Former Lions with Ties to Super Bowl 57
The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles are set to square off in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. And, when they do, multiple former Lions will be in uniform.
Let's take a look at the seven ex-Lions players that are now members of the Chiefs and the Eagles.
CB Darius Slay, Eagles
Slay, a second-round pick of the Lions in 2013, starred with Detroit from 2013-19. Affectionately known as "Big Play Slay," he made three trips to the Pro Bowl, and was selected first-team All-Pro once (2017) during his time in the Motor City. His best season in Detroit – and best season so far as a pro – came in 2017, when he recorded a career-and-league-high eight interceptions and 26 passes defensed.
Slay never got along with former Detroit head coach Matt Patricia from the start of Patricia's failed tenure in Motown, and he was eventually dealt by the Lions in March of 2020 to the Eagles.
Since the trade, he's made two more Pro Bowls. And, on Sunday, he has a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the first time.
DT Ndamukong Suh, Eagles
Speaking of great former Lions defenders, Suh had a dominant, yet short tenure in Detroit.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Suh made the Pro Bowl in four of his five seasons in Detroit, and also earned three first-team All-Pro selections, including one as a rookie.
He left the Motor City to sign with the Miami Dolphins in 2015, and has bounced around the league a bit since. He joined his current employer – the Eagles – as a free-agent acquisition in mid-November.
He won his first Super Bowl as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2020 season, and will be making his third Super Bowl appearance on Sunday.
Armond Feffer, USA TODAY Sports
DT Danny Shelton, Chiefs
Shelton spent one disappointing season in Detroit. He was part of "The Patriot Way" in New England from 2018-19, and was snatched up by Patricia and ex-Lions general manager Bob Quinn – two former Patriots employees – as a free agent leading into the 2020 season.
Shelton went on to suit up for just 12 games in Detroit, in what was Patricia's and Quinn's last year in the Motor City. Then, in the following offseason, Shelton ended up being cut by the present Lions regime, led by Brad Holmes in the front office.
It was the right decision by Holmes & Co., as Shelton spent the 2021 campaign with the N.Y. Giants and produced similarly underwhelming results.
Since the start of the 2022 season, the one-time Super Bowl winner – he played on the Patriots' Super Bowl-winning team in Super Bowl LIII – has been a member of the Chiefs' practice squad.
P Arryn Siposs, Eagles
A member of the Lions' practice squad in 2020, Siposs never played a single snap in Detroit.
The former Australian Football Leaguer proceeded to ink a reserve/futures contract with the Eagles the following year, and he's been a member of the franchise ever since. He served as the team's punter for the entire 2021 campaign, and suited up for 13 games as Philly's punter this past regular season before injuring his leg in early December.
Siposs is expected to punt in the "Big Game" Sunday, though, as he was activated off injured reserve Saturday afternoon. It'll mark the Aussie native's first Super Bowl appearance.
FB Michael Burton, Chiefs
A fifth-round pick of the Lions in 2015, Burton spent two, mostly effective seasons in Detroit. The Lions basically phased out the fullback position at the end of the 2016 campaign, however, and it ultimately led to Burton's release the following spring.
Since then, the Rutgers product has bounced around, logging snaps with the Bears, the Commanders, the Saints and now the Chiefs. He's been with Kansas City since 2021, and has logged snaps both at fullback and on special teams.
Burton has a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the first time on Sunday.
K Matthew Wright, Chiefs
Wright had a cup of coffee with the Lions during training camp in 2021, failing to make it to Week 1 of the preseason after experiencing a myriad of struggles during camp.
He eventually latched on with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and went on to play in 14 games for the Jaguars during the 2021 season. He was productive, too, executing on 21-of-24 field-goal attempts.
Despite the success, he was cut by the Jaguars after the 2022 draft, and has spent the '22 campaign with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chiefs.
He's been with the Chiefs as an emergency kicker for Harrison Butker since Week 18. With Butker healthy for the Super Bowl, Wright isn't expected to see the field Sunday.
CB Andre Chachere, Eagles
Speaking of former Lions players that won't see the field Sunday, you can add Chachere to the list.
Chachere never saw a single snap with the Lions, but was a part of the organization during the latter part of the 2018 season and all throughout training camp in 2019.
He's been the definition of an NFL journeyman since, with abbreviated, non-memorable stints in Arizona, Carolina and Indianapolis before latching on with the Eagles last season.
He did go on to play in 16 games a season ago – primarily on special teams – and he's been almost exclusively a special teams performer in 2022.
Chachere hasn't played a single snap since Week 13, though, and is currently on the Eagles' practice squad.
