Trump’s early Super Bowl LXI picks
The 2026 NFL regular season has not yet kicked off, but Super Bowl predictions are already making headlines. President Donald Trump recently named the New England Patriots, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Rams when asked about teams he could see competing for the championship.
His list includes the current betting favorite in Los Angeles, the reigning AFC champion Patriots, and a much longer-shot Giants team. Trump also singled out Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart while explaining his choices.
The Patriots return after Super Bowl LX
New England reached Super Bowl LX after winning the AFC championship during the 2025 season. The Patriots lost 29-13 to Seattle in Santa Clara, California, finishing the season as runners-up.
Quarterback Drake Maye enters 2026 after his second NFL season, in which he finished second in AP MVP voting. New England opens against Seattle, creating an immediate rematch with the defending champions.
Drake Maye remains New England’s centerpiece
Maye was selected third overall by New England in the 2024 NFL Draft. During 2025, he completed 354 of 492 passes for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
He guided the Patriots through three playoff victories before Super Bowl LX. NFL reported that Maye faces Seattle again in Week 1, giving New England an immediate rematch.
The Giants are Trump’s surprise selection
New York finished 2025 with a 4-13 record before hiring John Harbaugh as head coach. The Giants selected quarterback Jaxson Dart with the 25th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Trump specifically praised Dart while discussing his Super Bowl choices with ESPN. Dart enters his second NFL season with Harbaugh as his new head coach after Harbaugh spent 18 seasons leading Baltimore and won Super Bowl XLVII.
Jaxson Dart enters his second season
Dart was selected 25th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft after playing at Ole Miss. He enters 2026 as the Giants’ starting quarterback under Harbaugh after making 12 starts during his rookie season.
The Giants are beginning a new coaching era after their 4-13 finish. Harbaugh signed a five-year contract in January, with Dart’s development a major focus of the offseason.
John Harbaugh brings a long NFL record
Harbaugh spent 18 seasons as Baltimore’s head coach before joining New York. His Ravens reached the playoffs 12 times, won six AFC North titles and captured Super Bowl XLVII.
His arrival gives the Giants extensive postseason experience. New York is coming off a 4-13 season and has won 13 games across the previous three seasons combined.
The Rams enter 2026 among the market leaders
Los Angeles is one of Trump’s three Super Bowl selections for the upcoming season. ESPN’s current futures coverage lists the Rams at +550 to win Super Bowl LXI, making them the shortest-priced team on the board.
The Rams reached the NFC Championship Game before losing to Seattle. Their 2026 roster includes quarterback Matthew Stafford and newly acquired edge rusher Myles Garrett.
Myles Garrett strengthens the Rams defense
Garrett joined the Rams in 2026 after nine seasons with Cleveland. Los Angeles added the two-time Defensive Player of the Year to a defense with several other notable offseason additions.
Rams coaches and players have discussed Garrett alongside cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. The Rams are counting on Garrett to help them pursue another Super Bowl after their 2021 championship season.
Interesting fact: Trump is both the 45th and 47th president of the United States.
Matthew Stafford remains Los Angeles’ quarterback
Stafford enters another season as the Rams’ starting quarterback after leading the team during its 2025 playoff run. He was selected first overall by Detroit in 2009 before joining Los Angeles in 2021.
Stafford helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI during his first season there. Los Angeles enters 2026 after losing to Seattle in the NFC Championship Game.
Interesting fact: Trump attended the New York Military Academy before college.
The three teams have different recent paths
New England reached the previous Super Bowl, Los Angeles reached the NFC Championship Game, and New York finished 4-13. Their recent results differ entering the 2026 campaign.
Trump’s selections represent different roster stages. The Patriots are building around Maye, the Rams are adding established veterans, and the Giants are beginning a new era with Harbaugh and Dart.
The 2026 season begins with major rematches
The Patriots open at Seattle on September 9, repeating the Super Bowl LX matchup. The Rams begin against San Francisco in Melbourne, while the Giants open against Dallas on September 13.
Those games provide early tests for all three teams. NFL training camps are underway, making roster competitions, preseason performances and quarterback play important developments before September.
Early odds place the Rams ahead
ESPN’s current Super Bowl LXI futures board lists Los Angeles at +550, the shortest odds in the NFL. Buffalo and Baltimore are next at +1000, while New England is listed at +1600.
The Giants are much longer shots at +7000. Trump’s selections, therefore, include the current market favorite in Los Angeles, the reigning AFC champion Patriots, and a New York team beginning its first season under John Harbaugh.
The internet is also talking about Week 1 pressure building as three NFL teams confront major concerns.
Super Bowl LXI remains months away
Super Bowl LXI will be played February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The championship game will conclude the 2026 NFL season, which begins in September and continues through the postseason.
Trump’s three teams must navigate the schedule, injuries, roster changes, and playoffs before reaching the championship game. For now, his public selections are the Patriots, Giants, and Rams.
In other news, Donald Trump questioned buying the Cowboys in 1984 as they’re now valued at $15.5 billion.
Who do you think has the best chance to reach Super Bowl LXI? Like this slideshow and comment with your Super Bowl prediction!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
Read More From This Brand:
