4 Former Illinois Football Stars Set For NFL Season Opener

The NFL season is here. Luckily, Illinois Football fans have plenty of reason to tune in and check out some former Illini.

The 2026 season begins Wednesday at 7:20 PM (CT) with a Super Bowl LX rematch, as the defending champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a meeting that features four former Illini.

Seattle claimed its second Super Bowl title with a 29-13 victory over New England last February, setting up the league’s first season-opening Super Bowl rematch since 2016. This time around, the Seahawks enter the season looking to defend their crown. Meanwhile, the Patriots get their first shot at answering the loss on Seattle’s home turf.

Three former Illinois Football stars will represent New England’s roster, including second-round rookie Gabe Jacas, two-time Illini captain Tanner Arkin, and former quarterback Tommy DeVito. Across the field, now NFL star Devon Witherspoon begins his fourth professional season for Seattle after signing a four-year, $132 million extension this offseason. 

Each former Illini took a different path to the NFL, and Wednesday marks the next chapter in their journeys. Before they take the field, here’s a look back at their time in Champaign.

Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks

Devon Witherspoon has quickly become one of the biggest success stories of the Bret Bielema era of Illinois Football. After arriving in Champaign as a lightly regarded prospect, Witherspoon developed into one of the best defensive backs in college football. He finished his 2022 season as the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and a Consensus All-American, setting himself up as a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Seattle ultimately selected Witherspoon No. 5 overall, and it didn’t take long for him to make an impact. He impressively earned Pro Bowl honors as a rookie and has continued developing into one of the NFL’s premier young defensive backs. Earlier this offseason, the Seahawks rewarded him with a four-year, $132 million extension, briefly making him the highest-paid defensive back in league history, prior to Christian Gonzalez signing his 4-year $135 million deal with New England on Monday (9/7). While that record has since been surpassed, the contract still represents a massive accomplishment for Witherspoon and another strong example of Illinois developing elite defensive talent.

Now entering his fourth NFL season and coming off a Super Bowl championship, Witherspoon gets to open the year against New England in a rematch of last year’s title game. Undoubtedly, he’ll be heavily mentioned as a guy to watch out for. 

Gabe Jacas, New England Patriots

A four-year starter from 2022-2025, Gabe Jacas became one of Illinois’ most productive pass rushers ever. He finished his career with 27 sacks, finishing behind only Simeon Rice as the second-most in Illinois Football program history. He contributed to the program immediately as a true freshman and an anchor for the “Law Firm” of Johnny Newton and Keith Randolph Jr.

That consistent production earned Jacas a second-round selection from New England at No. 55 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Patriots quickly gave him an opportunity to compete for a significant role, and his performance throughout the offseason helped solidify his place in the team’s pass-rush rotation.

For Illinois Football fans, Gabe’s NFL debut is one of the biggest storylines of the night. He spent four seasons becoming one of the faces of the Illini defense. Jacas now gets his first chance to show what that development looks like at the professional level. 

Tanner Arkin, New England Patriots

Tanner Arkin took a less traditional route to the NFL. After transferring from Colorado State, Arkin became a key part of Illinois’ offense from 2023 through 2025 and eventually emerged as one of the team’s leaders. He served as a captain in both 2024 and 2025 while making 29 career starts, the second-most by a tight end in Illinois history.

Despite going undrafted in 2026, Arkin earned an opportunity with New England Patriots. Arkin had a strong preseason as a blocker and on special teams. Both of these have helped him carve out a role on the Patriots’ 53-man roster.

Arkin finished his Illini career with 45 receptions for 351 yards and six touchdowns; however, his value went well beyond his receiving. His willingness to be a very physical blocker made him an important piece of Illinois’ offense, and a big reason New England saw value for him within their TE and special teams rotation.

Now, the former Illinois captain gets to officially begin his NFL career tonight with all eyes on Seattle. 

Tommy DeVito, New England Patriots

There may not be a more recognizable former Illini quarterback in the NFL right now than Tommy DeVito.

DeVito spent just one season in Champaign after transferring from Syracuse. However, his 2022 season remains one of the more memorable quarterback campaigns in program history. He started all 13 games and threw for 2,650 yards and 15 touchdowns while completing 69.6 percent of his passes. He helped lead the Illini to an 8-5 season and a bowl appearance before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants in 2023.

His NFL career quickly became a phenomenon. DeVito took over as New York’s starting quarterback late in his rookie season. DeVito won three straight games while becoming a national story thanks to his Italian-American roots, family celebrations, and instantly recognizable “Tommy Cutlets” persona. In fact, he’s even nailed some commercials….

After his time with the Giants, DeVito stayed close to home and landed with New England on a 2-year, $7.4 million deal, where he currently enters the 2026 season as a backup on the Patriots’ active roster. He may not see the field much tonight, but simply having Illinois representation on the Patriots’ sideline for a Super Bowl rematch is pretty awesome. New England has been one of the NFL’s defining franchises in recent history. Ultimately, it also shows how far this program has come under Bret Bielema.

A Dot by former Illini Tommy DeVito for a 69 yard touchdown pic.twitter.com/H4SmPvdfwT

— Armchair Illinois (@ArmchairIllini) August 23, 2026