Wolverines in the NFL: Seven former Michigan players ready for championship weekend

A Michigan Wolverine could win the Super Bowl for a 10th consecutive year, with seven Wolverines still remaining in the playoffs.

The Detroit Lions (offensive lineman Graham Glasgow, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones) will take on the San Francisco 49ers (wide receiver Ronnie Bell, kicker Jake Moody and cornerback Ambry Thomas) in the NFC championship game, while the Kansas City Chiefs (Michael Danna) will battle with the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC crown.

Beyond these seven former Wolverine players, there are a couple more U-M connections in the coaching ranks of these divisional finalists. The Baltimore staff includes former U-M and current Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald as well as Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, Michigan head man Jim’s older brother. Ravens’ outside linebacker David Ojabo, a stalwart on the U-M’s breakout 2021 team, is on injured reserve and unable to play after season-ending knee surgery at the end of November.

The Lions have turned around their fortunes, making the postseason for the first time since 2016 and winning a playoff game for the first time since the 1991 campaign, when they made their last appearance in the NFC championship game.

Hutchinson has helped lead the way, and he’s increased his production down the stretch this season. In the final two regular-season games and the playoff wins over the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hutchinson has combined for 8 sacks. He now has 3 career postseason sacks, tied with Ezekiel Ansah for the most in franchise history.

A Plymouth, Mich., native, Hutchinson has been proud to help spark excitement near his hometown.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Hutchinson told NBC. “It’s amazing, and this city deserves it — and we’re going to keep plugging away.”

Bell, Moody, Thomas and their top-seeded 49ers await, after a 12-5 regular season and triumph over the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round. The 49ers are the favorite to win the Super Bowl.

Danna, meanwhile, is back in the AFC championship game for the fourth time in as many years after being drafted by the Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2020 draft. He’s seeking his second Super Bowl title.

Here’s a look back at how Michigan players performed in the Divisional Round:

Baltimore Ravens 34, Houston Texans 10

The Texans didn’t get a whole lot going in the passing game, but former Michigan wideout Nico Collins did lead the team with 5 catches for 68 yards on 10 targets. Quarterback C.J. Stroud amassed just 175 passing yards while completing 19 of his 33 attempts, and the run game provided hardly anything with Houston trailing most of the game (14 carries for 38 yards). The Texans’ lone touchdown came on a punt return.

San Francisco 49ers 24, Green Bay Packers 21

Moody nailed a 52-yard field goal to put San Francisco within four points, 21-17, early in the fourth quarter, before the offense scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:07 to go.

Thomas made 5 tackles (3 solo). He was targeted 5 times in coverage, allowing 5 receptions for 74 yards, according to PFF.

Bell was inactive.

Gary got pressure on 4 of his 29 pass-rush snaps, but 49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy was brought down only once. Gary did register 4 tackles, as well.

Runyan, meanwhile, graded out the third-highest on the Green Bay offense with a 69.0 PFF rating. The former Michigan All-Big Ten offensive lineman did allow 1 pressure.

Detroit Lions 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23

Hutchinson was dominant once again, posting a team-high 8 pressures with 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and 4 total stops. The Lions got to Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield with 4 sacks, and he threw 2 interceptions. The Bucs rushed for just 89 yards but did have 349 yards worth of success through the air.

The Lions’ offensive line came up big, paving the way for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns, and protecting quarterback Jared Goff, who was taken down twice but threw for 287 yards and a pair of scores.

Peoples-Jones has assumed the Lions’ punt returner role, a spot he held while at Michigan, during the playoffs due to an injury to Khalif Raymond, and he brought back 2 punts for 18 yards.

Kansas City Chiefs 27, Buffalo Bills 24

The Chiefs have done it again, earning an AFC championship game berth for the sixth straight season. Danna has been on the squad for four, never being bounced before championship weekend. The former Michigan defensive end made 1 tackle and registered 1 pressure.

The game went back and forth, but the Bills missed a field goal to tie, with the Chiefs’ defense coming up with a stop to force the attempt instead of allowing Buffalo to take a late lead with a touchdown.