Derick Hall didn’t waste any time making his mark on the biggest stage in football.
Early in Super Bowl LX, with the Patriots threatening to tie or take the lead, Hall delivered a momentum-shifting play that reminded everyone why he was such a force in college-and why he's still one to watch in the pros. On a critical first-quarter drive, Hall broke through the Patriots' protection and brought down rookie quarterback Drake Maye for a 10-yard loss, halting a promising New England possession and forcing a punt.
The matchup was a notable one: Hall beat former LSU standout and Patriots offensive tackle Will Campbell off the edge, showing a mix of speed and power that’s been his calling card since his Auburn days.
It was a huge moment-not just for the Seahawks, who were looking to set the tone early as the favorites heading into the game-but for Hall personally. After spending much of the season in a rotational role on Seattle’s defense, he stepped up when it mattered most.
Hall’s journey to this moment has been one of steady, gritty progression. At Auburn, he was a consistent disruptor, finishing his college career with 19.5 sacks and back-to-back seasons with 12 or more tackles for loss. That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed, and it earned him a spot in Seattle’s defensive front.
Now in his third NFL season, Hall has embraced his role as a reliable depth piece on a deep Seahawks defense. He appeared in 14 games this season, starting three, and recorded 30 tackles along with three tackles for loss.
While he only registered two sacks during the regular season, his postseason impact has been quietly building. Before Sunday, he’d already notched three tackles across Seattle’s first two playoff games.
But this sack-on football’s biggest stage-was something different. It was a flash of the player who once terrorized SEC quarterbacks, now doing the same in the NFL’s grand finale.
For Seattle, it was exactly the kind of defensive spark they needed early. For Hall, it was a statement: even in a reserve role, he’s capable of delivering game-changing plays when the lights are brightest.