Nick Emmanwori’s Super Bowl Sunday began hundreds of miles away from the stadium, in a college basketball arena filled with garnet and black. Before the Seattle Seahawks’ rookie safety took the field for Super Bowl 60, his biggest supporter was already handling business of her own.
Raven Johnson Supported Nick Emmanwori before Super Bowl 60
Raven Johnson helped South Carolina to a 93-50 win over No. 17 Tennessee on Sunday, a few hours before kickoff. She came to the arena wearing custom-made Seahawks pants dedicated to Emmanwori.
Johnson backed up her support with her play. She finished the afternoon with 13 points and seven assists. Shortly after the game, she spoke with ESPN and discussed the topic that had followed Emmanwori throughout the week: his near-miss at Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Earlier at NFL Honors, Emmanwori had been named a finalist for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award, which ultimately went to Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger. Johnson did not hide her stance.
“I think he should have got the Defensive Rookie of the Year this year. … He’s gonna show the world today why he should’ve got that award,” she said.
“I think [Nick Emmanwori] should have got the Defensive Rookie of the Year this year. … He’s gonna show the world today why he should’ve got that award.”
Raven Johnson ahead of her boyfriend’s Super Bowl debut with the Seahawks 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1R5KpFsNgB
— espnW (@espnW) February 8, 2026
Emmanwori’s first NFL season made it understandable. Drafted No. 35 overall out of South Carolina, he became a cornerstone in Seattle’s defense. The rookie safety finished the regular season with 81 total tackles, added 2.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, 11 pass deflections, and one interception. He also led all NFL safeties with 15 pass breakups.
His postseason performances only added to his case. In the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, he recorded five tackles and forced three incompletions, helping Seattle to the Super Bowl.
Support for Emmanwori extended throughout the South Carolina program. During the Tennessee game, Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley wore a Seahawks jersey.
Meanwhile, Emmanwori rolled his ankle during Wednesday’s practice but returned as a full participant by Friday. He downplayed the concern afterward.
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“It kind of like caught me off guard, you know. Practice wasn’t like nothing crazy or nothing. We weren’t like going hard out there, but I just rolled it. But I’ll be good to go for Sunday,” he said.
At 22 years old, Emmanwori took the field at Levi’s Stadium against the New England Patriots, closing the chapter on an incredible rookie season with a Super Bowl title.
