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SANTA CLARA, Calif. – South Dakota will have a native son on the field Sunday when the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks meet in Super Bowl 60.
Seahawks guard Grey Zabel grew up in Pierre, South Dakota, and played at North Dakota State. Seattle took him with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
According to Zabel's NDSU roster profile, Zabel:
- Was a two-time NCAA Division I FCS national champion with title wins over Montana State in 2021 and 2024 in those Missouri Valley Football Conference championships.
- Started the final 36 consecutive games of his career with the Bison and totaled 41 starts over his five seasons, including games at left tackle, right tackle, left guard and right guard.
- Was a first team FCS All-American at left tackle as a senior in 2024.
- Graduated from T.F. Riggs High School in 2020, playing on the offensive and defensive lines under coach Steve Steele and serving as team captain his senior year.
- Graduated from NDSU in May 2024 with a major in agribusiness and minors in economics and precision agriculture.
Zabel's father, Mark Zabel, played football at Northern State University in Aberdeen, where his mother, Tanna Zabel, was on the track and basketball teams. He has two brothers, Peyton and Jett. Jett Zabel joined the NDSU football team as a tight end in 2024.
Super Bowl rematch
Sunday's game is a rematch from 11 years ago.
The Patriots are seeking their NFL-record seventh Super Bowl victory and first since quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick won their sixth ring together seven years ago. This year’s New England team is led by young quarterback Drake Maye, coach Mike Vrabel and a stifling defense.
The Seahawks have veteran Sam Darnold as quarberback, coach Mike Macdonald on the sideline and also boast one of the league’s best defenses.
The previous Patriots-Seahawks meeting on Feb. 1, 2015, produced one of the wildest finishes in the big game’s history. New England’s Malcolm Butler intercepted a Russell Wilson pass from the 1-yard line in the final minute to secure a 28-24 victory. Seattle fans still lament why Marshawn Lynch didn’t get the ball on a handoff at the 1.
The Associated Press contributed to this story produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories, subscribe and donate at sdnewswatch.org. Contact: info@sdnewswatch.org.
