Will Campbell had an easier time fending off the media than he did the Seahawks’ pass rush in Super Bowl 2026.
The Patriots’ left tackle was embarrassed on Sunday as New England struggled to give quarterback Drake Maye a clean pocket to throw in during a 29-13 loss to the Seahawks in Santa Clara, Calif.
Afterwards, Campbell did not speak to reporters, a violation of the league’s collective bargaining agreement that requires players to be available to reporters after games.
Campbell, in the eyes of many, was the weak link for the Patriots on Sunday, coughing up an obscene 14 pressures, the most in a playoff game since 2018 and more than any offensive lineman allowed during any game this season, per NFL Network.
Next Gen Stats points out that the Patriots allowed 29 pressures during this postseason, the most ever recorded by the stat provider.
Super Bowl Sunday started off terribly for Campbell, as he was bull rushed by edge rusher Derick Hall for a first drive sack on Maye, one of six sacks taken by the New England franchise quarterback.
Questions will surround the Patriots and their prized left tackle from here, as New England’s offensive line was among the worst in the league this season.
Campbell had already begun to receive criticism of his playoff performance, and he wasn’t exactly receptive to it.
“I don’t give a [expletive] what anyone says,” Campbell said via Boston.com after the Patriots’ wild-card win over the Chargers. “I hold myself to the highest expectation of anybody.”
Campbell was selected No. 4 overall by the Patriots in the 2025 NFL Draft, and many are going to be calling that pick a bust after just one season.
Campbell was largely considered a stud offensive line prospect coming into the draft out of LSU, though there were questions about the length of his arms as he entered the league, and scouts began doing player evaluations.
Generally, teams prefer their offensive linemen to have at least 34-inch arms, though he was measured with arms around 32.5 inches during the draft process.
This could be a reason to move Campbell inside to guard, where arm length would be less of a concern.
