CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former Illini All-American Devon Witherspoon earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection, the NFL announced Thursday. Witherspoon is the first player since Dick Butkus to finish his Illini career then earn a spot in the Pro Bowl during his first two seasons in the NFL.Â
Witherspoon has 90 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, and seven passes defended on the season.
"He plays with his hair on fire," said Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald during the season. "You talk about shocking effort, and if you want to shock people, watch 21 play. We talk about ball finding energy, and it kind of all comes together with Spoon. People want production and they want to be certain type of players, but if you don't do it every day, I don't see how you could have a reasonable expectation to be a great player. This guy brings it every single day, and does it every rep, and that's why he's a great player."
Witherspoon joined Dick Butkus (1965-66, Chicago Bears) as former Illini to make the Pro Bowl during their first two seasons immediately following their careers in Champaign. Former Illini Bob Trumpy also made the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons (1968-69, Cincinnati Bengals) but he finished his college career at Utah after transferring from Illinois.
Witherspoon is the first Illini to make back-to-back Pro Bowls since CB Vontae Davis for the Indianapolis Colts from 2014-15.
Illinois has three Pro Bowl alternates that could get in the event: Chase McLaughlin, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1st alternate); Kerby Joseph, S, Detroit Lions (2nd alternate); and Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (3rd alternate). Joseph is the NFL's leader in interceptions with nine, two more than any other player.Â
The Seahawks' official release is here.
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 BroncosÂ
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 BroncosÂ
1966 Jimmy Warren, CB, Miami DolphinsÂ
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
1968 Bob Trumpy, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
1969 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears
1969 Ernie McMillen, RT, St. Louis Cardinals
1969 Mike Taliaferro, QB, Boston Patriots
1969 Bob Trumpy, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
1970 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears
1970 Ernie McMillen, RT, St. Louis Cardinals
1970 Bob Trumpy, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
1971 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears
1972 Dick Butkus, LB Chicago Bears
1973 Bob Trumpy, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
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 BuccaneersÂ
2003 Brad Hopkins, LT, Tennessee Titans
2003 Simeon Rice, DE, Tampa Bay BuccaneersÂ
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
Year listed is the regular season year.
ILLINOIS PRO BOWL ALTERNATES
Chase McLaughlin, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1st alternate)
Kerby Joseph, S, Detroit Lions (2nd alternate)
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (3rd alternate)
