Devon Witherspoon didn’t just show up in Super Bowl LX-he took over. From the opening snap to the final whistle, the Seahawks cornerback was everywhere, locking down his side of the field and setting the tone in Seattle’s 29-13 win over the Patriots.
If you’re looking for the heartbeat of that defense on Sunday night, look no further than No. 21.
It’s been a remarkable rise for Witherspoon, who came into college football as a zero-star recruit and is now one of the premier defensive backs in the NFL. On the game’s biggest stage, he looked like the best player on the field-confident, physical, and completely in control. Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye never looked comfortable, and a big reason for that was Witherspoon’s relentless presence in the secondary.
Now in his third season with Seattle, Witherspoon has become a cornerstone of the Seahawks’ defense. He was named one of the team captains for the Super Bowl, a clear sign of how much he’s respected in that locker room. And on Sunday night, he backed it up with the kind of performance that doesn’t just win games-it cements legacies.
This season, Witherspoon totaled 64 tackles, six passes defended, and one interception. But those numbers only tell part of the story. His impact goes beyond the stat sheet-he brings edge, energy, and elite instincts to a defense that never let the Patriots get into rhythm.
Witherspoon’s résumé is already stacking up with some rare company. He’s been named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three NFL seasons, joining the legendary Dick Butkus as the only Illinois alums to pull that off. That’s not just impressive-it’s historic.
Before he was locking down NFL receivers, Witherspoon was making noise at Illinois. In his junior season in 2022, he was a consensus All-American, a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (given to the nation’s top cornerback), and took home the Big Ten’s Defensive Back of the Year honors. Coaches and media alike voted him to the All-Big Ten First Team, and he was named Illinois’ Defensive MVP.
From Champaign to the Super Bowl, Witherspoon’s journey has been nothing short of incredible. And if Sunday night was any indication, he's just getting started.