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Three-time Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck accumulated a lot of experience in his 18-year NFL career, including a Super Bowl appearance.
Hasselbeck led the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl XL against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but lost the game 21-10. During a recent interview with Pakinomist Digital, Hasselbeck was asked what advice he would give to Sam Darnold and Drake Maye, who are both making their first Super Bowl starts.
The 50-year-old’s advice was simple: just have fun.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) tackles the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first quarter at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. December 6, 2015. (Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports)
“Well, enjoy. I think it’s an important thing. You know, my dad (Don Hasselbeck) actually won Super Bowl XVIII with the Raiders against Washington, and I just remember the team having so much fun. Like they were silver and black, Raiders, all that, but they were having fun,” Hasselbeck told Pakinomist Digital in a recent interview with the Family Heart Foundation.
“And even like when I got drafted to the Green Bay Packers, they’d just come off two consecutive Super Bowls. And Brett Favre and those guys, like they were having fun. I’d say in Seattle, like, not really knowing, we were having fun, like we were cutting it, because it didn’t feel like a job.”
Hasselbeck completed 26 of his 49 passes for 279 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the loss. He encouraged Darnold and Maye to cut it loose, but no matter what, just take it one play at a time.
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Drake Maye (10) of the New England Patriots stands for the national anthem prior to the AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on January 25, 2026. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
“For Sam and the Seahawks or Drake Maye and the Patriots, I’d say one game at a time, guys. Let it go. 60 minutes – all you’ve got. At the end of the day, you look up at the scoreboard, whatever it says is what it says. Control what you can control. Let it go and have fun. But there’s nothing, there’s something, there’s (4). good to look forward. Let it go.
The quarterbacks are both listed with ailments on the injury report and will battle through injuries in the Super Bowl.
Both quarterbacks face strong defenses. The Seahawks allowed the fewest points per game. game in the regular season (17.1).
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Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks takes the field after the Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 31-27, in the NFC Championship NFL football game in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl. January 25, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
The Patriots have shut out the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos in the playoffs, allowing just 8.6 points per game en route to the Super Bowl.
Hasselbeck played for four different teams in his 18-year career: 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, three with the Indianapolis Colts, two with the Green Bay Packers and two with the Tennessee Titans. In 209 games, he completed 60.5% of his passes for 36,638 yards with 212 touchdowns and 153 interceptions.
The Seahawks will play the Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday at 6:30 PM ET.
