Witherspoon, Seahawks Win Super Bowl LX

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former Illinois All-American Devon Witherspoon is a Super Bowl champion. Witherspoon served as a team captain and led the Seattle Seahawks to a 29-13 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. 

Witherspoon was among the game's best players and the Seahawks' most impactful defender. His first-quarter sack set the tone and his fourth-quarter strip sack that was recovered for a touchdown added the exclamation point for one of the most dominant defensive performances in Super Bowl history.

Witherspoon is one of the best players in Illinois football history. He was the 21st Consensus All-American in Illinois history, the Illini's first Thorpe Award finalist, and the highest drafted defensive back in Illinois history when he went No. 5 overall to Seattle in 2023. Witherspoon allowed only 3.3 yards against per attempt during the 2022 season, according to ESPN, and went the entire season without allowing a touchdown pass in coverage. In December, he joined Dick Butkus as the only Illini in program history to earn Pro Bowl selections in each of their first three seasons in the NFL. 

An Illini has won a Super Bowl ring in four straight seasons, the second-longest streak in program history (8, 2003-10). Witherspoon joined Nick Allegretti (LVII, LVIII) and Sydney Brown (LIX) as Illini who have won Super Bowls over the last four years. 

Witherspoon is the 28th former Illini to win a Super Bowl title. 

Illini Super Bowl Champions