The NFL regular season has come to an end and the quest to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, for Super Bowl 60 officially begins on Saturday with the wildcard round.
The NFL playoffs feature a few former Arizona Wildcats and members of the UA's Alamo Bowl-winning team in 2023: Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing and Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Jordan Morgan.
Carolina (8-9) kicks off the NFL postseason by hosting the Los Angeles Rams (12-5) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on Fox. The Panthers also have Tucson native and safety Lathan Ransom, who's in his rookie season in the NFL. Ransom is one of three Tucsonans in the NFL, along with Atlanta Falcons starting running back Bijan Robinson and Morgan.
The Packers (9-7-1) visit the Chicago Bears (11-6) on Saturday at 6 p.m. on Prime Video. San Francisco (12-5) faces the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on Fox.
From a UA and Tucson perspective, there's plenty to look forward to in the NFL playoffs. With the postseason beginning, let's take a look back on how Tucsonans and ex-Wildcats performed in the NFL regular season.
Former Arizona Wildcats receiver Jacob Cowing, now with the San Francisco 49ers, warms up before their game against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, Calif.
Jacob Cowing, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Connection to Tucson: Cowing played at the UA from 2022-23
How he’s doing: A hamstring injury sidelined the second-year receiver and returner. Last season, he appeared in 15 games for San Francisco and had four catches for 80 yards as a rookie. Cowing, who owns Arizona’s all-time single-season touchdown record, was used primarily on special teams and had 28 punt returns for 245 yards.
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sept. 21, 2025, in Landover, Md.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders
Connection to Tucson: Played one season (one game) for the Wildcats in 2024
How he’s performing: After the Commanders traded Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, Croskey-Merritt became one of Washington’s premier running backs, along with Jeremy McNichols.
Croskey-Merritt was named Rookie of the Week four times this season, and the seventh-round running back — nicknamed Bill — had 175 carries for 875 yards and eight touchdowns; he's tied for 13th in rushing touchdowns. Croskey-Merritt's rushing yards and touchdowns are the most by a former Wildcat in the NFL since Paul Robinson (Bijan Robinson's great uncle) in 1968.
New York Giants linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (33) before an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB, New York Giants
Connection to Tucson: Flannigan-Fowles played at Tucson High and the UA from 2015-18
How he’s performing: Flannigan-Fowles had 33 tackles in his first season with the Giants. The linebacker-safety hybrid has 129 tackles, nine stops for loss and an interception in his six-year NFL career.
New York Jets place kicker Nick Folk celebrates with teammates after he kicked the game-winning field goal against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Nick Folk, K, New York Jets
Connection to Tucson: Folk played at the UA from 2003-06
How he’s performing: The 41-year-old Folk is the only Wildcat from the Mike Stoops era still in the NFL and returned to the Jets after kicking for them from 2010-16. Folk was 28 for 29 on field goals and 22 for 22 on PATs this season.
Folk was 7 for 8 on field-goal attempts longer than 50 yards this season. Folk made a career-long 58-yard field goal against the Dolphins. His 106 points this season are 21st in the NFL. Folk’s 85% field-goal rate ranks 25th in NFL history.
Green Bay Packers kicker Lucas Havrisik warms up against the Arizona Cardinals before a game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Glendale.
Lucas Havrisik, K, Green Bay Packers
Connection to Tucson: Havrisik kicked at the UA from 2017-21
How he’s performing: Havrisik was a substitute teacher in Cleveland until the Packers called him for a workout before signing the former UA kicker to replace the injured Brandon McManus.
In back-to-back weeks against the Bengals and Cardinals, Havrisik made all four of his field goals, including a franchise-record 61-yarder in Glendale. Havrisik appeared in a game a month later and was 1 for 3 on PATs against the Giants. Havrisik has kicked for the Colts, Rams, Browns, Bills and the Packers since going undrafted in 2022.
Baltimore Ravens place kicker Tyler Loop (33) reacts after missing a field goal during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Tyler Loop, K, Baltimore Ravens
Connection to Tucson: Loop kicked at the UA from 2020-24
How he’s performing: With the midseason addition of Havrisik, the Wildcats have the most active kickers in the NFL. The most recent UA kicker to join the NFL is Loop, who was the first Arizona kicker drafted since Folk in 2007. Loop is the first-ever kicker drafted by the Ravens.
