AJ Barner May Have Sealed Seahawks Super Bowl Victory With Touchdown

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The Seattle Seahawks are tasting victory as they hold a three-score lead in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots.
The Seahawks scored their first touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter when quarterback Sam Darnold found second-year tight end AJ Barner in the back of the end zone.
88 to the END ZONE.🕺 @_ajbarner_
— xz* - Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) February 9, 2026
📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/pxTTydVXXy
Barner Touchdown Helps Seahawks Win Super Bowl
Barner was a fourth-round pick for the Seahawks out of Michigan, where he helped the Wolverines win a national championship in the 2023 season. He had 22 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown during his lone season at Michigan. He spent his first three collegiate years at Indiana, who won the national championship last month.
Barner joined the Seahawks as primarily a blocking tight end, but he has grown a lot during his time with the team. He arrived alongside head coach Mike Macdonald, and hopes to continue getting better for the team.
“I continue to grow in all facets of my game, but hopefully soon we’re going to be talking about me as one of the best tight ends in the league,” Barner said in an interview with Field Gulls. “Just being able to do all the things asked out of a tight end.”
Barner hopes he can become one of the league's top tight ends like Travis Kelce or George Kittle.
“I’m from Cleveland, Ohio, and Travis Kelce is from there so I’m a big Travis Kelce fan,” Barner said via Field Gulls.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for George Kittle just being in the division watching a lot of tape with him. I think those two guys have been doing it at a high level for a really long time and are kind of the mainstays of the position. Quite honestly there’s a lot of really tight ends in the league, and I really just want to continue to learn as much as I can from myself and other guys as well.”
Barner and the Seahawks have a 19-0 lead against the Patriots early in the fourth quarter. Fans can watch the game on NBC or stream it on Peacock.

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Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several On SI sites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid and resides in Central Florida. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener.