Quarterback Sam Darnold headlined the Seattle Seahawks' championship parade at Lumen Field, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and thanking the organization for believing in him when others didn't. His emotional speech followed a stunning season where he led the team to a Super Bowl LX title, completing 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown in the 29-13 victory over New England.

Darnold's path to the championship was rocky, marked by early struggles with the Jets and Panthers before a Pro Bowl season in Minnesota. The Seahawks bet $100.5 million over three years on him last March, a move widely questioned after trading Geno Smith. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV became a vocal defender early, famously stating "f--- you" to Darnold's critics after a Week 11 loss, a sentiment he repeated on stage during the celebration.

The Seahawks now aim to become just the second team in two decades to repeat as champions. Key challenges await, including hiring a new offensive coordinator after Klint Kubiak left for Las Vegas and addressing a list of pending free agents headlined by Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. Despite an aging defensive line, the core of a young, championship roster remains intact under contract.