Devon Witherspoon #21 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts during an NFL Football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
SEATTLE - Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon has been selected to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year, highlighting his standout performance in his sophomore NFL season. The announcement comes as Witherspoon remains a key player for Seattle.
Witherspoon, the fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft, was the only Seahawk named to the Pro Bowl Games in Orlando. However, five of his teammates were recognized as alternates: defensive lineman Leonard Williams, punter Michael Dickson, safety Julian Love, outside linebacker Boye Mafe, and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
In his rookie season, Witherspoon made a significant impression, finishing fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and earning Pro Bowl honors. His stats included 79 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 16 passes defensed, and a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown. This season, Witherspoon has recorded 90 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, and seven passes defensed.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald praised Witherspoon's leadership and energy.
"This guy is the leader on our—it's his second year and he's grown so much as a leader and someone we're going to depend on for a long time here," Macdonald said. "We love him, and it's because of the energy and the competitiveness and the person and his love of the game and love for his teammates. It's infectious."
Defensive coordinator Aden Durde also commended Witherspoon's selfless play, noting, "Those kind of selfless acts, they build the defense and they build the identity."
Witherspoon joins an elite group of Seahawks players who have started their careers with two straight Pro Bowl selections, including Fredd Young, Rufus Porter, Lofa Tatupu, and Russell Wilson.
Among the alternates, Leonard Williams stands out with a team-leading 9.0 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. "He's a dog, man," said Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV. "To be as big as he is and do the things that he does is insane to me."
Punter Michael Dickson, a former first-team All-Pro, continues to excel with a net average of 43.1 yards per punt. Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is closing in on a team record with 1,121 receiving yards. Safety Julian Love leads the team with 100 tackles, while Boye Mafe has contributed 6.0 sacks and 30 tackles.
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