Canadian Willson reflects upon the highs, lows that come for players in Super Bowl

Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson runs during warmups before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Seattle on Nov. 20, 2016. Willson has experienced the best, and worst, of playing in the Super Bowl. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, John Froschauer

The Seattle Seahawks can help ease Luke Willson’s pain.

Seattle faces New England in the Super Bowl on Sunday. It’s the first championship meeting between the two teams since the Patriots’ epic 28-24 championship victory 11 years ago.

Malcolm Butler’s stunning goal-line interception with 20 seconds remaining cemented that win. It was a controversial ending as Seattle was third-and-goal from New England’s one-yard line yet didn’t call upon star running back Marshawn Lynch, who’d rushed for 102 yards and a TD.

Willson was in the middle of the drama as a sophomore tight end with Seattle. The year before, Willson capped his rookie season with a confetti shower following the Seahawks’ 43-8 championship win over the Denver Broncos.

“No, I never have (got over Butler’s interception),” said Willson, who’ll cover Sunday’s big game as an analyst with TSN. “I don’t want this to sound like it’s ruining my life because it’s easy for me to talk about at this point, but I don’t think I’ll ever get over that.

“If Seattle can beat New England, it would help a little bit. Especially for the fans more than the players, I’d say.”

The six-foot-five, 255-pound Willson recollects being “shocked” at the playcall.

“I’m in the huddle and was like, ‘Really?’” he said. “But at that moment, the clock is running down, and I’m on the field thinking, ‘OK, we’re throwing here.

“I’m on the zone side, and I don’t think they (Patriots) are going to play zone, but if they do, I’d better be open.’”

Willson wasn’t the only Canadian connection in the game.

Regina’s Jon Ryan was Seattle’s punter in both Super Bowls but didn’t immediately respond to interview requests.

Former CFL cornerback Brandon Browner was part of New England’s championship team after a stint with Seattle from 2011-13. He is serving an eight-year prison sentence imposed in December 2018 for attempted murder.

The personable Willson, 36, of LaSalle, Ont., said while there’s no bigger high in football than winning the Super Bowl, there’s no greater disappointment than coming up short in the contest.

“No, I don’t think so,” Willson said. “When we finally got to that moment where we did win, it was just pure jubilation.

“The next year, it was just the polar opposite.”

Seattle is a 4.5-point favourite Sunday, and with good reason.

The Seahawks (14-3) were the NFC’s top seed, anchored by the NFL’s top-scoring defence (17.2 points per game). Quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 4,048 yards and 25 TDs in his first season with Seattle, aided by standout receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who set a club record with 119 catches and led the league with 1,793 receiving yards and 10 TDs.

New England (14-3), the AFC’s second seed behind Denver, did finish atop the AFC East in Mike Vrabel’s first year as head coach after posting a 4-13 record last season. Many football pundits see Seattle as a more complete team, but Willson feels Patriots offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels could be a huge factor Sunday.

“I think on paper Seattle is clearly at an advantage,” Willson said. “But where it gets a little worrisome for me is I don’t feel you can underestimate New England’s coaching staff.

“I’m not saying Seattle’s coaching staff also isn’t unbelievable … but they (Pats) have Josh McDaniels as an OC with two weeks prep. Would it shock me if McDaniels is able to manipulate 18, 21 points? No, this is a very big chess match.”

Willson adds Seattle can’t afford to be careless Sunday.

“I think they might be able to survive one (turnover), but if they get sloppy and turn the ball over a couple of times, I’d get nervous then,” Willson said. “I know people are saying New England had a weaker schedule, sure, but they’ve got some dogs, especially on defence.

“They’re playing very hard for their coach; they’re extremely well coached and disciplined. New England also has this Bill Belichick mantra, and I heard it in Detroit from Matt Patricia: more games in the NFL are lost than won. New England plays that style of ball, ‘We’re not going to lose this game, you have to beat us.’”

Willson admits it feels a little odd with these two teams chasing a Super Bowl title again over a decade later.

“The fact that game ended in such dramatic fashion and now Seattle is playing the exact same team 11 years later is wild to me,” Willson said. “It’s a little eerie, to be honest.

“I wanted Seattle to make it to the Super Bowl, but from a selfish perspective, I was really pulling for Denver (to beat New England in the AFC title game) because it would’ve been much nicer as a member of the media reliving the Denver Super Bowl. But it is what it is, we’re here, and we’ll get it knocked out.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 4, 2026.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press