Wolverines in the NFL: Eighteen former Michigan football players set for playoffs
The postseason is here in the NFL, and Michigan Wolverines football will be well-represented. There are 18 former U-M players on active rosters of playoff teams. Here’s a look at the schedule for this weekend:
AFC
• Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC: No. 5 Cleveland Browns (offensive lineman James Hudson, defensive tackle Maurice Hurst — injured) at No. 4 Houston Texans (wide receiver Nico Collins)
• Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET on Peacock: No. 6 Miami Dolphins at No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs (defensive end Michael Danna)
• Sunday, 1 p.m. ET on CBS: No. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers (offensive lineman Mason Cole) at No. 2 Buffalo Bills
NFC
• BYE: San Francisco 49ers (wide receiver Ronnie Bell, kicker Jake Moody, cornerback Ambry Thomas)
• Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX: No. 7 Green Bay Packers (outside linebacker Rashan Gary, offensive lineman Jon Runyan) at No. 2 Dallas Cowboys (defensive back Jourdan Lewis, tight end Luke Schoonmaker, defensive tackle Mazi Smith)
• Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC: No. 6 Los Angeles Rams at No. 3 Detroit Lions (offensive lineman Graham Glasgow, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones)
• Monday, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, ESPN2: No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles (defensive end Brandon Graham, linebacker Ben VanSumeren) at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Here’s a look at regular-season stats for every former Michigan player in the NFL:
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Ronnie Bell (played at Michigan from 2018-22), WR, San Francisco 49ers
Caught 6 passes for 68 yards and 3 touchdowns, also returning 10 punts for 70 yards with 1 fumble.
Ben Bredeson (2016-19), G, New York Giants
Started in all 16 games that he appeared in for the 6-11 Giants … Generated a 42.1 overall PFF rating with 39 pressures and 5 sacks given up.
Devin Bush (2016-18), LB, Seattle Seahawks
The former Michigan linebacker started three of his 13 games and totaled 37 tackles and 5 tackles for loss for the 9-8 Seahawks.
Zach Charbonnet (2019-20), RB Seattle Seahawks
Recorded 108 rush attempts for 462 yards with 1 touchdown and caught 33 passes for 209 yards. His 462 rushing yards rank fourth among rookies, behind Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson (976), Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs (945) and Miami’s De’Von Achane (800) … The Seahawks missed the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, finishing with a 9-8 record.
Mason Cole (2014-17), OL Pittsburgh Steelers
Started all 17 games at center for the 10-7 Steelers, posting a 57.3 overall PFF grade with 31 pressures and 2 sacks allowed.
Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans
The former Michigan wideout opened 10 of the 15 games in which he played, leading the team with 80 catches, 1,297 receiving yards and 8 touchdown receptions … The third-year pro had less than 500 yards in each of his previous two seasons … The Texans finished 10-7 and won the AFC South.
Michael Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Started the first 16 games before resting in Week 17 … Totaled 50 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits and 3 pass breakups for the 11-6 Chiefs.
Chris Evans (2016-18, 20), RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Inactive for the final seven outings, after appearing in eight and notching 2 rushes for 12 yards.
Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers
The former Michigan defensive end racked up 44 tackles, 7 stops for loss, 22 quarterback hits, 9 sacks and 2 pass breakups for the 9-8 Packers.
Zach Gentry (2015-18), TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Picked up by the Las Vegas Raiders and played in his first game of the season in Week 17, playing 18 offensive snaps in a win over the Denver Broncos.
Graham Glasgow (2011-15), OL, Detroit Lions
Opened the final 15 contests of the 12-5 Lions’ season — three at center and 12 at right guard — with a 75.1 overall PFF grade and 82.1 run-blocking rating … Gave up 39 pressures and 2 sacks with a 56.2 mark in pass protection.
Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Played in all 17 games off the bench for the 11-6 Eagles, registering 16 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 6 quarterback hits and 1 pass breakup.
Dax Hill (2019-21), S, Cincinnati Bengals
The former Michigan defensive back opened all 17 tilts for the 9-8 Bengals, totaling 110 tackles (third-most on the team), 6 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 5 quarterback hits, 2 interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
Christopher Hinton (2019-21), DT, Los Angeles Chargers
Saw time in three games, posting 10 tackles, for the 5-12 Chargers.
James Hudson (2017-18), OT, Cleveland Browns
Started six games — including the final four at right tackle — and appeared in 16 for the 10-6 Browns … Has a 46.8 overall PFF grade.
Khaleke Hudson (2016-19), LB, Washington Commanders
Began the season playing almost exclusively on special teams, but got his opportunity on defense at the end, starting the final five contests for the 4-13 Commanders … Totaled 74 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 quarterback hits and 2 pass breakups.
Maurice Hurst II (2014-17), DT, Cleveland Browns
Missed the last four games and will not play in the playoffs with a season-ending pectoral injury … Notched 5 multi-tackle games and totaled 22 stops, including 4 for loss, to go along with 1.5 sacks, 5 quarterback hits, 1 interception and 3 pass breakups in 13 clashes for the 10-6 Browns.
