The New England Patriots’ journey to the Super Bowl LX was one of a kind, but for Will Campbell, the final destination at Levi’s Stadium felt more like a nightmare than for anybody else. Following their loss, Campbell became the center of conversation for his decision to walk past reporters without a word.
However, he broke silence. In an issued apology. According to Mark Daniels of MassLive, the rookie offered a sincere apology for his post-game conduct.
“I needed to get my head straight”
Just after two days of heavy scrutiny from fans and league officials for his behaviour, Campbell met with reporters at the Patriots’ facility to face the case. Mark Daniels reported Campbell’s apologies on his X account, saying:
“Will Campbell just apologized for not talking with the media after the Super Bowl. Said he wanted to get his head on straight. Will Campbell said he tore a ligament in his knee this season. He wasn’t 100% for the playoffs but said it’s not excuse.
For some, his frustration and censequent actions were understandable. Campbell had just finished a game where he surrendered 14 quarterback pressures, according to Next Gen Stats, it was the most allowed by any player in a single game throughout the entire 2025-2026 season.
Playing through a torn ligament
While Campbell refused to use it as an excuse, a major piece of his suffering surfaced during his apology. The rookie revealed he had been playing through the postseason with a torn ligament in his knee (specifically a Grade 3 MCL sprain suffered in Week 12).
While he spent five weeks on Injured Reserve before returning for the playoffs, it is now clear he was far from 100%. ESPN Analytics noted that Campbell’s Pass Block Win Rate during the postseason was a staggering 83.6%, ranking him 29th out of 30 qualified tackles. His struggle was a microcosm of a Patriots offensive front that allowed quarterback Drake Maye to be sacked 21 times over four playoff games.
Despite the apology and the injury news, the NFL is still expected to review Campbell’s conduct. Under the league’s policy, players are contractually required to speak to reporters following games
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