San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (54) is introduced before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (54) is introduced before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. Godofredo A. Vásquez, Associated Press
Brandon Judd

By Brandon Judd

At least one Utah tie will be going home with a Super Bowl ring this season.

As of Monday afternoon, one day after the conclusion of the NFL’s final week of the regular season and with this year’s playoff seedings and wild-card matchups set, there were 28 Utah ties on NFL playoff rosters this postseason.

NFL wild-card playoffs schedule


Saturday, Jan. 14


  • Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers, 2:30 p.m. MST
  • Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars, 6:15 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 15


  • Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills, 11 a.m.
  • New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings, 2:30 p.m.
  • Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, 6:15 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 16


  • Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6:15 p.m.

Note: The AFC No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs and NFC No. 1 seed Philadelphia Eagles earned first-round byes.

That is down from 34 each of the past two seasons, and tied with the 28 the prior two years.

The University of Utah leads the way amongst Utah colleges with eight former players on NFL postseason rosters, followed closely by BYU with seven. Utah State has three, while Weber State has two.

Fourteen of the 27 played high school football in Utah. Bingham, Brighton and Stansbury all have two former players in the postseason, while American Fork, Granger, Highland, Hunter, Layton, Orem, Salem Hills and Timpview each have one.

Of those 28, 17 are on active rosters, nine are on practice squads and two on injured reserve.

Here’s a look at each of the Utah ties on NFL rosters this year. Players are on a team’s active roster unless otherwise specified (on practice squad or injured reserve):

Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams during the first half of an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Baltimore. The Steelers won 16-13. | Julio Cortez, Associated Press

AFC playoff teams

1. Kansas City Chiefs

  • Zayne Anderson, S, BYU and Stansbury High (practice squad).
  • Matt Bushman, TE, BYU (practice squad).
  • Marcus Kemp, WR, Layton High (practice squad).

2. Buffalo Bills

  • Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

  • Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State.
  • Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham High.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah.

5. Los Angeles Chargers

  • Michael Davis, CB, BYU.
  • Alohi Gilman, S, Orem High.
  • Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU.

6. Baltimore Ravens

  • Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah.
  • Marcus Williams, FS, Utah.

7. Miami Dolphins

  • Eric Rowe, S, Utah.
  • James Empey, C, BYU and American Fork High (practice squad).
  • Porter Gustin, LB, Salem Hills High (practice squad, injured).
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Britain Covey (18) wears a Love for Damar shirt to support Buffalo Bills’ player Damar Hamlin during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Philadelphia. | Rich Schultz, Associated Press

NFC playoff teams

1. Philadelphia Eagles

  • Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah and Timpview High.
  • Sua Opeta, OL, Weber State and Stansbury High (practice squad).
  • Noah Togiai, TE, Hunter High (practice squad).

2. San Francisco 49ers

  • Fred Warner, LB, BYU.
  • Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah.

3. Minnesota Vikings

  • Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU and Granger High.
View Comments

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State.

5. Dallas Cowboys

  • Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham High.
  • Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton High (injured reserve).

6. New York Giants

  • Terrell Burgess, S, Utah (practice squad).

7. Seattle Seahawks

  • Cody Barton, LB, Utah and Brighton High.
  • Darwin Thompson, RB, Utah State (practice squad).
  • Bryan Mone, DT, Highland High (injured reserve).
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.