When the Seattle Seahawks used the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to select Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, they weren’t just adding a talented player - they were laying the foundation for something bigger. Fast forward to Super Bowl LX, and that move looks like a franchise-defining decision.
Murphy didn’t just show up on the NFL’s biggest stage - he dominated it. With two sacks and a fumble recovery, he became the first Longhorn ever to recover a fumble in a Super Bowl, helping power the Seahawks to a 29-13 win over the New England Patriots and secure the Lombardi Trophy.
For a defense that had been questioned all season - and for a quarterback in Sam Darnold who’s heard more than his share of doubt - this win was personal. And Murphy made sure the world heard it.
“We just wanted to go out here and show the world that we the best in the world,” Murphy told NFL Network after the game. “They tried to write us off all season.
Nobody believed in us. They tried to write Sam off and said our defense wasn’t like that.
We just proved everybody wrong.”
That chip-on-the-shoulder mentality? It was real.
And it fueled a Seahawks team that bought into head coach Mike Macdonald’s vision in just his second year at the helm. Macdonald, known for his defensive acumen, clearly saw something in Murphy - and the rookie delivered in a massive way.
Murphy’s performance was more than just a stat line. It was a statement.
His ability to collapse the pocket, disrupt timing, and bring down the quarterback wasn’t just impressive for a rookie - it was pivotal to Seattle's game plan. In a Super Bowl where every possession mattered, Murphy made sure New England never found a rhythm.
And it wasn’t just about individual accolades. Murphy spoke to the unity and belief that carried this team through the season.
“We just told each other, ‘The only thing that matters is the guys in the building,’ man. We just held our head down and just worked.”
That mindset - resilience, trust, and relentless effort - defined this Seahawks squad. From being overlooked to being crowned champions, they wrote their own story.
And Byron Murphy II? He just might be the new face of a defense that’s built to last.