Fenwick High School football alum Robert Spillane, Class of 2014, is on his way to Super Bowl LX after his New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos 10-7 in the American Football Conference title game, Jan. 25, in Denver. Spillane, a linebacker who is one of the Patriots’ defensive captains, finished with one tackle recorded.
He left the game early due to an ankle injury, but was optimistic afterward about playing in the Super Bowl, which takes place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, Feb. 8, at 5:30 p.m. The Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks, who defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 for the National Football Conference championship.
Spillane, whose grandfather is the late Johnny Lattner, a 1953 Fenwick graduate who won the Heisman Trophy at Notre Dame, signed with the Patriots as a free agent during the offseason. Despite battling injuries throughout the season, he leads the team in tackles with 97 in 13 games played.
Spillane, an Oak Park native, came to New England from the Las Vegas Raiders, where he spent two years. Prior to that, he played four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, 2019 through 2022.
Spillane’s first NFL experience came during the 2018 season, when he made the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Western Michigan University.
Spillane has maintained close ties with Fenwick since graduation, and both Friars’ athletic director Scott Thies and head football coach Matt Battaglia told Wednesday Journal via email that they were thrilled about his special achievement.
“I am so proud of Robert and all he has accomplished,” Thies said. “Rob has a super-high football IQ and is as tough as they get, but it is his love for football that is unmatched. He has made every team better because he is on it. Congrats to Robert and we will be rooting for him and the Patriots in the Super Bowl.”
“Although I was not lucky enough to coach Robert directly, he has stayed closely connected with our program by returning each summer for his youth camp and mentoring our players,” Battaglia said. “His journey from a (Mid-American Conference) player to an undrafted free agent to a Super Bowl team captain makes him a tremendous role model for our athletes. We’re extremely proud of him and excited to watch him compete in the Super Bowl while representing Fenwick on the biggest stage in football.”