SANTA CLARA – Sam Darnold gripped a light beer in his left hand while his new T-shirt and cap screamed “SUPER BOWL LX CHAMPIONS” with the Seattle Seahawks’ logo.
Nearly two hours after beating the New England Patriots 29-13 at Levi’s Stadium, Darnold strode through what normally is the 49ers’ locker room and headed toward the far corner he occupied two years ago, when he was Brock Purdy’s backup on another Super Bowl team that endured a much harsher outcome than this Sunday night’s.
“It feels good to be back in here. I love this locker room, love this stadium,” Darnold said. “It’s an unbelievable place.”
Seahawks tight end Eric Saubert, who was on the 2024 49ers, found it “surreal” to be celebrating in there, and he and most teammates did so with smoldering cigars in their hands.
“This is incredible. Surreal. The best moment of my life,” Saubert said. “It’s insane. I’m so glad to be part of this team. These are all my best friends.”
This was about the Seahawks’ joy, and none were rubbing it in afterward that they triumphed on their NFC West rivals’ field. They weren’t there to desecrate the locker room. They smoked cigars, pounded beers, carried champagne bottles, wore ski goggles, cranked music, and took turns posing with the Lombardi Trophy.
That scene, of course, would sicken the 49ers. Linebacker Fred Warner, working as an NBC Sports guest analyst, made a pregame cameo in the locker room before the Seahawks took it over and remarked: “It’s taking everything in me not to start ripping stuff down in here. Come on, it’s like torture for me.”
It was the opposite feeling for the Seahawks. They turned a 9-0 halftime lead into a 19-0 blowout before the Patriots’ Drake Maye delivered two touchdown passes in a night he was otherwise under constant attack.
The 49ers and Brock Purdy knew the Patriots’ pain, and not just in terms of losing a Super Bowl (in overtime two years ago to Kansas City in Las Vegas, and, for some, six years ago also against the Chiefs in South Florida).
Seattle, of course, broke out victory cigars in Levi’s Stadium’s other locker room, in the northwest corner, after their 13-3 win on Jan. 3, when that regular-season finale gave them — and not the 49ers — the NFC’s No. 1 seed and the NFC West crown.
“We love this field. We had a good year on this field,” safety Julian Love said. “Four weeks ago, we had cigars in this stadium. We didn’t have to travel too far and were familiar with the surroundings so we felt good today.
“It’s Lumen South today,” Love added. “The 12s showed up in full force. Super Bowl is crazy so I appreciate the people that spent their hard-earned money to attend.”
It was their ninth win in 14 games here, including a 2022 wild-card playoff loss but also eight regular-season wins, topped by last month’s but also including a 2014 Thanksgiving rout, a 2019 win over the then 8-0 Niners, and a 2024 last-minute comeback.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider said his squad played off that familiarity, five weeks after a 10-point win didn’t truly reflect their dominance and confidence.
“That was a huge game for us. The guys did a great job that way,” Schneider said.
Defensive lineman Derick Hall, who had two of their six sacks Sunday night, added: “The mission was always to get back here. We knew this game was in Santa Clara, we wanted a hand in it and put ourselves in NFL history and we did that tonight.”
The Seahawks, in their two combined wins at Levi’s Stadium, had more sacks (nine) and takeaways (four) than the 49ers did in all eight of their home games this season (seven sacks, three takeaways), as noted by NFL Media’s Jack Andrade.
As Williams gleefully caught a breath at his locker, he was informed it belonged this season to 49ers rookie Alfred Collins, a fellow defensive lineman. “I have to respect it then. I was hoping it was an offensive lineman so I can get it dirty,” Williams quipped.
Williams then joined teammates for trophy photos in front of a championship banner, right where the 49ers spend countless hours shooting basketballs during the season.
On the other side of the locker room, wide receiver Dareke Young got dressed at the stall belonging to Brock Purdy, or as Young put it, “my quarterback in the (2022) East-West Shrine Game.”
Flanking the other side of that wall was Darnold’s locker, formerly 49ers pass rusher Bryce Huff’s. On his way through the locker room, Darnold stopped for a quick chat with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who was with him on the 2023 49ers and is the next Las Vegas Raiders’ coach.
“Honestly, it was just nice to know where everything was walking in here today,” Darnold said. “A lot of times in the visiting stadium, you don’t know where anything is and you’re asking where the tubs and bathrooms are. I had a lot of guys coming up to me asking where the bathrooms were.”
Everyone, however, knew all season long where Super Bowl 60 was going to be played. Last month’s visit wasn’t just a reminder but a reaffirmation they had what it takes to win it all.
“For us it’s always been about the next game. Once we finish watching that game’s film and learn from it, it’s always about what’s next,” Darnold said. “It just brought us back here to Santa Clara and we finished the job. I’m just very proud.”
Added coach Mike Macdonald: “What you saw today is just the endpoint of a team that has been dedicated to becoming this team since we walked in the door in April.”
April 20 is when the 49ers can reconvene to start their path at snuffing out the Seahawks’ reign.