Notes and quotes from a Seahawks Super Bowl victory

Some late notes and quotes from the first Super Bowl in Seahawks history. First, a few of the best quotes from the night, Doug Baldwin’s takedown of Cris Carter not included:

From an unidentified reporter in the press box who clearly isn’t familiar with the Seahawks: “Boy these guys hit, don’t they?

S Kam Chancellor on the outcome of the game: “We did exactly what we said we were going to do… We finished business.”

And on if his early hit on Demaryius Thomas sent a message: “I definitely think it did. It just sends a message. Any time you come across that middle, you’ve got a chance of getting wrecked. That’s the way we play on defense. We play physical, we want to instill our will.”

DE Michael Bennett on the Seahawks’ pass rush: “I don’t even know how the NFL let all of us get on the same team. I mean, me, Cliff and Clem on the same team is just unfair.”

On the result: “We saw this coming. We never went into a game thinking we couldn’t win. We always knew when we played our type of defense that we play, there’s no offense that can play with us.”

On what the defense did against the Broncos: “It was the same exact game plan. At the end of the day when you’ve got these type of players, you don’t’ need to change every week. We go out there and line up, play our defense and win.”

On if the Seahawks were in the Broncos heads after some big hits early: “I don’t want to say that, but you know they were tip-toeing around those slants and stuff. But hey, I won’t want to catch a ball if Kam Chancellor was running out there. K.J. Wright is 6-4, 255 playing linebacker. It’s scary to go out there and catch a ball against them.”

WR Doug Baldwin on former seventh-round pick Malcolm Smith earning MVP honors, and on he and fellow undrafted receiver Jermaine Kearse having big games: “21 of our 53 players are undrafted, so that should tell you a lot. We have dogs on this team, and every opportunity that they get, whether it’s offense, defense or special teams, they’re going to go out there and dominate.”

DE Red Bryant on what it means to dominate a record-setting Broncos offense: “We’ll let all the pundits, we’ll let all the football historians… we’ll force their opinion on what type of team that was. We dominated on the biggest stage when the light was the brightest and played the way we played, we’ll let everybody else form an opinion of what we are.”

Denver coach John Fox: “We ran into a buzz saw.”

“There’s a reason they were the No. 1 team in defense over the season, so give them credit. They had a lot to do with it with a combination of coverage and rush.”

Seattle coach Pete Carroll on defense winning the battle of No. 1 D vs. No. 1 O: “Well people like to say defense wins championships, so you can keep going with that quote for a little while.”

On winning with offense, defense, special teams, and while dominating the turnover battle: “That’s it. That’s exactly how we try to play. We’ve been what we’ve tried to put up pretty consistently for a lot of years. I’m thrilled that it came out like that so clearly and so obviously that that’s the way we can play ball to win a championship.”

S Earl Thomas on his defense: “You can’t really game-plan for us, because the scout team guys aren’t Kam Chancellor, Byron Maxwell, Richard Sherman, especially not 29. That’s why we don’t get stressed out about the game, we just enjoy it.”

And some Super Bowl records set and tied in the game, as compiled By Elias Sports Bureau:

SUPER BOWL RECORDS SET IN SUPER BOWL XLVIII

Quickest Score From Start of Game – 12 seconds, Seattle

Most Playing Time In The Lead, Game, Team – 59 minutes, 48 seconds, Seattle

Most Completions, Game – 34, Peyton Manning

Most Receptions, Game – 13, Demaryius Thomas

Most Super Bowls Lost, Team – 5, Denver

Most Completions, Game, Team – 34, Denver

SUPER BOWL RECORDS TIED IN SUPER BOWL XLVIII

Most Receptions, First Half – 7, Demaryius Thomas

Most Two-Point Conversions, Game – 1, Wes Welker

Most Safeties, Game — 1, Cliff Avril

Most Touchdowns, Kickoff Returns, Game – 1, Percy Harvin

Most Safeties, Game, Team – 1, Seattle

Fewest Touchdowns Rushing, Game, Team – 0, Denver

Fewest Times Sacked, Game, Team – 0, Seattle

Fewest Times Sacked, Game, Both Teams – 1, Denver vs. Seattle

Fewest Times Intercepted, Game, Team – 0, Seattle

Fewest Punts, Game, Team – 1, Seattle

Fewest Punt Returns, Game, Team – 0, Seattle

Most Touchdowns, Kickoff Returns, Game, Team – 1, Seattle

Fewest Fumbles, Game, Team – 0, Seattle

Fewest Turnovers, Game, Team – 0, Seattle

YOUNGEST PLAYERS TO WIN SUPER BOWL MVP AWARD

Marcus Allen, L.A. Raiders, Super Bowl XVIII, Jan. 1984 23 years, 302 days

Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh, Super Bowl X, Jan. 1976 23 years, 317 days

Tom Brady, New England, Super Bowl XXXVI, Feb. 2002 24 years, 184 days

Malcolm Smith, Seattle, Super Bowl XLVIII, Feb. 2014 24 years, 212 days

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens senior and University of Oregon commit Laura Eichert is The Herald’s 2025 Volleyball Player of the Year. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Area stars shine on all-state volleyball teams

15 players and 2 coaches honored by the WSVCA.

The roster moves by Seahawks general manager John Schneider as the team's top personnel decision-maker have been a part of the team's successin 2025-26. (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
John Schneider’s bold swings make Seahawks contenders

The team’s GM became the top personnel decision-maker after the departure of Pete Carroll.

Lake Stevens girls wrestling sweeps Thursday double dual

Prep roundup for Thursday, Jan. 8: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. announced that he’s staying at UW just two days after saying he would enter the transfer portal. (Photo courtesy of Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures / Washington Athletics)
Coe: Can Huskies QB repair damage of brief departure?

Washington’s Demond Williams Jr. took college football’s instability to a new level.

Monroe’s Tenny Oylear runs with the ball during the game against Ferndale on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Seahawks take over Monroe, Jackson girls flag football

The Bearcats defeat Ferndale for a $1,000 donation during promotional event on Wednesday.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Dec. 28-Jan. 3

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Dec. 28-Jan. 3. Voting closes… Continue reading

Jackson’s Seamus Williams reacts to fouling out of the game against Squalicum on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jackson overcomes slow start, takes down Eagles

Strong nights from Seamus Williams and Joey Gosline help Jackson erase a two-point first quarter on Wednesday.

Marysville Pilchuck boys wrestling dominates double dual

The Tomahawks register 13 pins over two matches in a strong Wednesday showing.

Seattle Seahawks' defensive end Leonard Williams shows off his NFC West Champions hat after a win over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday in a Levi's Stadium locker room in Santa Clara, California. (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Ex-Giants Leonard Williams, Julian Love cherish this Seahawks ride

Once teammates in New York, Seattle’s key defenders appreciate winning.

Snohomish’s Hudson Smith dribbles the ball up the court while Meadowdale’s Noah Million defends during the game on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish boys basketball upsets Meadowdale

The Panthers win third straight while handing Mavericks second loss of season on Monday.

Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. runs with the ball against Purdue in a game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington on Nov. 15, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures / Washington Athletics
Huskies QB Demond Williams Jr. intends to transfer

The Washington sophomore who recently signed a deal to stay at UW announces departure.

Seattle Seahawks head football coach Mike Macdonald (center) speaks to Seahawks players and coaches after a 13-3 win over the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Mike Macdonald may need to beat NFC West’s best again

The Seahawks coach was hired to beat the 49ers and Rams, potential playoff opponents.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.