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Leonard Williams traces one of his key traits back to Mainland High School.
“Being there was my first time playing football,” he said during a press conference this week. “I would just say I was really persistent at that time — even then as a young athlete. I found that I was a very persistent person, and that’s kind of what got me to this point now.”
“This point” is Super Bowl 60.
Williams stars as a defensive lineman for a stout Seattle defense. His Seahawks will battle the rebuilt New England Patriots at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The game will air on NBC.
It will add another highlight to Williams’ long list.
The 2012 Mainland alum developed into a top-10 NFL draft pick at USC. He then spent parts of five years with the New York Jets and parts of five with the New York Giants before a mid-2023 trade to Seattle.
During the 2025 regular season, he collected seven sacks, tied for third-most in his 11-year career. He posted three tackles and one sack in the Seahawks’ first two postseason games.
They blasted San Francisco 41-6 in the divisional round and then edged the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship to reach the Super Bowl.
“Coming over here to Seattle and finally making it here to this moment in Year 11, it means a lot,” said Williams, who is appearing in the postseason for the second time in his career. “It makes this moment feel even more special because I’ve been through so much. I’ve been through so many ups and downs.
"There are a lot of guys on our team that have also had similar journeys. Sam Darnold is one of them. DeMarcus Lawrence is another one. It means a lot for me and those guys to finally be in this moment.”
Williams and Co. will be tasked with containing MVP runner-up Drake Maye and the rest of the Patriots’ offense.
The Seahawks limited opponents to an NFL-best 17.2 points per game during the regular season. They allowed the sixth-fewest yards.
New England totes the third-most yards and second-most points in the league this year. It defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos in the opening three rounds.
Seattle and the Patriots did not face each other during the regular season.
Williams said he tried to treat this week like any other. He hydrated like normal, ate like normal, watched film like normal.
“But when there’s time for me to enjoy the moment, be in the moment with my teammates,” he said, “I’m doing that.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Leonard Williams: Mainland alum makes Super Bowl with Seattle Seahawks
Continue reading...
“Being there was my first time playing football,” he said during a press conference this week. “I would just say I was really persistent at that time — even then as a young athlete. I found that I was a very persistent person, and that’s kind of what got me to this point now.”
“This point” is Super Bowl 60.
Williams stars as a defensive lineman for a stout Seattle defense. His Seahawks will battle the rebuilt New England Patriots at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The game will air on NBC.
It will add another highlight to Williams’ long list.
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The 2012 Mainland alum developed into a top-10 NFL draft pick at USC. He then spent parts of five years with the New York Jets and parts of five with the New York Giants before a mid-2023 trade to Seattle.
During the 2025 regular season, he collected seven sacks, tied for third-most in his 11-year career. He posted three tackles and one sack in the Seahawks’ first two postseason games.
They blasted San Francisco 41-6 in the divisional round and then edged the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship to reach the Super Bowl.
“Coming over here to Seattle and finally making it here to this moment in Year 11, it means a lot,” said Williams, who is appearing in the postseason for the second time in his career. “It makes this moment feel even more special because I’ve been through so much. I’ve been through so many ups and downs.
"There are a lot of guys on our team that have also had similar journeys. Sam Darnold is one of them. DeMarcus Lawrence is another one. It means a lot for me and those guys to finally be in this moment.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Williams and Co. will be tasked with containing MVP runner-up Drake Maye and the rest of the Patriots’ offense.
The Seahawks limited opponents to an NFL-best 17.2 points per game during the regular season. They allowed the sixth-fewest yards.
New England totes the third-most yards and second-most points in the league this year. It defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos in the opening three rounds.
Seattle and the Patriots did not face each other during the regular season.
Williams said he tried to treat this week like any other. He hydrated like normal, ate like normal, watched film like normal.
“But when there’s time for me to enjoy the moment, be in the moment with my teammates,” he said, “I’m doing that.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Leonard Williams: Mainland alum makes Super Bowl with Seattle Seahawks
Continue reading...
