Russell Wilson threw an interception on the goal line in the final minute of the Super Bowl that sealed the fate of the Seattle Seahawks, but the goat for the game has been offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. After a 4-yard run by Marshawn Lynch put the Seahawks one yard away from taking the lead from the New England Patriots, Bevell elected to call a pass play that proved a mistake.
Russell Wilson backs goal-line play call from Darrell Bevell
Russell Wilson doesn’t believe the decision to pass on the goal line was a poor one and thought Ricardo Lockette was open on the play.
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Two weeks after Wilson threw four interceptions against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship, Wilson managed to avoid interceptions all game against the Patriots and didn't throw his first pick until Malcolm Butler nabbed the game-winner.
On Tuesday, Wilson spoke to the media about the final play of the game which he doesn’t seem to have much regret about (via The Seattle Times):
It’s one of those things, you trust what they called. I had no doubt. I had no doubt in the play call. I still don’t to this day. I just wish we had made the play. We’ve made some phenomenal plays.
The player who made the phenomenal play was Butler, an undrafted rookie who recorded his first NFL interception on the largest stage possible. In the seconds prior, Wilson was convinced they were about to score the Super Bowl-winning touchdown.
It looked wide open. Open enough. I shouldn’t say wide open, but it looked open enough to get it in there and make the play. I thought we were going to. When I threw it, I was like, touchdown, second Super Bowl ring, here we go. And it didn’t happen.
In Wilson’s three seasons with the Seahawks, the team has appeared in eight postseason games and back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 2014 and 2015. The strong start to Wilson’s career will certainly mean a big contract for the 26-year-old quarterback, who is now eligible to receive a new deal and is expected to become the NFL’s highest-paid player:
The thought of reaching free agency isn’t something Wilson is too interested in, though:
I obviously want to play in Seattle forever. That’s my goal, and I want to be with this organization. I love this organization. I love this city. I love these fans, and I love winning here.
Wilson is still playing on the four-year, $2.198 million contract he received after he was selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. As per rules in the collective bargaining agreement, players must wait three seasons before they are eligible to receive a new deal.
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