Loop was 30 for 34 on field goals and 44 for 46 on PATs in his rookie season. Loop was in line to send the Ravens to the playoffs with a 44-yard walk-off field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football and the final game of the regular season, but the kick was wide right. Before his miss, Loop was a perfect 8 for 8 on field goals between 40-49 yards.
After the game, Loop took accountability and said, "I just mishit the ball. ... For it to end like that, it sucks."
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Roy Lopez talks to teammates during warmups before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Oct. 12, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo.
Roy Lopez Jr., DT, Detroit Lions
Connection to Tucson: Lopez played at the UA in 2020, and his father, Roy Lopez Sr., was a head coach at Sunnyside High School from 2016-18. Lopez also played at New Mexico State when the Aggies won the Arizona Bowl in 2017.
How he’s performing: The Gilbert native recorded 30 tackles and two sacks in his first season with the Lions. Last season, Lopez had 28 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery with the hometown Cardinals.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half an NFL football game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
Connection to Tucson: McMillan played for the UA from 2022-24
How he’s performing: The highest-selected offensive player from Arizona in NFL Draft history — and the highest-drafted receiver in Carolina history — lived up to the hype and led the Panthers with 1,014 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
McMillan, who's a frontrunner to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, is the first ex-Wildcat to finish a season with 1,000-plus receiving yards since Rob Gronkowski in 2017. McMillan is the first UA receiver to have 1,000-plus receiving yards since Vance Johnson, who was a running back at Arizona, in 1989.
McMillan hauled in his first touchdown grab against the Dallas Cowboys in October. McMillan had three catches for 29 yards and two touchdowns in the overtime win over Dallas. McMillan gifted the game ball to his grandfather, Willie McMillan, who celebrated his 75th birthday that day.
Tetairoa McMillan accounted for 25% of Carolina’s targets in the regular season.
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Jordan Morgan (77) blocks during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Jordan Morgan, OL, Green Bay Packers
Connection to Tucson: Morgan graduated from Marana High School in 2019 and played at the UA from 2019-23.
How he’s performing: The former first-round pick played four different positions on Green Bay's offensive line. Morgan played 358 snaps at right guard, 191 snaps at left guard, 148 snaps at right tackle and 51 snaps at left tackle this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom (22) celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game, Sunday Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
Lathan Ransom, DB, Carolina Panthers
Connection to Tucson: Ransom played at Salpointe Catholic from 2017-19
How he’s performing: Ransom had 51 tackles and an interception in his first season in the NFL. Ransom had a career-high 11 tackles in the Panthers' 31-28 win over the Rams in November. Ransom had a costly unnecessary roughness penalty in the final minutes of the Panthers' loss to New Orleans, but redeemed himself the following week with a game-sealing interception against Tampa Bay.
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) smiles after the win following an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Thursday, Dec 11, 2025, in Tampa, Fla.
Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Connection to Tucson: Robinson played at Salpointe Catholic from 2016-19
How he’s performing: Robinson led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (2,298), which is also a Falcons franchise record. Robinson eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark in his homecoming game against the Cardinals in Glendale. His 1,478 yards rank fifth in the NFL this season. Robinson was named a Pro Bowler for the second straight season.
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace (30) intercepts a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) as Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie watches during the first half of a game Sept. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Christian Rolland-Wallace, DB, Kansas City Chiefs
Connection to Tucson: Roland-Wallace played at the UA from 2019-22
How he’s performing: Roland-Wallace, who finished his collegiate career at USC, had 34 tackles and an interception this season for Kansas City. The Chiefs will not appear in the AFC championship game for the first time since 2017.
Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea (72) runs onto the field during player introductions before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Miami Dolphins
Connection to Tucson: Savaiinaea played at the UA from 2022-24
How he’s performing: Savaiinaea played all 982 of his offensive snaps at left guard this season and surrendered a team-worst eight sacks and 45 quarterback pressures; the second-most had four sacks and 25 pressures. Savaiinaea, who was a second-round pick, had the worst offensive PFF grade (28.4) for the Dolphins this season.