Aidan Hutchinson (2018-21), DL, Detroit Lions
The former Michigan Heisman Trophy runner-up posted 5 sacks in the last two games to push his total up to 11.5 for the season, with that number ranking tied for 12th in the league … Added 51 tackles, 14 stops for loss, 33 quarterback hits, 1 interception, 7 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries for the 12-5 Lions … He ranks second in the league with 101 pressures, behind only Dallas’ Micah Parsons (103) … Those two are the only NFL players with 100-plus pressures.
Jourdan Lewis (2013-16), CB, Dallas Cowboys
Posted 52 tackles, 2 stops for loss, 1 interception, 5 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries in 16 games with eight starts for the 12-5 Cowboys.
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David Long Jr. (2016-18), CB, Green Bay Packers
The former Michigan cornerback saw the field in 14 contests for three different teams, playing for the Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers before landing with the 9-8 Green Bay Packers … Totaled 19 tackles and 1 pass breakup.
Cameron McGrone (2018-20), LB, Indianapolis Colts
Appeared in 12 outings for the 9-8 Colts, primarily on special teams, recording 4 tackles.
Josh Metellus (2016-19), S, Minnesota Vikings
Started all 17 games for the 7-10 Vikings and recorded 116 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 1 interception, 5 pass breakups and 4 forced fumbles.
Jake Moody (2018-22), K, San Francisco 49ers
Nailed 21 of his 25 field goal attempts and 60 of his 61 extra point tries while playing in all 17 outings for the top-seeded, 12-5 49ers.
Mike Morris (2019-22), DE, Seattle Seahawks
Missed all but one game with a season-ending shoulder injury.
David Ojabo (2019-21), OLB, Baltimore Ravens
Ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery for a partially torn ACL, per head coach John Harbaugh Nov. 27.
Olu Oluwatimi (2022), C, Seattle Seahawks
The former Michigan offensive lineman who attended the national championship game played in 16 games overall — appearing on special teams in all of them and offense in four, with one start (Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals).
Mike Onwenu (2016-19), OL, New England Patriots
Started all 15 games in which he played for the 4-13 Patriots … Posted a 71.5 overall PGG grade with 23 pressures and 3 sacks given up.
Kwity Paye (2017-20), DE, Indianapolis Colts
The former Michigan defensive end started all 16 games that he played in, registering 52 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 8 tackles for loss, 9 quarterback hits 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries for the 9-8 Colts.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (2017-19), WR, Detroit Lions
Started one game among his eight appearances since being traded to the Detroit Lions … Made 5 catches for 58 yards with his new team … Traded from the Cleveland Browns, with which he made 8 receptions for 97 yards in seven outings.
Jabrill Peppers (2014-16), DB, New England Patriots
Started all 15 games that he competed in, totaling 78 tackles, 1 sack, 5 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hits, 2 interceptions and 8 pass breakups.
Brad Robbins (2017-22), P, Cincinnati Bengals
Averaged 44.3 yards per punt with 76 attempts … Kicked 5 touchbacks and pinned the opponent inside its own 20-yard line 20 times.
Cesar Ruiz (2017-19), C/G, New Orleans Saints
The former Michigan offensive lineman started all 17 games at right guard, posting a 51.2 overall PFF grade with 27 pressures and 5 sacks allowed for the 9-8 Saints.
Jon Runyan (2015-19), G, Green Bay Packers
The former Michigan offensive lineman started all 17 games at right guard, posted a 54.7 overall PFF grade for the regular season with 21 pressures and 2 sacks allowed.
Luke Schoonmaker (2018-22), TE, Dallas Cowboys
Grabbed 8 receptions for 65 yards and 2 touchdowns in 17 games off the bench for the 12-5 Cowboys.
Mazi Smith (2019-22), DT, Dallas Cowboys
Started in three of 17 outings for the 12-5 Cowboys, posting 13 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 3 quarterback hits.
Ambry Thomas (2017-20), CB, San Francisco 49ers
Played in 15 games with six starts for the 12-5 49ers, registering 43 tackles, 1 interception, 7 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
DJ Turner II (2019-22), CB, Cincinnati Bengals
The Michigan rookie appeared in 17 clashes with 12 starts … Made 50 tackles, 1 sack and 2 tackles for loss and added 1 quarterback hit, 7 pass breakups and 1 fumble recovery.
Josh Uche (2016-19), LB, New England Patriots
Saw time in 15 outings with two starts and recorded 15 tackles, 3 sacks and 6 quarterback hits.
Ben VanSumeren (2018-20), LB, Philadelphia Eagles
The former Michigan and Michigan State defender competed in nine games with one start, making 13 tackles.
Chris Wormley (2012-16), DE, Carolina Panthers
Played in five tilts and recorded 4 tackles.
