Skip to main content
Michigan
Join Now

Wolverines in the NFL: Five former Michigan players set for Super Bowl LIX, including a potential surprise

clayton-sayfieby: Clayton Sayfie01/27/25CSayf23

For the 11th straight year, at least one former Michigan Wolverines football player will win the Super Bowl. The Maize and Blue have five former standouts in Super Bowl LIX — which will be played in New Orleans — between the Philadelphia Eagles (defensive end Brandon Graham, offensive lineman Trevor Keegan, linebacker/fullback Ben VanSumeren) and the Kansas City Chiefs (defensive end Mike Danna, linebacker Joshua Uche).

The Eagles are in their second Super Bowl in three years, and Kansas City is searching to become the first team to win three in a row. There have been nine total back-to-back champions seeking a three-peat in NFL history, but only one of them actually made it back to the Super Bowl — this year’s Chiefs.

Since Danna entered the league in 2020, his Chiefs have made four Super Bowls, winning two of them. The franchise has built a dynasty with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, making five Super Bowls in his seven years as a starter.

Mike Danna, Kansas City advance, seek three-peat

The Chiefs advanced by taking down the Buffalo Bills, 32-29, in an instant-classic AFC championship game in Kansas City. Danna chipped in with a big performance, recording 4 tackles, 1 sack and 1 tackle for loss with 2 hits on the quarterback.

Danna had a strip sack on Bills quarterback Josh Allen that was recovered by Buffalo. That marked his first sack of the postseason and second of his career in the playoffs. He totaled 4 pressures, tied for the second-most on the team behind only All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones (8).

Philadelphia Eagles are back in the Super Bowl, and Brandon Graham may return

There were no Wolverines on the Buffalo Bills, but there were plenty in the NFC championship game between the Eagles and the Washington Commanders (cornerbacks Mike Sainristil, Benjamin St-Juste). While it was a hard-fought game in the first half, Philadelphia ran away with a 55-23 victory at home.

Graham and VanSumeren missed the game with injuries, while Keegan was inactive after appearing in only one game in his rookie regular season. Sainristil received a lot of action at nickel/cornerback for the opponent, however. The rookie was targeted a team-high 7 times, allowing 5 receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. Playing mostly at outside corner, he notched 5 tackles and 2 pass breakups.

St-Juste, meanwhile, recorded a pair of tackles and saw action on 10 defensive snaps.

While none of the former Michigan players on the Eagles were able to play in the NFC championship game, there may be a surprise coming Feb. 9 in New Orleans. Graham — who hasn’t played since tearing his biceps Nov. 24 — is expected to come off IR and attempt to play in the big game, according to Marcua Hayes of the Inquirer.

“Graham told me he hasn’t tested his torn triceps full-bore, but what he’s done showed promising results,” Hayes reported.

The 15-year professional said before the season that this year was likely his last before retirement, and he may be able to close it out on the field while attempting to win his second Super Bowl. The 36-year-old collected 20 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 11 games this season, and he’s made 5.5 career postseason sacks.