Michigan

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

Published

2 years 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

Michigan forecast makes a wild swing from snow to 60 degrees by the weekend

Published

13 hours ago

November 11, 2025

Press Room

Michigan forecast makes a wild swing from snow to 60 degrees by the weekend

After our weekend snow event, any flurries still lingering early today were expected to taper off by this evening.

But then our warming trend arrives. We’ll see our temperatures gradually creeping up as we head from Wednesday toward the weekend. By Saturday, some areas in West Michigan and southern Michigan could hit 60 degrees.

Here are the forecast highlights from the National Weather Service offices across the state:

Light rain and snow showers are moving across Michigan today with minimal impact expected. Temperatures will remain in the 30s to low 40s with breezy conditions making it feel colder.

In Northern Michigan, precipitation will begin as a mix of rain and snow this morning, with higher terrain areas seeing more snow while coastal and lower elevations experience primarily rain. Winds will be breezy, gusting 25 to 30 mph, especially near Lake Michigan, creating wind chills in the 20s. The Upper Peninsula will see light rain or snow showers by afternoon, mainly east of Munising.

For central and southern Michigan, lake effect snow is rapidly diminishing this morning. Grand Rapids and surrounding areas will see only a chance of light snow today, mainly north of M-46, with precipitation ending this evening. Southeast Michigan has a slight chance of light snow or rain with temperatures climbing into the mid-30s.

Weather officials warn that melting snow during daytime hours will refreeze overnight, potentially creating icy or black ice conditions on roadways for Wednesday and Thursday morning commutes, especially in the Upper Peninsula. Northwest winds near 40 mph are possible near Lake Superior and in the Keweenaw Peninsula on Wednesday.

A gradual warming trend begins Wednesday with temperatures moderating into the 40s across most of the state. By Friday, high temperatures will reach the upper 40s to low 50s as high pressure takes hold with lighter winds and quieter weather.

The weekend looks significantly warmer with temperatures climbing into the 50s and potentially reaching the low 60s in southern Michigan by Sunday. Another round of precipitation is expected Saturday into Sunday, though there remains uncertainty about the exact timing and track of this system.

Marine interests should note that a Gale Warning is in effect for much of Lake Superior through Wednesday, with potential for winds of 34-40 knots. Small Craft Advisories are posted for portions of Lakes Michigan and Huron through Wednesday evening.

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Michigan

Michigan residents wake up to first real snow of the season; more possible

Published

2 days ago

November 9, 2025

Press Room

Michigan residents wake up to first real snow of the season; more possible

Many Michigan residents woke up to their first hint of winter Sunday.

Dropping temperatures led to the first snowfall in many areas of the state, with most residents seeing an inch or 2 of fresh powder.

Detroit Metro Airport recorded 1.2″ of snow in a 12-hour period, according to the National Weather Service in Detroit. Adrian showed a 24-hour total of 2″ from Saturday into Sunday. Freeland received the most snow in the southern half of the state, racking up 6″ in 19 hours.

Winter weather advisories remained in effect in the state Sunday night.

The counties of Bay, Saginaw and Tuscola had an advisory in effect, warning of lake-effect snow. Snow accumulations between 1-3″ were possible, with some areas possibly seeing higher amounts.

St. Clair and Macomb Counties, including the cities of Port Huron and Warren, had a winter weather advisory in effect through 4 a.m. Monday. Total snow accumulations between 2-4″ were possible.

“Lake effect snowfall will continue across the area this afternoon and evening, with the heaviest snow focused across the Tri-Cities region and the eastern Thumb into northern Metro Detroit,” the National Weather Service website said.

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Michigan

Wisconsin men’s hockey bounces back vs. No. 2 Michigan, takes over first place in Big Ten

Published

3 days ago

November 9, 2025

Press Room

Wisconsin men’s hockey bounces back vs. No. 2 Michigan, takes over first place in Big Ten

The response from the Wisconsin men’s hockey team was emphatic.

One day after suffering their first loss of the season, the Badgers bounced back to score a 6-1 victory over No. 2 Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The victory leaves the Badgers, who are ranked No. 10 in the USCHO poll, in first place in the Big Ten with nine points. Michigan, which is also 3-1 in league play, sits in second with eight points.

Leading the way for UW was freshman goalie Daniel Hauser. Friday, he got caught out of position and left the net empty for a goal. Saturday, he turned away 24 shots. The only goal he allowed came at the 4:59 mark of the second period when a long rebound of a shot by UW’s Christian Fitzgerald led to a 2-on-1 opportunity the Wolverines didn’t waste.

Six Badgers scored goals for Wisconsin, which raised its record to 7-1-2 overall. Senior defenseman Ben Dexheimer (one goal, one assist) was the only Badger with more than one point.

He scored the first goal at the 7:13 mark of the first period and assisted sophomore Gavin Morrissey on the second goal 5 ½ minutes later.

Before the night was done Fitzgerald scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season, freshman Blake Montgomery scored his fifth and senior Aiden Dubinsky and sophomore Adam Pietilla recorded their first goals of the season.

Up next for Wisconsin will be No. 19 Ohio State on Friday and Saturday at the Kohl Center. The Buckeyes (4-4, 0-2) had a bye this weekend.

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