COLUMBIA, Mo. – Former linebacker Sean Weatherspoon has been selected as Mizzou's 2026 Southeastern Conference Football Legend, the conference announced Thursday. Weatherspoon, one of the most decorated defensive players in Missouri football history, will be formally honored with the rest of the 2026 SEC Legends Class during events surrounding the SEC Championship Game Dec. 4-5 in Atlanta.
The Football Legends Class recognizes 16 former representatives from current SEC institutions who starred on the field for their respective programs. The 2026 class includes Heisman Trophy winners, national champions, All-Americans, All-SEC selections and NFL standouts.
Weatherspoon starred for Mizzou from 2006-09 when the Tigers competed in the Big 12 Conference. A native of Jasper, Texas, Weatherspoon arrived at Mizzou as a special teams contributor under College Football Hall of Fame head coach and 2022 SEC Legend Gary Pinkel and developed into one of the nation's premier linebackers. By the time his career ended, he had established himself as a three-year starter, team captain, two-time All-American and the only three-time first-team all-conference defensive player in Mizzou history.
Weatherspoon's career statistics rank among the best in program history. He recorded 413 tackles, which currently ranks third in program history, along with 43.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.
His junior season in 2008 was among the finest defensive seasons in Mizzou history. Weatherspoon led the Big 12 in tackles, returned two interceptions for touchdowns and capped the season by earning Defensive Most Valuable Player honors in an overtime victory over Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. As a senior captain in 2009, Weatherspoon again led Mizzou in tackles and was named a finalist for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's top linebacker.
His accomplishments at Mizzou translated to the next level in 2010, when the Atlanta Falcons selected him with the 19th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, making him the first linebacker in program history selected in the first round. Weatherspoon went on to play seven NFL seasons with the Falcons and Arizona Cardinals and reached Super Bowl LI with Atlanta. Following his college playing career, he remained connected to his alma mater and was inducted into the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
The 2026 SEC Football Legends will be honored during the SEC Football "Weekend of Champions" Dec. 4-5 in Atlanta. The annual SEC Legends Celebration presented by T-Mobile will take place Friday, Dec. 4, at the College Football Hall of Fame, followed by recognition of the class prior to the SEC Football Championship Game Saturday, Dec. 5, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Mizzou's SEC Football Legends
2012: Johnny Roland, running back/defensive back, 1962-65
2013: Phil Bradley, quarterback, 1977-80
2014: Kellen Winslow, tight end, 1976-78
2015: Roger Wehrli, defensive back, 1966-68
2016: Justin Smith, defensive end, 1998-2000
2017: Brad Smith, quarterback, 2002-05
2018: Devin West, running back, 1995-98
2019: Jeremy Maclin, wide receiver/kick returner, 2007-08
2022: Gary Pinkel, head coach, 2001-15
2023: Chase Coffman, tight end, 2005-08
2024: Chase Daniel, quarterback, 2005-08
2025: Mitch Morse, offensive line, 2010-14
2026: Sean Weatherspoon, linebacker, 2006-09
The SEC did not honor Football Legends classes in 2020 and 2021.
2026 SEC Football Legends Class
Alabama – Nick Saban, Head Coach, 2007-23
Arkansas – Felix Jones, Running Back, 2005-07
Auburn – Benji Roland, Noseguard, 1985-88
Florida – Chris Doering, Wide Receiver, 1991-95
Georgia – Mark Richt, Head Coach, 2001-15
Kentucky – Randall Cobb, Wide Receiver, 2008-10
LSU – Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, 2008-10
Ole Miss – Tony Bennett, Linebacker, 1986-89
Mississippi State – Darius Slay, Cornerback, 2011-12
Missouri – Sean Weatherspoon, Linebacker, 2006-09
Oklahoma – Billy Sims, Running Back, 1975-79
South Carolina – Sidney Rice, Wide Receiver, 2005-06
Tennessee – John Henderson, Defensive Tackle, 1999-2001
Texas – Ricky Williams, Running Back, 1995-98
Texas A&M – Sam Adams, Defensive Line, 1991-93
Vanderbilt – Casey Hayward, Cornerback, 2008-11