Two more Texas Longhorns can now add “Super Bowl Champion” to their resumes after a commanding performance by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. With a 29-13 win over the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Byron Murphy II and Michael Dickson played key roles in a defensive masterclass that capped off Seattle’s season in style.
Let’s start with Murphy, the rookie defensive tackle who’s been a force all season long-and didn’t slow down on the biggest stage. The former Texas standout, who played in Austin from 2021 to 2023, was part of a Seattle front seven that lived in New England’s backfield all afternoon. Murphy notched two of the Seahawks’ six sacks, putting constant pressure on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and helping Seattle’s defense live up to its billing as the NFL’s top scoring unit.
Murphy’s biggest moment came early in the fourth quarter. With Seattle up 12-0 and the Patriots trying to claw back into the game, Murphy pounced on a fumble by Maye.
That recovery set up the game’s first touchdown and effectively broke things open for the Seahawks. It was a fitting exclamation point for a player who’s been a disruptive presence all year long.
And then there’s Michael Dickson-the Aussie punter who once flipped field position for the Longhorns and just did the same in the Super Bowl. Dickson was surgical with his placement, punting seven times for a 47.9-yard average and pinning the Patriots inside their own 10-yard line three separate times. In a game where both offenses struggled to get going, Dickson’s ability to tilt the field made life even harder for Maye and the Patriots.
New England’s offense never found its footing, reaching Seattle’s red zone only once-and that was in garbage time. Outside of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, neither team lit up the scoreboard, but Seattle didn’t need offensive fireworks when their defense and special teams were this dominant.
Murphy, Seattle’s first-round pick in 2024, came into the league with high expectations after a standout junior season at Texas, where he racked up 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks while forming a fearsome interior duo with All-American T’Vondre Sweat. He’s more than lived up to the hype in Year 1.
As for Dickson, his road from Ray Guy Award winner at Texas to Super Bowl champion has been steady and impressive. Drafted by Seattle in the fifth round back in 2018, he’s been one of the league’s most consistent punters ever since.
Back in college, he led the Big 12 in punt yardage in both 2016 and 2017, earning All-American honors in his final season. Now, he adds a Super Bowl ring to his already decorated career.
Also part of the Seahawks’ championship roster was veteran defensive back Quandre Diggs. While he didn’t suit up for the game, Diggs contributed throughout the season as a member of Seattle’s practice squad. A Longhorn from 2011 to 2014, Diggs has been in the league for over a decade and remains a respected presence in the locker room.
Three Longhorns. One Super Bowl. And a reminder that the Texas pipeline to the NFL is still producing playmakers when it matters most.