In a huge win by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, one defensive player stood out above the rest when it comes to overall impact on the game: DT Byron Murphy II.
The former defensive stalwart for Texas from 2021 to 2023 has been a key piece and full-time starter for the Seahawks defense this season, and he's undoubtedly proven why he was so highly sought after in the 2024 NFL Draft.
His ability to shoot gaps and shed blocks with active hand movement makes him a menace along the defensive line for Seattle, just as he was in Austin. Very few interior defensive linemen in the NFL play with the type of motor that Murphy has, and in combination with his size (6'0", 306 lbs.), he's incredibly hard to prepare for every week for offensive guards and centers.
Last night was more of the same as Murphy II absolutely dominated the Patriots' interior offensive line. He made sure that constant pressure was applied to New England QB Drake Maye all game long, as Murphy recorded 2 sacks and a fumble recovery.
Super Bowl sack for Byron Murphy II 😤
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) February 9, 2026
📺 Super Bowl LX on NBC
pic.twitter.com/eRNkcYXKp0
He did an excellent job all night of making himself "skinny" to burst through gaps in the offensive line, and made it difficult for offensive linemen to sustain their blocks. He has a surprisingly widespread repertoire of pass rush moves for a big man, which is never a good sign for the opponent.
It seemed like Murphy was in on or around every defensive stop that Seattle made on the night, and he was undoubtedly an enormous reason why Drake Maye and the Patriots' offense were on their toes for the entirety of the game. Though he didn't rack up a lot of tackles, he was a key cog against the run as well. He was consistently doing the dirty work inside for Mike Macdonald's defense.
Despite not getting the attention he deserved immediately after the matchup, Murphy would've most likely been the Super Bowl LX Defensive Player of the Game if they had such an award.
Fun fact: Byron Murphy II became the first ex-Texas player to recover a fumble in a Super Bowl.