From Bearcat to the Big Game: Coby Bryant’s Journey to Super Bowl LX
When the Seattle Seahawks take the field for Super Bowl LX this Sunday, they’ll do so with a rising star in their secondary-Coby Bryant. The former Cincinnati Bearcat standout is set to start at safety, becoming the 35th UC alum to appear in a Super Bowl, and continuing a remarkable streak for the program: seven straight Super Bowls have now featured at least one former Bearcat.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., where Bryant will look to cap off what’s already been an impressive young NFL career with the game’s biggest prize. His path to this moment has been anything but overnight.
Bryant helped the Seahawks punch their ticket to the Super Bowl with a hard-fought 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game. It was a gritty performance from Seattle’s defense, and while Bryant’s stat line showed just two tackles, his presence and communication on the back end were key in keeping the Rams’ explosive offense from taking over late.
That kind of impact has become the norm for Bryant. In 2025, he started 15 regular-season games and filled the stat sheet with 66 tackles, four interceptions and four tackles for loss-numbers that speak to his versatility and nose for the football. Since being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Cleveland native has carved out a significant role in Seattle’s defense, logging 58 games played, 34 starts, 227 total tackles and seven picks.
But to understand what makes Bryant such a steadying force in the Seahawks’ secondary, you have to go back to his college days at Cincinnati. He wasn’t just a contributor-he was the guy. A two-time team captain, Bryant helped lead the Bearcats to back-to-back American Athletic Conference titles, a Peach Bowl appearance in 2020, and a historic run to the College Football Playoff Semifinals in 2021.
That 2021 season was Bryant’s national coming-out party. He took home the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back, and earned First Team All-America honors.
Over 63 career games at UC, he racked up 172 tackles, 45 passes defended and 10 interceptions. His 50 starts remain the most ever by a defensive player in Bearcats history.
And perhaps most impressively, Cincinnati went 44-6 during his four years as a starter-a testament to his leadership and consistency.
Now, Bryant’s poised to take the next step on football’s biggest stage. He’s not just representing Seattle or Cincinnati-he’s carrying the torch for a growing legacy of Bearcats making their mark in the NFL postseason.
Names like Travis Kelce, Bryan Cook and Jason Kelce have all helped build that reputation. On Sunday, it’s Bryant’s turn.
From college captain to Super Bowl starter, Coby Bryant’s journey is a reminder that leadership, preparation and production don’t go unnoticed. And if his track record is any indication, don’t be surprised if he makes a game-changing play when it matters most.