Football players from Chicago area to compete in Super Bowl LX

Football fans are counting down to Sunday's Super Bowl.

Players who grew up in the Chicago area are on the roster for both the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks.

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Robert Spillane will suit up for the Patriots at Super Bowl LX on Sunday, but he played high school football at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, where his grandfather's Heisman Trophy is on display in the lobby.

Spillane was a star player at numerous positions, including running back at Fenwick. His grandfather, Johnny Lattner, graduated from the school in 1950. Lattner played in the Super Bowl just like Spillane will on Sunday.

"He loved football so much," Fenwick athletic director Scott Thies said. "He was willing to do whatever it took to get him where he wanted to be, and certainly it worked out really well for him."

Spillane has strong ties to the school, even giving the commencement address at graduation a couple of years ago.

"It's a great resource for our kids to learn from," Fenwick head football coach Matt Battaglia said.

Spillane is one of several athletes from the Chicago area who will play in the big game Sunday. Rylie Mills of the Seahawks graduated from Lake Forest High School in 2020. Julian Love of the Seahawks grew up in Logan Square and played football at Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park. He's proud of his Chicago roots.

"When you play somebody on another team that's from Chicago, it's a special thing, 'cause we know what it means to play high school ball and grew up in that city," Love said.

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Love now lives just down the street from his old high school and is in close touch with his former coach. He also hosts a summer football camp.

"Humble, poised, modest, really a coach's dream," Nazareth Academy head coach Tim Racki said.

The local players will give fans from their hometown high schools a little more to root for on Sunday.

Fenwick football player Tommy Thies wears Spillane's jersey number.

"It just means a lot, wearing the number that he wore and everything he did for the program," Thies said.

Fenwick officials are hoping Spillane will come back and host his football summer camp this year. They're also hoping he'll have a Super Bowl trophy to bring back to let them see as well.

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