Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) catches a touchdown pass against Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker K.J. Wright (50) in the second quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Chris Matthews (13) catches a touchdown pass against New England Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan (26) in the second quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (rear) hugs wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA;New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater (18) celebrates the Patriots victory in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) celebrates their victory over the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) walks off the field after the game against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Seahawks 28-24. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) reacts during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots strong safety Malcolm Butler (21) intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette (83) in the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks fight during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Brandon LaFell (19) scores a touchdown against Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) and cornerback Tharold Simon (27) during the second quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Brock Coyle (52) in the second quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) catches a touchdown pass over Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker K.J. Wright (50) during the second quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Chris Matthews (13) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots strong safety Malcolm Butler (21) intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette (83) in the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots strong safety Malcolm Butler (21) intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette (83) in the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse (15) makes a phenomenal fourth quarter catch as New England Patriots strong safety Malcolm Butler (21) defends in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse (15) makes a catch against New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (30) and strong safety Malcolm Butler (21) during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady greets Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (L) as Patriots owner Robert Kraft (C) looks on after the Patriots defeated the Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game in Glendale, Arizona February 1, 2015. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) is stopped short of the goal line by New England Patriots outside linebacker Dont’a Hightower (54) in the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots strong safety Malcolm Butler (21) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass against the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots celebrate their victory over the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates after beating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Brady was named the games most valuable player. (Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson (3) talk after being intercepted by New England Patriots strong safety Malcolm Butler in the final seconds of the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game in Glendale, Arizona February 1, 2015. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Super Bowl MVP New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates winning Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium.(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Super Bowl MVP New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) hugs New England Patriots running back Brandon Bolden (38) after winning Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after beating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) is driven off the field with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after his team defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game in Glendale, Arizona, February 1, 2015. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots outside linebacker Jonathan Casillas (52) celebrates after beating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates after beating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; A general view of the New England Patriots as they celebrate their victory over the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy next to head coach Bill Belichick after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game in Glendale, Arizona February 1, 2015. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; A member of the New England Patriots hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after beating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after his team defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game in Glendale, Arizona February 1, 2015. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy with Super Bowl MVP New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) after winning Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
GLENDALE, Arizona — The New England Patriots were crowned Super Bowl champions on Sunday after defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 to capture their first National Football League title in 10 years.
The victory put New England alongside five other teams with at least four Super Bowl wins while Tom Brady joined Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw and childhood idol Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks with four championship rings.
Brady was named the most valuable player of Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Brady fired four touchdowns, including two in a frantic fourth quarter, to give him a record 13 Super Bowl touchdown passes.
“Wasn’t the way we drew it up,” Brady said about the 10-point fourth-quarter deficit. “Certainly throwing a couple picks didn’t help. Lot of mental toughness and our team showed it all year.”
Seattle had a chance to steal a dramatic win after a circus catch by Jermaine Kearse put the Seahawks deep in Patriots territory. But a Russell Wilson pass was intercepted at the goal line by Malcolm Butler with 20 seconds to play to seal the victory.
“I just had a vision that I was going to make a big play and it came true and I’m just blessed,” said Butler, who was also covering Kearse when he made the spectacular circus catch. “I can’t explain it right now.
“I just knew they were stacked … it all comes down to preparation. I just made a guess and made a play.”
Down by 10 points midway through the fourth quarter, Brady cemented his legacy as one of the NFL’s all-time greats, engineering to long scoring drives capped by touchdown passes to Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman to retake the lead.
The buildup to the Super Bowl had been dominated by a controversy over deflated footballs used by the Patriots in a blowout win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC title game that earned them a trip to Arizona and a whiff of scandal hung over University of Phoenix Stadium as the NFL investigation into the matter continued.
The game represented a last chance for the NFL to put a scandal scarred season behind it and the Patriots and Seahawks did their part, providing an afternoon of edge-of-your-seat drama.
“Every year if you’re privileged to get to this game, hard things happen,” said Patriots owner Robert Kraft. “I’m so proud of Brady and (coach Bill) Belichick for handling things the way they did.
“I love them. And all our Patriots fans should feel very good.”
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