The Seahawks Pope Conspiracy

Photo from Church POP on Facebook

Every time the Seahawks make a serious run for the Super Bowl, something unusual seems to happen. This is part of the “Seahawks–Pope Conspiracy” theory. The theory suggests that whenever there is a change in leadership of the Catholic Church, the Seahawks reach the Super Bowl. While this may seem random, fans believe that there is a clear pattern to what is happening.

The Seahawks made their first Super Bowl appearance in the 2005 season. This was the year that Pope John Paul II passed away and Pope Benedict XVI was elected. Then, in the 2013 season, the Seahawks won the Super Bowl. This was also the year when Pope Benedict XVI was the first Pope to resign in nearly 600 years. Pope Francis was elected to succeed him.

This year only furthered the conspiracy theory. In 2025, Pope Leo XIV was elected by the college of cardinals, continuing the pattern. In Super Bowl LX, the Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots, 29–13.

“The 2025 Super Bowl was an amazing game, and I attribute it to a new Pope being elected,” said sophomore Sreeansh Kokkonda.

The Seahawks dominated the game, limiting their opponents to zero turnovers. The victory marked their first Super Bowl championship since 2013. The moment they secured the victory, people began circulating posts on social media, joking about the Seahawks' conspiracy theory.

“I believe wholeheartedly in the conspiracy as it can’t just be a coincidence every single time the Seahawks make the Super Bowl, a new pope is elected,” said sophomore Luke Taylor.

While there is no real connection between the two, this conspiracy theory has persisted for a reason. Fans love to see patterns. When a series of major events occurs, fans like to connect with the events. As such, the Seahawks-Pope conspiracy, while seemingly random, has become a part of the lore of the Seattle sports teams. So , as of this past Super Bowl, it seems that the jokes will not be going away anytime soon.