While the current Ohio State football team’s chase for a championship has come to an end, 19 former Buckeyes are still competing for a title in the NFL.
The 2020 NFL playoffs are set to begin on Saturday and Sunday with the wild card round of the postseason, and as is usually the case in just about any NFL game, Ohio State should be well-represented throughout the postseason.
The first Buckeyes to take the field in this year’s NFL playoffs will include running back Carlos Hyde and cornerbacks Gareon Conley and Bradley Roby, whose Houston Texans host the Buffalo Bills – who also have a Buckeye of their own in former Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman – in the opening game of the wild card round at 4:35 p.m. Saturday (ESPN/ABC).
Nate Ebner, John Simon and the New England Patriots will host the Tennessee Titans in Saturday’s second playoff at 8:15 p.m. (CBS). The Titans don’t have any former Ohio State players on their roster, but they are coached by former Buckeye defensive lineman Mike Vrabel.
How long the Titans remain in the playoffs could also potentially have an impact on when Ohio State hires its replacement for Jeff Hafley, as Titans secondary coach Kerry Coombs – who was previously Ohio State’s cornerbacks coach from 2012-17 – is rumored to be Ryan Day’s top choice to become the Buckeyes’ new secondary coach.
The New Orleans Saints, who lead the NFL with five former Buckeyes, will host the Minnesota Vikings in Sunday’s first game of the NFC side of the wild card round (1:05 p.m., Fox). Seven total Ohio State products will be on the field as former Buckeye receivers Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn Jr. and defensive backs Vonn Bell, Marshon Lattimore and Eli Apple square off against the Vikings and their two Buckeyes, guard Pat Elflein and defensive tackle Jalyn Holmes.
In Sunday’s final game of the playoffs’ opening weekend, former Ohio State defensive back Malcolm Jenkins and punter Cameron Johnston and their Philadelphia Eagles will host the Seattle Seahawks and former Buckeye offensive lineman Jamarco Jones (4:40 p.m., NBC).
Three of the four NFL playoff teams with first-round byes also have a Buckeye on their roster. Former Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa will make his postseason debut when the 49ers open the divisional round at 4:35 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11 (NBC). Former Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee will appear in his first career playoff game when the Kansas City Chiefs host their divisional-round game at 3:05 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12 (CBS). Former Ohio State center Corey Linsley and the Green Bay Packers will host a divisional-round game later that day (6:40 p.m., Fox).
Nick Bosa's San Francisco 49ers have a first-round bye, so he'll make his playoff debut next week. Cary Edmondson – USA TODAY Sports
A full breakdown of the Buckeyes who still have a chance to earn a Super Bowl ring this season, their teams’ seeds and when they will play their first playoff game:
| Team | Former Ohio State Players | First Playoff Game |
|---|---|---|
| NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (NFC #3) | WR MICHAEL THOMAS, WR TED GINN JR., CB MARSHON LATTIMORE, CB ELI APPLE, S VONN BELL | Sunday, 1:05 p.m. vs. Vikings (Fox) |
| HOUSTON TEXANS (AFC #4) | RB CARLOS HYDE, CB GAREON CONLEY, CB BRADLEY ROBY | Saturday, 4:35 p.m. vs. Bills (ESPN/ABC) |
| MINNESOTA VIKINGS (NFC #6) | LG PAT ELFLEIN, DT JALYN HOLMES | Sunday, 1:05 p.m. at Saints (Fox) |
| NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (AFC #3) | DE JOHN SIMON, S NATE EBNER | Saturday, 8:15 p.m. vs. Titans (CBS) |
| PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (NFC #4) | S MALCOLM JENKINS, P CAMERON JOHNSTON | Sunday, 4:40 p.m. vs. Seahawks (NBC) |
| BUFFALO BILLS (AFC #5) | S KURT COLEMAN | Saturday, 4:35 p.m. at Texans (ESPN/ABC) |
| SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (NFC #5) | OL JAMARCO JONES | Sunday, 4:40 p.m. at Eagles (NBC) |
| SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (NFC #1) | DE NICK BOSA | Jan. 11, 4:35 p.m. vs. lower seed (NBC) |
| GREEN BAY PACKERS (NFC #2) | C COREY LINSLEY | Jan. 12, 6:40 p.m. vs. higher seed (Fox) |
| KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (AFC #2) | LB DARRON LEE | Jan. 12, 3:05 p.m. vs. higher seed (CBS) |
| BALTIMORE RAVENS (AFC #1) | NONE | Jan. 11, 8:15 p.m. vs. lower seed (CBS) |
| TENNESSEE TITANS (AFC #6) | NONE | Saturday, 8:15 p.m. at Patriots (CBS) |
