Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III and quarterback Sam Darnold, who hails from Orange County, visited Disneyland in Anaheim on Monday to honor their recent championship. The event featured a festive parade described by the theme park as a
“a celebratory cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A.”
Kenneth Walker III’s Historic Performance and Super Bowl Achievement
Kenneth Walker III became the first running back since Terrell Davis in 1998 to receive the Super Bowl MVP title, after rushing for 135 yards on 27 carries during the Seattle Seahawks‘ 29-13 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday in Santa Clara. His rushing total marked the highest in a Super Bowl since Davis gained 157 yards on 30 carries in Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl XXXI victory. Additionally, Walker tied Thurman Thomas for the eighth-highest rushing total in Super Bowl history, matching Thomas’s 135 yards on 15 carries during the Buffalo Bills’ 20-19 loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV.
Sam Darnold’s Contributions and USC Heritage
Sam Darnold completed 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown in the game. Born in Dana Point on June 5, 1997, and raised in San Clemente, Darnold graduated from San Clemente High School in 2015. Notably, he became the first quarterback from the University of Southern California (USC) to start in a Super Bowl. As Seattle’s starting quarterback, Darnold led the team from a 10-7 non-playoff record in 2024 to an NFL-best 14-3 in 2025, securing their first Super Bowl appearance since 2014.
Other USC and UCLA Players in the Game
Besides Darnold, three additional former USC players appeared for the Seahawks. Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu scored Seattle’s final touchdown with a 45-yard interception return in the fourth quarter. Defensive tackle Leonard Williams was a starter and contributed tackles, while nose tackle Brandon Pili participated without recording statistics. UCLA’s sole player in the game, receiver Jake Bobo, made a special teams tackle. With this game, the Super Bowl marked its 53rd edition featuring at least one USC player and the 52nd with at least one UCLA player on an active roster.
Injuries and Team Roster Notes
The Seahawks’ second-leading rusher during the regular season, former UCLA standout Zach Charbonnet, missed the playoffs after tearing his ACL in the January wild-card round, a 41-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. The New England Patriots did not have any players from USC or UCLA on their roster for the game.
Sam Darnold’s NFL Journey and Contract Details
Darnold’s rapid rise led him to be the fourth quarterback to win the Super Bowl in his first season with a team, joining notable names Brad Johnson, Tom Brady, and Matthew Stafford. He signed a lucrative three-year, $100.5 million contract with Seattle on March 13, marking his fourth team in four seasons and fifth in an eight-season NFL career. Originally drafted third overall by the New York Jets in 2018, Darnold was the first of the five quarterbacks selected in that draft’s first round to reach the Super Bowl.
Collegiate Highlights and Legacy
During his collegiate career at USC, Darnold started in 2016 and led the Trojans to the Rose Bowl victory and a Pac-12 championship in his second season—achievements that remain USC’s most recent titles in those contests. His successful transition from college to professional play underscores his important role in Seattle’s recent success and the significance of his Super Bowl performance.
