Seahawks' SB appearances share connection to election of new popes

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates with the trophy on the podium after defeating the Los Angeles Rams in the 2026 NFC Championship Game at Lumen Field. Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Seahawks' Super Bowl appearances share bizarre connection to election of new popes

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jan 26, 2026 2:24 PM ET

Is the election of a new pope correlated to success for the Seattle Seahawks?

The Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams, 31-27, in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle, punching their ticket to their fourth Super Bowl trip. Seattle's victory continues an unexpected trend.

What's the connection between Seahawks' Super Bowl appearances and election of new popes?

With the win over the Rams, the Seahawks have reached the Super Bowl each season in which a new pope has been elected in the 21st century. In May 2025, the Roman Catholic Church named Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV. The 70-year-old Chicago native, a fan of the Chicago White Sox, already holds a surprising number of connections to the sports world.

The Seahawks made their first Super Bowl appearance during the 2005 season, when Pope Benedict XVI was elected. They lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-10, in Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in Detroit.

In March 2013, the church appointed Pope Francis. That season, Seattle again made the big game, but this time it took care of business. The Seahawks crushed the Denver Broncos, 43-8, in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

The last three times a new Pope was elected, the Seahawks have made the Super Bowl as the No. 1 seed.

◽️ 2005: Pope Benedict XVI elected, SEA to SB XL
◽️ 2013: Pope Francis elected, SEA to SB XLVIII
◽️ 2025: Pope Leo XIV elected, SEA to SB LV pic.twitter.com/3VfU8a8tlA
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 26, 2026

The Seahawks' only Super Bowl appearance that hasn't coincided with the election of a new pope came during the 2014 season. In Super Bowl XLIX at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., former Seattle QB Russell Wilson threw an interception to New England Patriots defensive back Malcolm Butler at the goal line, sealing a 28-24 Seahawks loss.

Game on the line. And Malcolm Butler steps up with an all-time INT.

Rewatch the @Patriots Super Bowl XLIX victory for FREE with NFL GamePass: https://t.co/3yQtk4LcnE @mac_bz pic.twitter.com/fFt3UyOe0j
— NFL (@NFL) April 14, 2020

Super Bowl LX — scheduled Feb. 8 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) — features a Patriots-Seahawks rematch. The oddsmakers believe Seattle will get revenge for the previous loss. On Monday, the NFC West club opened as a 4.5-point favorite (via DraftKings Sportsbook).

Whenever the next pope is elected, consider picking the Seahawks to make the Super Bowl that season, even if the team misses the playoffs, as it did in 2024. It seems to be a special day for the franchise.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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