Seven former Wolverines still in the hunt for a Super Bowl ring

The Super Bowl LVII Champion will be crowned in less than three weeks. In what seems like a yearly occurrence, a former Michigan football player will be joining the celebration as all four remaining teams in the NFL playoffs have at least one former Wolverine on their team.

Two former Michigan football players were named Super Bowl Champions just one season ago. Defensive backs David Long Jr. and Blake Countess were each a part of the eventual champion Los Angeles Rams and could join in on the party.

This season we will be seeing yet another Wolverine turned Super Bowl Champion. The San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and Philadelphia Eagles have a former Michigan football player on their roster.

Ambry Thomas (San Francisco 49ers)

Cornerback Ambry Thomas hasn’t seen game-time action since the 49ers’ win over the Washington Commanders on December 24. Still, Despite this, Thomas has seen a slight uptick in playing time as he saw the field in 15 games this year compared to just 12 one season ago.

It’s unlikely he’ll see much action for the remainder of the season, but Thomas made a solid impact in limited minutes throughout the 2022 football season. Thomas recorded 13 total tackles on the year in 15 games.

Frank Clark (Kansas City Chiefs)

The 29-year-old defensive end Frank Clark has already won one Super Bowl with the Chiefs, and he’ll, without a doubt, be looking to win another in 2023. Clark made a significant impact in their last game versus the Jaguars, recording three tackles and one sack as the Chiefs snuck into the AFC Championship.

Clark has been a consistent piece of this Kansas City defense as he recorded his third season with five or more sacks. He will be a big part of it if the Chiefs are to make another push at the Super Bowl as they did in 2020.

Mike Danna (Kansas City Chiefs)

Third-year defensive end for the Chiefs, Mike Danna, has improved every year since joining the franchise. While he didn’t record any major stats in his most recent game versus the Jaguars, he has five total sacks on the year, an improvement from each of his previous two seasons in the NFL.

Whether Danna gets significant playing time in the next few games is to be seen, but this is not his first Super Bowl push. He and fellow former Wolverine Frank Clark will be ready when his number gets called.

Chad Henne (Kansas City Chiefs)

For many Michigan football fans, quarterback Chad Henne was the star of the show this past Saturday. Starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes went to the sideline with a lower-body injury, and former Michigan football star Henne was ready for his moment. He would throw the ball seven times for 23 yards and a touchdown, capping off a beautiful 99-yard touchdown drive.

Henne has been with the Chiefs since 2018 and has proven to be an excellent backup whenever the need arises. If Mahomes can’t stay healthy, the Chiefs will need to go to Henne once again, and he has proven that he is more than up to the challenge.

Brandon Graham (Philadelphia Eagles)

Defensive end Brandon Graham is a timeless veteran who continues to improve as he gets older. In his 13th season with the Philadelphia Eagles, Graham has a career-high in sacks in a season, recording 11 on the year. While his snap count has dropped over the years, he clearly still can make big plays for his team and is a significant part of the Eagles’ phenomenal season thus far.

If the 34-year-old Graham hopes to win his second career Super Bowl, he’ll need to keep up his big-time season. He recorded two tackles and one sack in his most recent game against the New York Giants, so he’ll need to keep up that productivity if the Eagles hope to keep moving.

Chris Evans (Cincinnati Bengals)

Running back Chris Evans has seen a slight decrease in snaps in his second season with the Bengals, but when given the opportunity, he has more than flashed what he can do. His drop in playing time is likely due to how deep the Bengals’ running backs are, but Evans is a more than capable pass catcher, which always brings in the potential for a big play.

Evans has one touchdown on the year, and I’m sure he’s antsy to get to his second Super Bowl in as many seasons. He has not recorded any major stats since early December, but you must stay ready in a league like the NFL, as your opportunity could be right around the corner.

Daxton Hill (Cincinnati Bengals)

The do it all defensive back, Daxton Hill, is going to be a star in this league. He just hasn’t quite had his opportunity yet. Still, Hill has been phenomenal on special teams and, in limited snaps, was still able to record 16 tackles on the year.

After recording one assisted tackle in the Bengals’ most recent game against the Bills, Hill can ride that momentum into his next game or two. The Bengals are, without a doubt, hoping to reach the Super Bowl for the second year in a row, and if they can, Hill would be the second Wolverine in as many years to make the big game in their rookie season.

Both the AFC and NFC Championship games are coming up this Sunday as the 49ers face off against the Eagles at 3:00 p.m. EST, while the Bengals will play the Chiefs at 5:30 p.m. EST. Ultimately, the goal is to make the Super Bowl, and no matter who it be, Michigan fans will, without a doubt, be excited to watch some former Wolverines compete for the most significant trophy in football.

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