Seattle, Boston archbishops make friendly wager ahead of 2026 Super Bowl
Seattle and Boston archbishops place a wager ahead of the Super Bowl while also acknowledging the big game comes amid a difficult time for many across the nation.
It’s become an annual tradition for the Catholic bishops from the two cities sending teams to the Super Bowl to make a friendly wager before the big game to benefit Catholic nonprofits in the teams’ cities.
As the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks prepare to play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 8, Archbishop Richard G. Henning of Boston and Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle discussed this year’s wager with EWTN News.
The two archbishops said the weekend will be fun for fans across the nation but acknowledged it comes amid a tense time in the United States with ongoing debates and division surrounding immigration.
“I think this is an important moment, obviously, of unity. This is a shared cultural moment, hopefully a moment for people to gather, be with friends and family, a joyful thing,” Henning said. “But at the same time, we don’t want to forget that there are other realities in our world and suffering; [we want to] be attentive to that as well.”
“It’s a situation that requires attentiveness and sensitivity,” Etienne said. With the “tradition of a friendly wager between the bishops of the teams, Archbishop Henning and I just simply wanted to acknowledge that we do realize we got more important matters that we are being attentive to,” he said.
“But at the same time, we recognize the great role that sports and relaxation play in the lives of our people, too.”
The pair decided the wager this year would be a $500 donation to Catholic charities that have a particular focus on the care and support of immigrants.
Preparing for a ‘joyful’ game
Etienne discussed how putting aside differences and coming together is an advantage that sports and recreation can bring.
“Healthy competition is a part of so many aspects of human life, and it’s good for people to have something to take their minds off of other matters in their world and in their lives to just relax. And hopefully, the outcome of the game will still allow everybody watching it and participating to still be relaxed and joyful at the performance of their teams,” he said.
The 60th Super Bowl marks the second time the Seahawks and Patriots will compete in the championship game. In 2015, the Patriots defeated the Seahawks at the 49th Super Bowl. Despite the loss, Etienne said “there is definitely a better performance on the way this year” for Seattle’s team.
Etienne said Seattle players see it as a “good omen” that in the 21st century, every time a new pope has been elected, the Seahawks made it to the next Super Bowl.
When Pope Benedict XVI was elected in April 2005, the Seahawks played in the Super Bowl in February 2006. Then Pope Francis was elected in March 2013, and the Seahawks played in the Super Bowl in 2014. In May 2025, Pope Leo XIV was elected and now Seattle’s team is once again in the championship game.
While Henning has only been in Boston a little over a year after moving from New York, he said he is “absolutely a fan” of the New England Patriots and said they are “a great team.”
“This is a team that unites New England and Boston. It’s a team that is committed to young people in our communities. They give a great example of hard work, resilience, discipline, and the team is very generous in going out into our communities among our young people, helping them with their sports programs,” Henning said.
“It’s a great team, a great management, a great coach who’s a wonderful witness of Catholic faith, Coach [Mike] Vrabel. So, I’m very much a fan of them in every way,” Henning said.
The teams are schedule to compete on Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
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