Long before the first kickoff in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, the spotlight shifted to San Jose quarterbacks Drake Maye and Sam Darnold used the event’s Opening Night to frame the narratives — both personal and physical — that could ultimately define Sunday’s championship game.

In just his second NFL season, Maye has overseen a rapid transformation in Boston, helping lift the New England Patriots from post-dynasty uncertainty to Super Bowl contention. Speaking before a packed audience of media and fans, the 23-year-old emphasised preparation, routine and collective accountability as the foundation of the Patriots’ rise.

“Playing quarterback at a high level in this league is hard,” Maye claimed, repeatedly deflecting praise toward team-mates and coaches. His comments carried additional weight given the context that he has been managing a shoulder injury sustained in the AFC Championship Game and entered Super Bowl week listed as questionable after limited participation during the bye week and a missed practice since then. On Monday, however, Maye made it clear he expects no limitations. After a throwing session that mirrored his normal workload, he expressed confidence in his physical state.

“I feel good. I’ll be just fine,” Maye said. “I threw a good bit. I threw as much as I would at a normal practice. I felt great and look forward to getting back out there Wednesday and Thursday for practice, and Friday to get ready for a normal week of prep.”

The extra time between games proved significant, with a free weekend scheduled between the Championship Games and turning up California for the biggest game of his career.

“I turned a corner on the flight,” Maye revealed. “I felt good from the flight and throwing out there today… I really had no doubt about being 100 percent for the game. This is the Super Bowl — we get two weeks to prepare for it and do whatever we got to do to get it right. I’ve got confidence and feel good.”

Beyond health, Maye leaned into personal reflection, offering pointed praise for his counterpart. Drawing admiration for Darnold’s winding NFL journey, he highlighted the mutual respect between the two quarterbacks.

“I’m a big fan of Sam. What a journey,” Maye said, before Seahawks replaced Patriots at the dais and Darnold, who has also been managing the lingering effects of injuries from Seattle’s NFC Championship run, reciprocated the respect. Reflecting on his career path — from the New York Jets to the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings before a breakthrough season with the latter cemented a move to Seattle — Darnold framed each stop as part of a necessary progression rather than a setback.

“I take every experience as its own, no matter what happens,” he said. “Everything I do, I just take it one day at a time. And I think that’s kind of the mantra for myself and what I’ve been able to do over the last couple years.”

Darnold’s remarks echoed an Opening Night theme centered on patience, resilience and trust in support systems — all qualities tested by both quarterbacks during a physically demanding postseason.

The event’s quieter tone did little to suppress emerging storylines. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, a three-time Super Bowl champion with New England as a player, spoke candidly about his belief in a roster still widely cast as an underdog despite its AFC dominance, reinforcing the sense that New England’s rise has been built on internal conviction rather than external validation.

Maye, meanwhile, offered a lighter glimpse into his preparation, revealing an array of pregame superstitions that accompany his meticulous approach — from putting on his right shoe before his left, to standing in the same spot during the national anthem. “I try to keep the little things the same,” he said. “And, yeah, I got a lot of things I probably do.”

Assuming no setbacks, Maye is poised to make history once the game kicks off. At 23 years and 162 days old, he would become the second-youngest quarterback to ever start a Super Bowl, trailing only Dan Marino in 1984, and, with a victory, he would surpass Ben Roethlisberger as the youngest starting quarterback to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, a milestone made more striking given the injury management and scrutiny that have accompanied his path to Super Bowl LX.

Together, the respectful exchange between Maye and Darnold set an earnest tone that contrasted with Opening Night’s usual spectacle. In doing so, both quarterbacks heightened anticipation for Sunday with a mix of competitive urgency and mutual admiration befitting the NFL’s biggest stage.