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The Seattle Seahawks returned to the headlines this week after news broke that Paul Allen’s estate — overseen by the late owner’s sister, Jody Allen — has begun the process to sell the franchise.
The final transaction aligns with Allen’s final wishes and comes less than two weeks after the Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX to capture the franchise’s second Vince Lombardi Trophy.
After a decade away, the big game returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2026. Events during the week were split between the heart of San Francisco and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, about 60 miles away. Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin cited the week’s apparent logistical problems and deemed Super Bowl LX the “worst ever.”
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A general view of the skyline before Super Bowl LX at the Moscone Center on February 4, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
“Literally, you couldn’t walk anywhere on the street,” he said. “It took forever to get all the way down the street because the traffic was so bad.” Irvin also expressed his hope that future Super Bowls are not awarded to the region.
“This was a terrible Super Bowl,” declared the former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver. “They were never ever, ever, ever going to bring the Super Bowl back to San Francisco. … It was ‘blah’ in town, you know what I mean? It just wasn’t bouncy.”
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Irvin attended several high-profile pregame events before, but ultimately decided the host city didn’t provide a festive atmosphere.
“The people, ‘blah.’ The buildings out here looked ‘blah’. When you go into events, it was ‘blah,'” Irvin said in a video shared on his YouTube channel, continuing his review of the week. “I think there should be so much money out here because the technology is out here, right? But it all looks so ‘blah’.”
Michael Irvin attends FanDuel Party Powered by Spotify 2026 on February 06, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Anna Webber/Getty Images for Spotify)
Irvin said he waited until well after the events and the match to express his criticism.
“I didn’t want to dampen anyone’s thoughts or hopes of a Super Bowl during the Super Bowl, so I said ‘Imma wait.’ But I couldn’t wait until this moment came to tell you,” he explained. “Damn! This is, I think, the worst Super Bowl I’ve ever been to, and I’m talking about just watching the city rock and everything.”
Irvin won three Super Bowls during his tenure with the Cowboys.
Former Miami Hurricanes football player Michael Irvin watches the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinal with the Mississippi Rebels at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
Irvin’s comments differ markedly from those of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey, who had a more positive view of the host city.
“It’s a historic town with so much character. The food, the hills, the homes, the water, the bridge, everything. It’s also just such a great town, and it’s really cool to see it come to life even more than it already is,” Christian McCaffrey told Pakinomist Digital on the radio row in the days leading up to kickoff.
“Man, I think San Francisco has so much to offer,” Purdy added. “Just, obviously, with the restaurants, the experiences, how beautiful it is out here with the Golden Gate Bridge and the ocean. It’s a great city, great people. So to have the Super Bowl out here is really cool.”
Next year’s Super Bowl will return to the Los Angeles area, with Atlanta set to host in 2028.
