on national rankings. Uche Oparaoji returns to the squad, while Abubakar Yusuf is set to make his Davis Cup debut after representing Nigeria at the Africa Games in Ghana.
Despite Nigeria being ranked 74 in the world and Uzbekistan 49, confidence remains within the Nigerian camp. According to the Nigeria Tennis Federation, hosting the tie reflects the country’s progress in international tennis.
Federation president Victor Ochei said the opportunity to host was a result of recent performances.
“Nigeria has been consistent at this level and that consistency has earned us trust,” Ochei said. “Hosting this tie shows that we can compete and also deliver at international standard.”
He confirmed that the National Sports Commission is supporting the federation in funding and event delivery.
A 15 member Central Planning Committee, chaired by Victor Hembah, has been set up to oversee preparations in collaboration with the International Tennis Federation, the National Sports Commission, Lagos State Government, security agencies, and the host club.
President of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Dr Adeyinka Adewusi, said the venue is ready for the tie.
“The courts and facilities are prepared, and we are ready to host,” Adewusi said. “This is an important event for Nigerian tennis.”
The match will take place on the centre court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club this weekend.
Enyimba FC players are in the second day of their strike on Wednesday, 4th February 2026, over unpaid match bonuses. SportsRation reports.
According to SportsRation sources in Aba, the players trained themselves at a primary school field this morning without any coach present. The club’s technical team had waited at the Enyimba International Stadium, only to discover that the squad had moved to the school field.
The players say they will not return to proper training until the club settles the match bonuses owed to them. This action comes amid growing tension between the Kanu Nwankwo-led management and the Abia State Government.
The strike threatens to affect the club’s recent revival on the field. Enyimba had picked up four points in their last two matches after a difficult month.
Enyimba currently sit 11th on the league table with 31 points from 24 matches, while Bayelsa United occupy 14th place with 28 points.
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While most football fans are excited to see the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks match up in Super Bowl LX, there is one fan base that could be staring at this game as the worst matchup possible.
The New York Jets haven’t seen the playoffs in 15 years, the worst mark of any professional sports team in the U.S. And fans certainly weren’t happy to see a 3-14 finish in the first season under head coach Aaron Glenn.
But to make matters worse, the Patriots, their AFC East rival who were with them with back-to-back four-win seasons, turned around quickly with Mike Vrabel at the helm and Drake Maye turning into an MVP candidate in just his second season.
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Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks walks on the field after the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. The Seattle Seahawks won 31-27 against the Los Angeles Rams. (Getty Images)
The Jets and their fan base spent years being tormented by Tom Brady and the Patriots, and to have New England back in the “Big Game” this quickly isn’t ideal.
Then, on the other sideline in Santa Clara will be the Seahawks, the No. 1 seed in the NFC this year led by quarterback Sam Darnold — the Jets’ No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Darnold is the first quarterback from that draft, which included Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield, to reach the Super Bowl. Jets fans pictured Darnold wearing the green and white, beating the Patriots on his way to the Super Bowl.
EX-NFL QUARTERBACK RYAN FITZPATRICK GIVES SAM DARNOLD EDGE OVER DRAKE MAYE FOR SUPER BOWL LX
Things never turned out that way for Gang Green, but one former Jets quarterback believes there’s only one way for fans to root for something in this Super Bowl.
“I think there’s probably a lot of people that are still rooting for Sam,” Ryan Fitzpatrick told Fox News Digital, while discussing his trip to Aruba with his wife, Liza, after partnering with the Aruba Tourism Authority.
“Sam would be the first to say he didn’t play well enough, but it’s very hard when there’s not an infrastructure and people around you to be successful as a quarterback in this league. I think Jets fans should be happy and proud to see Sam come out on the other side, because it’s not easy.”
Sam Darnold of the New York Jets looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 20, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Darnold’s time in New York lasted only three seasons despite his draft selection, culminating in up-and-down weeks and unfortunate memes, including his most infamous against the Patriots where he said he was seeing “ghosts” on the field.
After stints with the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers, Darnold was able to rekindle his career in Minnesota, leading the Vikings to a 14-win season last year. That allowed him the chance to pick where he wanted to go in free agency this past offseason, and he chose the Seahawks after they traded away Geno Smith.
Darnold clearly made the right move.
If Fitzpatrick were still a Jets fan — he actively roots for the Buffalo Bills, the team he played for before joining New York — it would be easy to root for Darnold’s success.
But even though Fitzpatrick himself was beaten by the Patriots for years during his career, he does find himself reluctantly rooting for them on Sunday.
“The hard thing for me in this one, I mean I’ve hated the Patriots forever. Even though I was in Boston, I was at Harvard, they had a good, little run while I was there. I was still never a Patriots fan, and then it’s like I spent eight years of my career in the AFC East just getting beat up by them every single year,” he explained. “The fact that they’re good again and find themselves back in the Super Bowl after Tom leaving and Bill leaving, and now having Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye.
Ryan Fitzpatrick on set during the TNF on Prime pregame show prior to an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 25, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
“It’s a hard realization, but I love Mike Vrabel so much. I was with him in Houston, I get to play golf with him at the American Century in [Lake] Tahoe every summer. He’s a great dude. I love his family, I love his kids, I love him. So, actually, I feel like I’m rooting for New England in this game, which pains me to say.”
ONE HAPPY ISLAND, ONE HAPPY FITZ
After a long football season, Fitzpatrick and his wife, Liza, visited Aruba for some well-earned relaxation to reset and recharge before the Super Bowl.
He partnered with the Aruba Tourism Authority, which showcases the island’s commitment to responsible tourism, which includes protecting the island’s natural environment, celebrating local culture and inviting guests to travel mindfully through the Aruba Promise and Guest Guidelines.
Fitzpatrick did that and loved every minute of it, as he experienced the outdoor lifestyle that Aruba, nicknamed “One Happy Island,” has to offer.
Ryan Fitzpatrick and his wife, Liza, enjoyed their time in Aruba after the 2025 NFL season. (Aruba Tourism Authority)
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“My wife and I — seven kids. So, we very rarely get away. So, when we get away, we gotta make sure it’s the right spot, and this one hit. It has the white-sand beaches, it has the resort, which is great. But it also has the adventure. I’m not a guy that likes to just sit on the beach and get the tan all day long. There was hiking, we were swimming in a natural pool, we went and searched some caves a little bit.
“The great thing for my wife and I, right away you feel relaxed. Then, we come home and there is this air of happiness and rejuvenation that we’re feeling. It stayed with us.”
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