By Angelica Medina
SANTA CLARA, California, Feb 8 (Reuters) – It took five teams, eight years and countless doubters but Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold finally learned to win ugly, and on Sunday it earned him the Super Bowl ring he once seemed destined never to wear.
The Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX, with their dominant defence doing the heavy lifting while the offence managed just one touchdown.
Darnold connected with AJ Barner from 16 yards out, kicker Jason Myers added five field goals and Uchenna Nwosu returned a strip-sack 44 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory.
“I feel like we didn’t play as good as we could have. I certainly didn’t play as good as I could have,” the Seahawks quarterback told reporters following the game.
“But our defence had our back, our special teams had our back, and we got it done.
“Obviously we’d like to get in the end zone more. But with our defence, the way that they’ve been playing, my job is to take care of the football. I knew that coming into the game, and I did that.”
Darnold said the support of his family had helped him retain his self-belief during difficult early career stops with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers.
“Me and my dad don’t really cry very often,” he said. “I told my dad – and my mom – I’m here because of their belief in me.
“It was because of my parents, because of the way that they believed in me throughout my entire career. It allowed me to go out there and play free and have that kind of confidence.”
Darnold became the fourth quarterback to win a Super Bowl in his first season with a team, joining Tom Brady, Trent Dilfer and Matthew Stafford.
“I don’t think it’s really hit yet, to be honest with you, but it’s special,” Darnold said. “The love that we share throughout the building is special, and I’ve never been at a place like it.”
(Reporting by Angelica Medina in Santa Clara; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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