NFL's Super Bowl 2026 Image Sparks Bitter Debate Over Sam Darnold and Drake Maye's Placement, Leaving Fans Confused and Divided.
A graphic posted by the NFL in September 2025 has resurfaced on social media, leaving fans scratching their heads over why Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and Patriots' QB Drake Maye were listed at the front of the pack heading to Levi's Stadium for Super Bowl 2026. The image had been shared during Week 1 of the 2025 regular season, but its relevance only intensified after Sunday's AFC and NFC title games saw the Patriots top the Broncos and the Seahawks down the Rams.
Critics have taken issue with the placement, suggesting that it was a deliberate attempt to draw attention away from key players. "The script writers have done it again," tweeted Jacob Morley of Packer Report. "Little did they know that the two guys they put closest to the trophy and furthest from the audience viewpoint would be the two Quarterbacks in the Super Bowl." Former NFL quarterback-turned-analyst Robert Griffin III also chimed in, saying that the graphic was an example of the league's attempts to manipulate public perception.
On the other hand, some fans have praised the placement, with one user declaring it "cool" and another expressing excitement about the potential matchup between Darnold and Maye. NFL writer John Frascella took to X to share his own thoughts on the graphic, saying that he had initially dismissed it as a misprint but now appreciated its significance.
The upcoming Super Bowl 2026 is set to be an intriguing contest, with Maye playing in his first game of the championship series and Darnold leading the Seahawks for the second year running. Meanwhile, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel looks to continue his turnaround efforts after orchestrating a swift improvement in New England's fortunes.
With just over two weeks to go before kickoff, fans are eagerly awaiting the big event. Super Bowl 2026 is set to kick off on February 8 at 6:30 p.m., with millions of viewers around the world expected to tune in and witness this highly anticipated showdown between two of the league's top teams.
A graphic posted by the NFL in September 2025 has resurfaced on social media, leaving fans scratching their heads over why Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and Patriots' QB Drake Maye were listed at the front of the pack heading to Levi's Stadium for Super Bowl 2026. The image had been shared during Week 1 of the 2025 regular season, but its relevance only intensified after Sunday's AFC and NFC title games saw the Patriots top the Broncos and the Seahawks down the Rams.
Critics have taken issue with the placement, suggesting that it was a deliberate attempt to draw attention away from key players. "The script writers have done it again," tweeted Jacob Morley of Packer Report. "Little did they know that the two guys they put closest to the trophy and furthest from the audience viewpoint would be the two Quarterbacks in the Super Bowl." Former NFL quarterback-turned-analyst Robert Griffin III also chimed in, saying that the graphic was an example of the league's attempts to manipulate public perception.
On the other hand, some fans have praised the placement, with one user declaring it "cool" and another expressing excitement about the potential matchup between Darnold and Maye. NFL writer John Frascella took to X to share his own thoughts on the graphic, saying that he had initially dismissed it as a misprint but now appreciated its significance.
The upcoming Super Bowl 2026 is set to be an intriguing contest, with Maye playing in his first game of the championship series and Darnold leading the Seahawks for the second year running. Meanwhile, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel looks to continue his turnaround efforts after orchestrating a swift improvement in New England's fortunes.
With just over two weeks to go before kickoff, fans are eagerly awaiting the big event. Super Bowl 2026 is set to kick off on February 8 at 6:30 p.m., with millions of viewers around the world expected to tune in and witness this highly anticipated showdown between two of the league's top teams.
I mean, seriously, who puts Sam Darnold and Drake Maye at the front of a graphic showcasing Super Bowl contenders? It sounds like a clever PR stunt to me, an attempt to distract from other storylines. The real issue here is how our league's narrative control affects our perception of the game itself 
. Are they really trying to manipulate public opinion or just making it easy for fans to talk about their favorite quarterbacks? Let's not forget that Mike Vrabel's turnaround efforts are what got him into this position in the first place - it's all about context and perspective, folks!
. And honestly, who cares where they were ranked? It's the Super Bowl, let's talk about the actual game! But I guess some fans are excited for the potential matchup between Darnold and Maye, which is cool, I guess 
. The NFL just shared a graphic showcasing the top contenders for Super Bowl 2026, and some folks are convinced that they're trying to manipulate public perception 
. Newsflash: it's just a graphic! I mean, Sam Darnold and Drake Maye were listed first because they're actually two of the hottest QBs in the league 
. It's not like the NFL made a mistake or anything - it was probably just an error on their part and they corrected it before Sunday's games.
. The NFL just wants to generate buzz around their big event, and if that means highlighting some of the top teams and players, then so be it 
.
. I mean, who doesn't love seeing their favorite team at the top of the list? And Drake Maye's first championship game experience could be super compelling to watch - I'm definitely looking forward to it! 
. can we trust the NFL with these kinds of things anymore? 
. But I guess some people are cool with it, hey, to each their own 
. Robert Griffin III is right tho, the league likes to play games with us fans... but at least it's making for some good discussion! 
but idk why nfl even posted that graphic tho... maybe they wanted to stir up some drama 
I'm so confused about that graphic tho 
why put Sam Darnold and Drake Maye at the front? 
I guess we'll just have to wait and see who's right about this 
And I'm like, "Gurl, this graphic was just a mistake" 
, but then again... 
or maybe not 
these leagues gotta try new things i guess. but seriously though, who puts 2 quarterbacks at the front of the pack and not even the top receivers or running backs? it seems kinda fishy to me...