Former Lions in Super Bowl LX: Familiar Faces, New Colors
The Detroit Lions may not be suiting up for Super Bowl LX, but that doesn’t mean their fingerprints are absent from the big game. While fans in Detroit were hoping for a deep playoff run after a promising season, they’ll instead be watching former Lions take the field for either the New England Patriots or the Seattle Seahawks. For some fans, that might be reason enough to tune in - even if it’s just to root for (or against) a few familiar names.
Let’s take a look at five former Lions who’ll be part of Super Bowl Sunday, whether they’re on the field, the sideline, or the practice squad.
CB Carlton Davis - New England Patriots
Carlton Davis’ time in Detroit was short and turbulent, but memorable. Acquired in a 2024 trade from the Buccaneers - along with two sixth-round picks - in exchange for what became wide receiver Jalen McMillan, Davis was brought in with hopes his Super Bowl pedigree could help elevate the Lions’ secondary. After all, he was a key part of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV-winning defense.
In Detroit, Davis showed flashes of that same playmaking ability. He appeared in 13 games, notching two interceptions and recovering two fumbles.
But injuries - including a quadriceps strain and a fractured jaw - kept him from being a consistent presence. He missed Detroit’s playoff loss to Washington and hit free agency soon after.
New England saw value in Davis and signed him to a three-year, $60 million deal. The gamble paid off.
Davis started all 17 games for a Patriots defense that’s been among the league’s best. While he didn’t record a regular-season interception, he showed up when it mattered most - picking off C.J.
Stroud twice in the Divisional Round against Houston. Now, he’s back on the Super Bowl stage, hoping to earn ring number two.
LB Jahlani Tavai - New England Patriots
Jahlani Tavai’s Lions tenure didn’t go as planned. Drafted in the second round in 2019 by then-GM Bob Quinn, Tavai never quite lived up to expectations in Detroit.
He played 31 games over two seasons, starting 16, and totaled 116 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, and a pick. But when the Lions underwent a roster overhaul in 2021, Tavai found himself on the outside looking in.
He landed in New England, where he reunited with former Lions head coach Matt Patricia. What started as a practice squad role has turned into a second act few could’ve predicted. Tavai has now appeared in 76 games for the Patriots, starting 51 - and he’s become a key contributor on defense and special teams alike.
This season, injuries limited his availability early on, but he returned in October and started seven of the Patriots’ final 12 games. In the playoffs, he’s logged 98 snaps and seven tackles. Now, he’s one win away from a Super Bowl title - a long way from being a preseason cut in Detroit.
QB Joshua Dobbs - New England Patriots
Joshua Dobbs has had one of the more winding NFL journeys in recent memory. Known affectionately as “the Passtronaut,” Dobbs briefly passed through Detroit in 2022, signing to the Lions’ practice squad late in the season. He never played a snap for the team - the Titans signed him away just two weeks later, and he started two games for them.
Dobbs’ true breakout came in 2023. He started the year in Arizona before being traded to Minnesota after Kirk Cousins’ injury.
Dobbs immediately energized the Vikings with back-to-back wins, but the magic faded quickly. He was benched in his fifth game and finished the year as the third-stringer.
Now, Dobbs is backing up Drake Maye in New England. With Maye dealing with injury concerns heading into Super Bowl LX, Dobbs could be a snap away from seeing the field on the sport’s biggest stage. While Lions fans never got to see him in action, they’ll recognize the name - and might be curious to see if the journeyman QB gets his moment.
S Quandre Diggs - Seattle Seahawks (Practice Squad)
Quandre Diggs is a name that still stings for a lot of Lions fans. Drafted in the sixth round in 2015, Diggs worked his way into a starting role and became a tone-setter in Detroit’s secondary. He famously intercepted Sam Darnold’s first NFL pass and returned it for a touchdown - and now, Darnold is starting for the Seahawks in the Super Bowl.
Diggs’ time in Detroit came to an abrupt end in 2019, when he was traded to Seattle after clashing with then-head coach Matt Patricia. The move didn’t sit well with fans or teammates, and Diggs went on to become a three-time Pro Bowler with the Seahawks. He was released in 2024, had a brief stint with the Titans, and found his way back to Seattle late in 2025.
He’s currently on the Seahawks’ practice squad and has appeared in just one game since his return. While it’s unclear if he’ll be elevated for the Super Bowl, practice squad players often receive rings if their team wins - so Diggs could still walk away a champion, even if he’s not in uniform.
RB Craig Reynolds - New England Patriots (Practice Squad, Injured)
Few players captured the hearts of Lions fans quite like Craig Reynolds. Whether it was his gritty running style, his standout moment on Hard Knocks, or that memorable block that sprung Amon-Ra St. Brown for a long touchdown against Tampa Bay, Reynolds became a fan favorite in Detroit.
He was primarily a special teams contributor in 2025, logging just four offensive snaps before being released in late November. The move was met with disappointment from fans who had come to appreciate his underdog story and team-first mentality.
Shortly after his release, Reynolds signed with the Patriots’ practice squad. However, he was soon placed on the practice squad injured reserve with an undisclosed injury - though he’d previously battled a hamstring issue in Detroit. That means he won’t be suiting up for Super Bowl LX, but like Diggs, he could still earn a ring if the Patriots win.
And who knows - a return to Detroit down the road isn’t out of the question. Reynolds has always been a locker room favorite, and if the Lions are looking for depth or special teams help next season, don’t be surprised if his name pops back up.
Final Thought
It’s not the Super Bowl scenario Lions fans were hoping for, but there’s still a Detroit connection to Sunday’s game. Whether you’re pulling for familiar faces like Davis and Tavai to get their rings, or just watching to see how it all plays out, there’s no denying that the Lions’ past is still making noise on football’s biggest stage.
Of course, the dream remains: seeing current Lions in the Super Bowl, not just former ones. Maybe next year.