New England Patriots rookie offensive lineman Will Campbell raised eyebrows after he declined to take part in interviews following the team's 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60. Campbell struggled in the contest, giving up 14 quarterback pressures in the loss. Because of that, his refusal to speak after the game drew attention.
Campbell, 22, apologized for that decision Tuesday, saying he was dealing with a lot of emotions after the game and wanted to get his head on straight.
Will Campbell apologizes to reporters for not speaking after the Super Bowl, admitting he was feeling a lot of emotions and wanted to get his head on straight
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) February 10, 2026
The Patriots' entire offensive line struggled against a ferocious Seahawks defense in the Super Bowl. The Patriots allowed six sacks in the loss. While Campbell was the most obvious part of the team's offensive line's struggles, he was far from the only player to allow pressure to reach Drake Maye.
For Campbell, however, those struggles became a trend throughout the entire postseason. After turning in a solid regular season, Campbell — the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — performed like one of the worst tackles in the playoffs.
Turns out, there was a reason for that, as Campbell revealed Tuesday he tore a ligament in his knee at some point this season. Campbell said he didn't want to use the injury as an excuse for his struggles.
Will Campbell said he tore a ligament in his knee this season. He wasn’t 100% for the playoffs but said it’s not excuse.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) February 10, 2026
It's unclear exactly when Campbell sustained the injury, though it could explain why the rookie saw his performance take a dive in the playoffs. During the regular season, Campbell ranked as the 32nd-best left tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus' metrics. While that figure wasn't elite, it wasn't necessarily bad considering he was a rookie adjusting to the NFL.
Campbell wasn't the only key member of the Patriots who battled a notable injury during the Super Bowl. Maye had a shoulder injury he sustained during the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos. Maye received pain-killing injections in his shoulder prior to taking the field in Super Bowl 60. The 23-year-old quarterback revealed Tuesday that he will not need offseason surgery to correct the issue.
In addition to talking about his injury, Maye also provided some thoughts on playing with Campbell. The quarterback had nothing but good things to say about Campbell's ability and future in the NFL.
Drake Maye on #Patriots LT Will Campbell:
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) February 10, 2026
"It's a pleasure going out there with Will ... Will is a great case who's experienced it all, ups and downs, [the] injury side of it ... the expectations of a first round pick. He's dealt with so much this year."
Says he'll be a great…
After a disappointing end to an otherwise promising season, Campbell and Maye will look to come back better than ever next season. Campbell, in particular, will have a lot to prove considering the way his season ended, even if the injury was to blame.