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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former Illini All-American Devon Witherspoon was selected to his third straight Pro Bowl, the NFL announced Tuesday. Witherspoon 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.
Witherspoon is the sixth Illini in program history to make three or more Pro Bowls during their NFL careers. He is the first Illini to earn three Pro Bowl selections since Simeon Rice in 1999, 2002, and 2003 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals.
Witherspoon is just the fourth player in Seahawks franchise history to be named a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons, along with quarterback Russell Wilson (2012-2015), linebacker Lofa Tatupu (2005-2007) and linebacker/special teamer Fredd Young (1984-1987).
Witherspoon has 64 tackles, six passes defensed, one interception, one fumble recovery, half a sack, two tackles for loss and four quarterback hits this season. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald explained earlier this month that Witherspoon’s impact goes well beyond his stats, saying, “He’s part of the engine that makes the whole thing go. He’s probably the sparkplug behind the whole thing.”
The Seahawks official release is here.
MOST PRO BOWLS AMONG FORMER ILLINI
8 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears (1965-72)
5 Abe Woodson, DB, San Francisco 49ers (1959-63)
4 Bill Brown, FB, Minnesota Vikings (1964-65, 67-68)
4 Ernie McMillen, RT, St. Louis Cardinals (1965, 67, 69, 70)
4 Bobby Mitchell, WR, Washington Redskins (1960, 62-64)
3 Simeon Rice, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Arizona Cardinals (1999, 2002-03)
3 Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks (2023-25)
ILLINI IN THE PRO BOWL
1951 Les Bingaman, C, Detroit Lions
1953 Les Bingaman, G, Detroit Lions
1954 Buddy Young, DB/HB, Baltimore Colts
1956 J.C. Caroline, DB/HB, Chicago Bears
1957 Tommy O’Connell, QB, Cleveland Browns
1959 Abe Woodson, DB, San Francisco 49ers
1960 Bobby Mitchell, HB, Cleveland Browns
1960 Abe Woodson, DB, San Francisco 49ers
1961 Abe Woodson, DB, San Francisco 49ers
1962 Bobby Mitchell, WR, Washington Redskins
1962 Abe Woodson, DB, San Francisco 49ers
1963 Bobby Mitchell, WR, Washington Redskins
1963 Joe Rutgens, DT, Washington Redskins
1963 Abe Woodson, DB, San Francisco 49ers
1964 Bill Brown, FB, Minnesota Vikings
1964 Bobby Mitchell, WR, Washington Redskins
1964 Ray Nitschke, LB, Green Bay Packers
1964 Jerry Sturm, C, Denver Broncos
1965 Bill Brown, FB, Minnesota Vikings
1965 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears
1965 Ernie McMillen, RT, St. Louis Cardinals
1965 Joe Rutgens, DT, Washington Redskins
1966 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears
1966 Jerry Sturm, RG, Denver Broncos
1966 Jimmy Warren, CB, Miami Dolphins
1967 Bill Brown, FB, Minnesota Vikings
1967 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears
1967 Ernie McMillen, RT, St. Louis Cardinals
1968 Bill Brown, FB, Minnesota Vikings
1968 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears
1969 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears
1969 Ernie McMillen, RT, St. Louis Cardinals
1969 Mike Taliaferro, QB, Boston Patriots
1970 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears
1970 Ernie McMillen, RT, St. Louis Cardinals
1971 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears
1972 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears
1980 Doug Dieken, LT, Cleveland Browns
1982 Larry McCarren, C, Green Bay Packers
1983 Larry McCarren, C, Green Bay Packers
1987 Scott Studwell, LB, Minnesota Vikings
1988 Scott Studwell, LB, Minnesota Vikings
1992 Henry Jones, SS, Buffalo Bills
1999 Kevin Hardy, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
1999 Simeon Rice, DE, Arizona Cardinals
2000 Brad Hopkins, LT, Tennessee Titans
2001 Ken Dilger, TE, Indianapolis Colts
2002 Simeon Rice, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2003 Brad Hopkins, LT, Tennessee Titans
2003 Simeon Rice, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2005 Neil Rackers, K, Arizona Cardinals
2009 David Diehl, LT, New York Giants
2010 Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos
2011 Brandon Moore, RG, New York Jets
2014 Vontae Davis, CB, Indianapolis Colts
2015 Vontae Davis, CB, Indianapolis Colts
2022 Justin Hardee, CB, New York Jets
2023 Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks
2024 Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks
2025 Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Year listed is the regular season year.