There will be a very Michigan football flavor to Super Bowl 60 on Sunday between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.
Of course, the first connection to the Wolverines is with head coach Mike Macdonald. It's hard to believe he was hired to be the Michigan football defensive coordinator just five years ago.
Macdonald was instrumental in the turnaround at Michigan. His defense, which is also being run by Jesse Minter, who is now the head coach of the Ravens, was key to conquering Ohio State. It has taken the NFL by storm and has the Seahawks one win away from a Super Bowl championship.
Macdonald could get a Super Bowl title before the man who hired him, Jim Harbaugh. Yet, another Harbaugh, Jay, would get a ring as the special teams coach. The Seahawks have been elite in that area, and it could be the difference in Super Bowl 60.
Four Michigan football players taking part in Super Bowl 60
There will be four former Michigan football players on the field, too. Seattle boasts three former Wolverines: AJ Barner, Olu Oluwatimi, and Mike Morris. New England has former offensive lineman Michael Onwenu.
Barner, the former sixth-round pick, might have had the biggest impact of any Michigan football player on either roster. He was third on the Seahawks in receiving yards with 591 on 52 receptions. Barner, an elite blocker, too, caught six touchdown passes. He was Michigan's No. 2 tight end on the national championship team in 2023. Mike Morris played in all 17 regular-season games.
Onwneu started every game for New England this season and should get the start in Super Bowl 60, being one of two Wolverines, along with Barner, to be in the starting lineup.
The Wolverines have had one player on at least 12 consecutive Super Bowl champions. Super Bowl 60 will make that 13.