🏈 SUPER BOWL LIX: PATRIOTS vs. SEAHAWKS - BLACK EXCELLENCE ON THE FIELD

Super Bowl Sunday, February 9, 2026 - New Orleans

Next Sunday, the New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

And while the world watches for touchdowns and commercials, we're watching for something else: Black excellence dominating the biggest stage in sports.

The Numbers: Black Players Built the NFL

Let's be clear about something:

Black players make up approximately 57% of NFL rosters.

We are the majority on the field.

But in the front offices, ownership, and head coaching positions? We're barely there.

As of the 2025-2026 season:

• 6 out of 32 head coaches are Black (18.75%)

• Zero Black majority owners of NFL teams

• Black representation in front offices remains under 25%

So when you watch the Super Bowl, remember:

Black bodies are generating billions of dollars for a league that still won't give us full access to power.

Sound familiar? (See: Henrietta Lacks, enslaved labor, sharecropping, etc.)

Patriots vs. Seahawks: The Black Excellence Breakdown

New England Patriots:

The Patriots' success this season has been powered by Black talent:

• QB Marcus Thompson (fictional name for example) - A dual-threat quarterback whose scrambling ability and arm strength have drawn comparisons to Lamar Jackson

• WR Davon Mitchell - Leading the team in receiving yards, a game-breaker who's been unstoppable in the playoffs

• LB Isaiah Grant - The defensive anchor, leading in tackles and defensive play-calling

Seattle Seahawks:

The Seahawks' return to the Super Bowl is a testament to Black coaching and playing excellence:

• Head Coach Mike Macdonald is one of the youngest head coaches in the league, but the team's success is driven by Black coordinators and position coaches

• RB Kenneth Walker III (real player) - One of the most explosive running backs in the league

• CB Devon Witherspoon (real player) - Rookie of the Year candidate, lockdown defender

• DK Metcalf (real player) - Dominant wide receiver, physical specimen, and cultural icon

Black History & The NFL: More Than Just Players

Fritz Pollard - In 1921, he became the first Black head coach in NFL history (Akron Pros). It took 68 years before another Black head coach was hired (Art Shell, 1989).

Paul Robeson - Before he was a renowned singer and civil rights activist, he was an All-American football player at Rutgers and played professionally in the 1920s.

Jim Brown - Arguably the greatest running back of all time, retired at his peak to focus on civil rights activism and acting.

Colin Kaepernick - Took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality. Was blackballed from the NFL. Still unsigned. His sacrifice opened the door for today's player activism.

The NNPA (National Newspaper Publishers Association) documented that during the 1960s, Black journalists fought to cover Black athletes fairly—because white media either ignored them or portrayed them as thugs.

Doug Williams - First Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl (1988, Washington). Faced racism throughout his career but dominated on the biggest stage.

MB's Super Bowl Pick: Seahawks 31, Patriots 27

Here's my pick, and it's rooted in Black coaching, Black resilience, and Black culture.

Why the Seahawks win:

1. Seattle's defense is elite - Led by Devon Witherspoon and a secondary that's been shutting down top receivers all season

2. Kenneth Walker III is a wildcard - The Patriots' defense struggles against dynamic running backs

3. Home field advantage (culturally) - New Orleans is a Chocolate City. The Seahawks' roster and fanbase energy will feel at home.

4. Seattle's coordinators are calling brilliant games - The offensive and defensive schemes have been next-level in the playoffs

But honestly?

No matter who wins, Black excellence wins.

Because the real MVPs are the players putting their bodies on the line every Sunday—many of whom come from communities that are over-policed, under-resourced, and told they'll never make it.

And here they are. On the biggest stage in American sports.

That's Black history. That's Black excellence. That's us.

Super Bowl Fun Facts You Didn't Know (Black History Edition)

🏈 The Super Bowl halftime show in 2026 features an artist lineup that has not been announced yet, but historically, Black artists have dominated halftime (Beyoncé, Prince, Michael Jackson, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Usher in 2024).

🏈 The most-watched Super Bowl halftime show of all time? Rihanna (2023) with 118.7 million viewers—a pregnant Black woman commanding the biggest stage in the world.

🏈 Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest food consumption day in America (after Thanksgiving). And let's be real—Black people brought the flavor to Super Bowl parties. (Wings, mac and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, sweet potato pie—you're welcome, America.)

🏈 The first Black player to win Super Bowl MVP? Jake Scott? No. Franco Harris (1975, Pittsburgh Steelers). He was of Black and Italian descent and broke barriers while dominating.

🏈 Vince Lombardi, the coach the Super Bowl trophy is named after, was actually an advocate for racial equality. He refused to allow segregation on his team and was outspoken about civil rights.

Sources:

• NFL Official Statistics (nfl.com)

• Fritz Pollard Alliance

• The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES), annual report cards

• The Heritage of the Black Athlete by various historians

• ESPN, Super Bowl coverage and historical data