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

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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.

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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.

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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:

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  • 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:

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  • 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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More heat, storms expected in West Michigan Tuesday

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More heat, storms expected in West Michigan Tuesday


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Another warm and stormy day is inbound for West Michigan.

A few showers and thunderstorms will kick off Tuesday, though these are expected to be subsevere. A cold front will follow in the afternoon triggering the chance of additional showers and storms once again.

At the moment, the greater threat appears to be well southeast of Grand Rapids. Unlike Monday, Tuesday is more likely to have scattered cells rather than a swath of storms. These will likely develop between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

High temperatures on Tuesday will once again reach the low 80s. Much cooler air surges in for the middle of the week, keeping storm chances far away.

Stay with Storm Team 8 for the latest.

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Man wrongly convicted of killing 2 Michigan hunters in 1990 agrees to $5.25M settlement

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Man wrongly convicted of killing 2 Michigan hunters in 1990 agrees to .25M settlement


DETROIT — A man who spent nearly 21 years in prison for the deaths of two Michigan hunters agreed to a $5.25 million settlement after accusing police of failing to turn over evidence that could have helped him at trial, a lawyer said Monday.

Jeff Titus was released in 2023 and his murder convictions were erased at the request of prosecutors. The Innocence Clinic at University of Michigan law school and two investigators got authorities to acknowledge that an Ohio serial killer might have been the person who killed the hunters in 1990.

Titus had long declared his innocence.

“It’s been a long road for Jeff,” attorney Wolf Mueller said. “He’s 74. He lost two decades of his life. The money doesn’t make up for the loss of decades, but it allows him to put this part of his life behind him.”

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An email seeking comment from the lawyer who defended a retired homicide detective in the lawsuit wasn’t immediately answered.

Doug Estes and Jim Bennett were fatally shot near Titus’ property in Kalamazoo County in 1990. Titus initially was cleared as a suspect, but murder charges were filed against him 12 years later. Prosecutors portrayed Titus as a hothead who didn’t like trespassers.

Students and staff at University of Michigan law school were trying to get him a new trial when a 30-page file from the original investigation was discovered at the county sheriff’s office. It was a blockbuster: It referred to an alternate suspect, Thomas Dillon of Magnolia, Ohio.

Jacinda Davis, at the TV network Investigation Discovery, and Susan Simpson, through the podcast “Undisclosed,” had raised doubts about Titus’ guilt and aired questions about Dillon’s possible role.

Dillon died in prison in 2011. He was arrested in 1993 and ultimately pleaded guilty to killing five people in Ohio who had been hunting, fishing or jogging.

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The lawsuit that was settled Monday did not center on Dillon as an alternate suspect. Rather, police were accused of violating Titus’ rights by not sharing information that could have cast doubt on the trial testimony of a key witness, Mueller said.



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Severe storm threat targets Southeast Michigan through Tuesday — What to know

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Severe storm threat targets Southeast Michigan through Tuesday — What to know


Warm and humid air will remain in place across southeast Michigan today and Tuesday, creating favorable conditions for multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms. Stay weather aware with our 4Warn Weather app as storms may bring damaging winds, large hail, torrential rainfall, and isolated tornadoes. We have issued a 4Warn Weather alert for both afternoons and evenings.

Severe Weather Risk Today

A Slight Risk for severe weather covers nearly all of southeast Michigan today as an approaching disturbance interacts with unstable air and increasing humidity. Scattered thunderstorms could develop later this afternoon and evening. These storms will have the potential to produce:

  • Damaging wind gusts

  • Large hail

  • Locally heavy rainfall

  • Isolated tornadoes

The primary window for severe weather is expected between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., although a few isolated storms could develop earlier in the afternoon. Rain and thunderstorms may also linger into the late evening hours.

Another Round Possible Tuesday

The severe weather pattern is expected to continue Tuesday with another Slight Risk (Level 2 out 5) covering all of southeast Michigan. Warm, unstable conditions will clash with an approaching cold front and once again support thunderstorm development during the afternoon and evening hours, especially between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday’s storms may again be capable of producing:

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  • Damaging wind gusts

  • Large hail

  • Heavy downpours

  • Isolated tornadoes

Make sure to monitor our forecasts closely and have multiple ways to receive weather warnings during both days.

Cooler Air Arrives Midweek

After the active weather pattern exits, a significant cooldown is expected across the region. Temperatures will fall nearly 20 degrees from Tuesday into Wednesday as cooler and drier air moves into the Great Lakes. High temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday are expected to remain in the 60s, bringing a refreshing break from the recent heat and humidity. Overnight lows will be in the 40s, so the cooldown doesn’t propose a threat for frost.

Memorial Day Weekend Outlook

Looking ahead, conditions appear much more comfortable for Memorial Day weekend. Forecast highs are expected to return to the 70s with seasonable late-May weather anticipated across southeast Michigan.

Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.



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