Strong safety Julian Love will enjoy another football milestone with the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Feb. 8.
The 2016 Nazareth Academy graduate and offseason LaGrange Park resident makes his Super Bowl debut when the Seahawks (16-3) meet the New England Patriots (17-3) in Super Bowl XL in Santa Clara, California. Love also becomes the first Nazareth player to reach the Super Bowl.
Love is in his seventh National Football League season and fourth with the Seahawks. His team takes a nine-game winning streak into their first Super Bowl appearance since their first championship victory in 2014. The former all-stater previously starred at Notre Dame.
A 2023 Pro Bowl selection, Love began this season in the starting lineup and returned Dec. 18 after missing nine games on injured reserve.
Love has 34 tackles (23 solos), one interception and six passes defended. Love had four tackles (3 solo) in Sunday’s 31-27 NFC Championship victory over the Los Angeles Rams and a fumble recovery in the 41-6 divisional playoff victory over the San Francisco 49ers Jan. 17.
For his dedication and character on and off the field, Love also is the team’s 2025 Steve Largent Award winner and nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
The Seahawks’ opponents this season included former Roadrunners C.J West (49ers) and JJ McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings).