Michigan

Michigan football players in NFL playoffs: Detroit Lions tied for most former Wolverines

Published

12 months ago

January 13, 2024

Michigan football players in NFL playoffs: Detroit Lions tied for most former Wolverines

The NFL playoffs are here, which means several former Wolverines are hoping to become Super Bowl champions in the same year Michigan football won its first College Football Playoff national championship.

Perhaps the most well-known Wolverine participating in the NFL playoffs is Detroit defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, the former No. 2 overall pick who has 11.5 sacks for his hometown team this season. There’s also receiver Nico Collins, who leads Houston with 1,297 receiving yards this season, and Green Bay edge rusher Rashan Gary, who has 44 total tackles and nine sacks in 2023-24.

The Lions (12-5) earned the No. 3 seed in the NFC, and they’ll start their trek toward a hopeful championship when they host Los Angeles (10-7) on Sunday. Detroit winning a Super Bowl would cap off quite a few months for some Michiganders.

REQUIRED READING: Michigan football’s national title proves players can come from anywhere and any ranking

Here’s a guide to where each former Wolverine is playing for the NFL playoffs:

How many Michigan football players are in the NFL playoffs?

In all, 11 of 14 NFL playoff teams have some form of Michigan football representation. Twenty-three Wolverines players are in the playoffs, including 15 active players.

Michigan players by NFL team

Detroit Lions

Three former Michigan players are active for Detroit heading into the playoffs — Aidan Hutchinson, offensive guard Graham Glasgow and backup receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones.

Hutchinson, a second-year pro, has emerged as one of the Lions’ leaders and one of the best young pass-rushers in the NFL, whereas Glasgow is a solid multi-year starter for Detroit.

DE Aidan Hutchinson
OG Graham Glasgow
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones

More: Celebrate Michigan’s national championship with Detroit Free Press books and front pages!

Houston Texans

There’s only one Wolverine on the Texans roster, but it’s a good one. Collins, a Pro Bowl alternate this season, finished this season with 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. He also set new career-highs in every stat in his third season while catching passes from a college rival in former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.

San Francisco 49ers

Cornerback Ambry Thomas, a key contributor in San Francisco’s defense, missed the 49ers’ season finale after undergoing hand surgery, although he’ll reportedly be back for their playoff game against the winner of Tampa Bay and Philadelphia.

Thomas finished the regular season with 43 total tackles and an interception while appearing in 15 games. Former Michigan kicker Jake Moody is also on the roster and has made 21 of 25 field-goal attempts this season.

Here’s the full list of Michigan players for the 49ers:

CB Ambry Thomas
K Jake Moody
WR Ronnie Bell

More: Mitch Albom: Detroit Lions enter playoffs, battle scars and all, vs. familiar friend

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys receive plenty of contribution from former Michigan players, led by defensive back Jourdan Lewis.

Lewis has had one of his best pro seasons in 2023-24, finishing with 52 total tackles and three forced fumbles along with an interception after being selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Dallas also has a pair of rookies in defensive tackle Mazi Smith and tight end Luke Schoonmaker, who contribute in backups roles.

Here’s the full list of Michigan players for the Cowboys:

DB Jourdan Lewis
TE Luke Schoonmaker
DT Mazi Smith

Green Bay Packers

The Packers boast a pair of former Wolverines as starters, in edge rusher Rashan Gary and offensive guard Jon Runyan.

Gary, who signed a four-year extension worth $107.5 million earlier this season, finished the year with nine sacks before the playoffs. Runyan, a three-year starter, has started all 17 games for Green Bay this season.

Here’s the full list of Michigan players for the Packers:

EDGE Rashan Gary
OG Jon Runyan

Philadelphia Eagles

The longest-tenured member of the Eagles is defensive lineman Brandon Graham, a former Michigan first-round pick from 2010.

Graham, 35, is still a key contributor with 16 total tackles and three sacks this season. For his career, he has 73 sacks, 22 forced fumbles and 465 total tackles. He was also a second-team All-Pro selection in 2016.

Here’s the full list of former Michigan players for the Eagles:

Pittsburgh Steelers

Just like the Eagles, the Steelers also have just one former Michigan player on the roster in starting center Mason Cole. He joined Pittsburgh in 2022 and has made 34 starts in two seasons.

Kansas City Chiefs

Rounding out the list of Wolverines in the NFL playoffs is Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna, who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft and has had his most productive season as a pro in 2023-24. The fourth-year pro has 6.5 sacks this season, which ranks four on Kansas City.

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Michigan

Weather alert for dense fog in 11 Michigan counties until Thursday morning

Published

4 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Weather alert for dense fog in 11 Michigan counties until Thursday morning

A report from the National Weather Service was issued on Thursday at 1:43 a.m. EST for dense fog until 9 a.m. EST for Mason, Lake, Osceola, Clare, Oceana, Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella, Muskegon, Montcalm and Gratiot counties.

“Drizzle and patchy dense fog continue to develop across lower Michigan this morning. Near and north of M46, road and air temperatures below freezing will support the potential for areas of slick conditions on area roadways. Visibilities may also drop to one quarter mile or less at times in dense fog. Temperatures will warm above freezing by 10am Thursday morning. Be prepared for changing visibilities over short distances and slick spots on area roadways,” according to the weather service.

Guidance from the weather service for navigating foggy conditions

If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:

Reduce speed:

Slow down and allocate extra travel time to reach your destination safely.

Visibility priority:

Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If available, employ your fog lights.

Avoid high-beams:

Refrain from using high-beam lights, as they create glare, making it more difficult for you to see what’s ahead of you on the road.

Keep your distance:

Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to remaining in the correct lane.

Zero visibility protocol:

In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a safe spot, like a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.

Limited parking options:

If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these precautions from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

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Michigan adds potential star running back Justice Haynes

Published

15 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Justice Haynes

USA Today Sports photos

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on Rivals.com, the leader in college football and basketball recruiting coverage. Be the first to know and follow your teams by signing up here.

Sophomore running back Justice Haynes has put a premium on winning programs.

Haynes attended prep powerhouse Buford (Ga.) HIgh, and then picked Alabama with the hopes of winning a national title. That dream has ended with Haynes entering the transfer portal, but he is making the move to the 2023 national champions in Michigan.

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Haynes rushed 79 times for 448 yards and seven touchdowns, and caught 17 passes for 99 yards for the Crimson Tide. He rushed four times for a season-high 102 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Western Kentucky on Aug. 31. He also had eight carries for an SEC-best 79 yards and a touchdown in a 34-0 win over Missouri on Oct. 26.

Haynes, the son of former Georgia and NFL running back Verron Haynes, was a Rivals.com four-star prospect in the class of 2023. He was ranked No. 33 overall, No. 2 overall in Georgia and the No. 1 running back in the country.

Haynes bypassed Georgia and picked Alabama, with Florida and Ohio State also in the mix. He rushed for 7,574 career yards and 95 touchdowns in high school. He led Buford with 1,695 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns in 13 games his senior year.

Stay locked in on the Rivals Transfer Tracker to keep up with the latest transfer news, portal entries, commitments, and rankings. For a deep-dive into the transfer portal, make sure you visit the Rivals Transfer Search page.

The Rivals Transfer Portal X account is a must-follow for any college football fan.

The winter college football transfer portal window is scheduled to open on December 9th, 2024 for 20 days. Additionally, players have a 30-day window to transfer if their head coach leaves. There is also a five-day window for players to transfer after their team has finished postseason play.

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New Year’s Eve: How to follow Michigan fireworks laws, keep pets safe

Published

1 day ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

New Year’s Eve: How to follow Michigan fireworks laws, keep pets safe

New Year’s Eve is one of five holidays when Michigan state law permits the use of fireworks. From 11 a.m. Dec. 31 until 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, consumer-grade fireworks, like sparklers, smoke bombs, Roman candles, and aerials, which launch into the air to explode, can be set off on personal property.

Some places in Michigan have less restrictive local ordinances that allow more time and days for fireworks, but state law requires fireworks to be allowed after 11 a.m. on certain holidays. Violations of local ordinances can result in a $1,000 civil fine.

Lighting fireworks on public property — including sidewalks, schools, and churches — or another person’s property without permission is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Aerial fireworks, including Roman candles, cannot be used at Michigan state parks, trails, and harbors. However, smaller fireworks like sparklers and fountains are permitted, per the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Selling fireworks to a minor is illegal in Michigan.

“When fire-related incidents involve consumer, low impact, or illegal fireworks resulting in property damage, injury or death of another person, individuals are subject to a misdemeanor or felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than five years and fines of up to $10,000 or both,” according to the state’s website.

Fireworks can be a nightmare for pets. Here are some tips for keeping your pets safe and reducing their anxiety this New Year’s Eve:

Don’t leave your animals alone if they have trouble with loud noises.
Keep pets indoors in a safe room or cage to avoid injury from running into dangerous items in your home.
Close all curtains and windows to reduce noises from outside.
Tire pets out with exercise, like walks or playtime, earlier in the day.
Provide pets with enrichment activities, like a frozen lick mat with treats.
Get your pet soundproof earmuffs or play soothing sounds on a sound machine to muffle noise.

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