Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III and Orange County- born quarterback Sam Darnold will make the traditional post-Super Bowl visit to Disneyland Monday, culminating with what the Anaheim theme park billed as “a celebratory cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A.”
Walker was the first running back selected as the Super Bowl MVP since Terrell Davis in 1998, rushed for 135 yards on 27 carries, the most since Davis ran for 157 on 30 carries. Walker matched Thurman Thomas, for the eighth-highest rushing total in Super Bowl history. Thomas ran for 135 yards on 15 carries in the Buffalo Bills’ 20-19 loss to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl XXV in 1991.
Darnold completed 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown in the Seattle Seahawks’ 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots in Santa Clara Sunday.
Darnold was the first quarterback from USC to start a Super Bowl. He was born in Dana Point on June 5, 1997 and was raised in San Clemente, graduating from San Clemente High School in 2015.
Three other players from USC also played for the Seahawks Sunday. Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu returned a fourth quarter-interception 45 yards for Seattle’s final touchdown. Defensive tackle Leonard Williams started and assisted on a tackle. Nose tackle Brandon Pili did not record any statistics.
The lone UCLA player in the game, Seahawks’ receiver Jake Bobo, assisted on a tackle on special teams.
Sunday’s game was the 53rd Super Bowl with a least one player from USC on an active roster and 52nd with a least one from UCLA.
Seattle’s second-leading rusher, former UCLA standout Zach Charbonnet, was placed on the reserve/injured list after tearing an ACL in its 41-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in a wild-card round game Jan. 17.
The Patriots did not have any players from USC or UCLA on their roster.
Darnold was the fourth quarterback to win a Super Bowl in his first season with a team, joining Brad Johnson, Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford. In the regular season, Darnold led the Seahawks’ turnaround from a non playoff 10- 7 record in 2024 to a NFL best-equaling 14-3 record in 2025 and their first Super Bowl berth since the 2014 season when they lost to New England, 28-24.
Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle on March 13, his fourth team in four seasons and fifth in a eight-season NFL career that began with the New York Jets selecting him as a third choice in the 2018 draft. He was the first of the five quarterbacks selected in that draft’s first round to play in a Super Bowl.
In Darnold’s first season as USC’s starting quarterback, 2016, he led the Trojans to a victory in the Rose Bowl game and a Pac-12 championship in his second, the most recent time they have accomplished those feats.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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