LAS VEGAS — After a historic season and a trip to the NFC Championship, the Detroit Lions sadly ended their season with a loss to the 49ers in San Francisco.
Now, San Francisco is facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, but that doesn't mean there won't be Michiganders playing in the big game.
Seven 49ers and three Chiefs have ties to Michigan, including several playing for major colleges in the state.
San Francisco 49ers with ties to Michigan
#10 Ronnie Bell
Position: Wide receiver
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
College: Michigan
Bell played for the University of Michigan from 2018 through 2022 and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Bell caught five passes for the 49ers during the season for 63 yards and two touchdowns.
#76 Jaylon Moore
Position: Offensive lineman
Hometown: Detroit, MI
College: Western Michigan
Moore was born in Detroit in 1998 and played for Western Michigan University from 2016 to 2020. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Moore played in 16 regular season games in 2023, including two starts in the middle of the season.
#50 Jalen Graham
Position: Linebacker
Hometown: Detroit, MI
College: Purdue
Graham is a Detroit native who played at Purdue University in college from 2019 until 2022. Graham was drafted in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
#20 Ambry Thomas
Position: Cornerback
Hometown: Detroit, MI
College: Michigan
Thomas is a Michigan native who was born in Detroit and later played football for the Michigan Wolverines. Thomas played for Michigan from 2017 until 2020 and was picked in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the 49ers. 2023 was arguably his best year in the NFL with 28 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception.
#0 Samuel Womack III
Position: Cornerback
Hometown: Detroit, MI
College: Toledo
Womack was born in Detroit and played for the University of Toledo from 2017 until 2021. Womack was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
#4 Jake Moody
Position: Kicker
Hometown: Commerce Township, MI
College: Michigan
Moody was born in Commerce Township and played football for the Wolverines from 2018 until 2022. He was drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He started every game for the 49ers in 2023, racking up 21 field goals on 25 attempts.
#46 Taybor Pepper
Position: Long snapper
Hometown: Urbana, IL
College: Michigan State
Pepper was born in Illinois, but later moved to Michigan and played high school football in Saline. He then played four years at Michigan State University until the end of the 2015 season. Pepper went undrafted in 2016, but was signed by the Green Bay Packers a year later. He played for four teams before signing with the 49ers in 2020.
Kansas City Chiefs with ties to Michigan
#66 Mike Caliendo
Position: Offensive lineman
Hometown: Brookfield, WI
College: Western Michigan
Caliendo was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading to Western Michigan University to play college football. He played for WMU from 2016 until 2021. After his time in college, he went undrafted in 2022 and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs later that year.
#51 Mike Danna
Position: Defensive end
Hometown: Detroit, MI
College: Michigan, Central Michigan
Danna was born in Detroit and played for Central Michigan University from 2015 until 2018 and then the University of Michigan in 2019. Danna was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Chiefs CB Nic Jones, born in Detroit
Position: Cornerback
Hometown: Detroit, MI
College: Ball State
Jones was born and raised in Metro Detroit and played college football for Ball State University from 2019 until 2022. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023 in the seventh round.
Super Bowl LVIII is on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.
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