SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- If you are a casual San Francisco 49ers fan heading to a Super Bowl LX party, you may not be very familiar with the players charging onto the field at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. KRON4 sports producer Phil Mayer picked three key players to watch Sunday from the New England Patriots, and three from their opponents, the Seattle Seahawks. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye Mayer said, "In just his second year with the Patriots, Drake Maye vaulted himself into a select group of elite NFL quarterbacks. He boasts a strong arm and is a capable runner, traits that made him a finalist for the NFL's MVP award. Sunday will be Maye's chance to put the cherry on top of his fantastic sophomore season by beating a sturdy Seahawks defense." The 23-year-old quarterback will be the second-youngest QB to start a Super Bowl. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye laughs during the NFL Super Bowl Opening Night Feb. 2, 2026, in San Jose. (AP Photo) Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs "On the field, Stefon Diggs served as a solid veteran target for Drake Maye. But he made far more headlines off of it. Diggs is in a relationship with rapper Cardi B, with rumors swirling that he could propose after the game. However, he was accused in December of assaulting his personal chef after not paying her money that he owed her. Diggs will try to block out the noise and perform for New England on Sunday," Mayer said. Diggs had 85 receptions for 1,013 yards this season. He's a key playmaker with 11 seasons of NFL experience. Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs talks about the Super Bowl at a news conference on Feb. 2, 2026, in San Jose. (AP Photo / Godofredo A. Vásquez) Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins "Mack Hollins also plays an important role in the Patriots' offense, totaling a team high 51 receiving yards as the Patriots beat the Denver Broncos in a blizzard on Jan. 25 to advance to the Super Bowl," Mayer said. "Hollins is one of the quirkiest players in the NFL. Expect him to show up to Levi's Stadium on Sunday barefoot, which he is known to do in rain, snow or shine," he added. Mack Hollins makes a catch during the AFC Championship NFL football game on Jan. 25, 2026 in Denver. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold "Sam Darnold's rollercoaster career could reach its zenith on Sunday with a Super Bowl victory. A former top prospect at USC, Darnold was cast aside by the lowly New York Jets and Carolina Panthers before rehabilitating his skills in San Francisco as Brock Purdy's backup in 2023," Mayer said. "He played well for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 and signed with the Seahawks last offseason, where he's had his best professional campaign. The low point of Darnold's career came in 2019, when he was caught on a microphone telling a coach he was 'seeing ghosts' during a brutal performance against the New England Patriots. Now, he has a chance to beat those same Patriots on the sport's biggest stage," Mayer explained. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold talks to reporters in San Jose on Feb. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/ Charlie Riedel) Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba "Jaxon Smith-Njigba, or 'JSN,' cemented himself as one of the NFL's top offensive players in 2025. His 1,793 receiving yards were most in the NFL, and he repeatedly made clutch plays for Seattle. Smith-Njigba has the talent to singlehandedly swing the game in the Seahawks' favor," Mayer said. Smith-Njigba had 119 catches and scored 10 touchdowns this season. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) runs with the ball during the NFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ben VanHouten) Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez will be tasked with trying to slow down the Seahawks' star receiver. Smith-Njigba vs. Gonzalez should be one of the best matchups of the game. Gonzalez told reporters this week, "(Smith-Njigba) can do everything from every spot on the field. He’s a smooth route-runner, can run every route, and he’s just an amazing player. I got the utmost respect for him, and I’m excited for Sunday." Jaxon Smith-Njigba speaks during a NFL Super Bowl news conference on Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III Mayer said, "Kenneth Walker III blends physicality and speed to make himself a dangerous piece to Seattle's offense. Walker is fun to watch -- he is tough to tackle and runs hard in the open field. His co-star, Zach Charbonnet, got hurt in the Seahawks' playoff win over the San Francisco 49ers, leaving Walker to shoulder the workload in the running game." Walker thrived in an increased role during the playoffs. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry in the postseason, caught all seven passes thrown his way for 78 yards receiving, and scored four rushing touchdowns. Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) scores a touchdown past Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young (0) during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Super Bowl LX in SF Bay Area: Live updates on game-week festivities The Coaches The Patriots' head coach, Mike Vrabel, led his team to a 17-3 record this season. During a news conference held in San Jose Monday for Super Bowl Opening Night, Vrabel refused to compare Maye to the Patriots' legendary former quarterback and Bay Area native Tom Brady. New England is aiming for an NFL-record seventh Lombardi trophy and first without Brady. While fielding questions from reporters, Diggs had high praise for his coach. "I’ve had great coaches but this guy played the game, he knows we’re gonna grind and he takes care of us," Diggs said. The Seahawks' head coach is Mike Macdonald, who guided his team to a 16-3 record. Both teams have a powerhouse defense. Seattle's defense is led by tackle Leonard Williams, linebacker Ernest Jones IV, and cornerback Devon Witherspoon.  Williams told reporters, "We shut some teams out this year with no points on the board. We have a very suffocating defense, I would say." The Associated Press contributed to this report. ...read more read less