By Sunday 
Super Bowl LX is almost here, and while the Detroit Lions won’t be the ones taking the field in Santa Clara, their presence will still be felt.
The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots are set to clash with the Lombardi Trophy on the line—a rematch 12 years in the making. Back then, New England walked away on top. This time, the rosters look different, the storylines have shifted, but the football DNA remains the same: defense, toughness, and situational execution.
And for Lions fans? There’s a familiar twist.
Several former Detroit Lions will be suiting up on Super Bowl Sunday, chasing the ring that never quite came together during their time in Detroit. Different paths, different outcomes—but all of them just one win away.
Quandre Diggs: From Detroit Draft Pick to Seattle Mainstay
Quandre Diggs’ story still stings a little if you’re a Lions fan.
Drafted by Detroit in the sixth round, Diggs quickly proved he belonged. Back-to-back seasons with three interceptions showed his instincts, range, and leadership. Then came the surprise—Detroit moved on.
Since landing in Seattle, Diggs has become exactly what the Seahawks needed: a steady, veteran presence in the secondary. Now, he’s staring at a Super Bowl ring, something that always felt possible—but never arrived—during his time in Detroit.
Carlton Davis: A Short Stay, a Big Impact
Carlton Davis didn’t spend long in Detroit, but he made it count.
Acquired ahead of the 2024 season, Davis instantly became the Lions’ top cornerback, bringing physicality and calm to a young defense. In just one season, he:
- Started 13 games
- Recorded 2 interceptions
- Added 2 fumble recoveries
Unfortunately, a broken jaw late in the season cut his run short—and possibly Detroit’s playoff hopes with it.
Now with New England on a three-year deal, Davis is back on football’s biggest stage, healthy and hungry.
Joshua Dobbs: A Brief Detroit Stop on a Long NFL Journey
Joshua Dobbs’ Detroit chapter was short—really short.
He spent time on the Lions’ practice squad in 2022 before moving on, never seeing game action. But his career since then has been one of the league’s most unusual quarterback journeys.
Now a depth quarterback with the Patriots, Dobbs finds himself part of a Super Bowl roster. It’s a reminder that in the NFL, even the smallest stops can still be part of a much bigger story.
Craig Reynolds: A Fan Favorite Still Grinding
Few former Lions are remembered as warmly as Craig Reynolds.
Signed as a training camp addition in 2021, Reynolds ran his way into Detroit hearts with sheer effort. He wasn’t flashy—just tough, reliable, and fearless. During some difficult seasons, he gave fans something to believe in.
By 2025, the backfield got crowded, and Reynolds was eventually waived. But he didn’t disappear. He landed on New England’s practice squad and now stands one game away from a Super Bowl ring—proof that persistence still matters in this league.
Jahlani Tavai: A Career Rewritten in New England
Jahlani Tavai’s turnaround might be the most striking of all.
A second-round pick in 2019, Tavai struggled to find consistency in Detroit and was waived before his third season. Expectations were high—but things never clicked.
In New England, everything changed.
The Patriots’ system unlocked his strengths: discipline, versatility, and situational awareness. Now, Tavai isn’t just surviving—he’s thriving, and he’s earned his place on a Super Bowl LX roster.
The Bottom Line
Detroit may not be playing in Super Bowl LX, but its fingerprints are all over the game.
From former starters like Quandre Diggs and Carlton Davis, to grit-and-grind favorites like Craig Reynolds, and redemption stories like Jahlani Tavai, the Lions’ past will be well represented on Sunday.
NFL careers are rarely straight lines. Sometimes, the championship moment comes somewhere else—and this Super Bowl is full of reminders of that truth.