The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532537
MARCH 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 79 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE F or the 11th straight season, at least one former Michigan Wolverines football player has won the Super Bowl. The Philadelphia Eagles blew out the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, in Super Bowl LIX Feb. 9 in New Orleans. There are three former Michigan play- ers on the Eagles: defensive end Brandon Graham, offensive lineman Trevor Keegan and linebacker/fullback Ben VanSume- ren. Graham, Keegan and VanSumeren earned the lopsided victory over two former Wolverines, defensive end Mike Danna and linebacker Joshua Uche, mem- bers of the Chiefs. Since VanSumeren finished his career at Michigan State after three years in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines officially had four former players on Super Bowl rosters. Only two college programs had more — Oklahoma (seven) and Georgia (six). U-M, Alabama and Florida tied the Wolverines with four. The Eagles got up 34-0 late in the third quarter, dominating to that point, and held on despite Kansas City's best efforts. The 6-foot-2, 265-pound Graham played a limited role, but it was remark- able that he took the field at all. The 35-year-old tore his triceps Nov. 24 and was at that point said to be done for the season, potentially the final one of his career. However, he rehabbed diligently and was healthy enough to give it a go, with the Eagles removing him from the injured reserve list after the NFC cham- pionship game win over the Washington Commanders and activating him against the Chiefs. Graham only played 13 defensive snaps but posted 1 tackle and 1 pressure as part of a dominant defensive line perfor- mance. The Eagles recorded 6 sacks, one shy of the Super Bowl record, and 6 other tackles for loss. Keegan (healthy scratch) and VanSu- meren (knee) were inactive for the Super Bowl. Keegan has gone viral on social media for his last four years in football. He won three straight Big Ten championships from 2021-23, the 2023 national title with the Wolverines and then the Super Bowl as a rookie. The Chiefs became the only team to win back-to-back Super Bowls and then make it back to the final game with a chance to three-peat. However, another world title wasn't in the cards. Philadelphia now has its second Lom- bardi Trophy. Graham was a big part of the first, sealing the Super Bowl LII vic- tory with a strip-sack on fellow Michigan Wolverine Tom Brady. Brady, a seven- time champion, was the color analyst for the FOX broadcast this time around and even shouted out his "fellow Wolverine" Graham to the record 127.7 million televi- sion viewers. Decision time is nearing for Graham. While he originally intended on the 2024 season being his last, he's pondering re- turning for another year. In a Feb. 11 in- terview with 94.1 WIP radio, he discussed his thought process. "I still feel like I've got a lot in the tank," Graham said. "But I want to make sure that I go about this the right way. I'm not there yet. There are so many different ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Brandon Graham Wins His Second Lombardi Trophy Graham, who tore his triceps Nov. 24 and was thought to be lost for the season, rehabbed diligently and returned for the Eagles' 40-22 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX Feb. 9. PHOTO BY NBCSPORTSPHILADELPHIA.COM