News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
The NFL Playoffs begin Saturday and Texas A&M football has 12 former student-athletes in the hunt for the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Helping their respective teams into the NFL postseason were defensive lineman Bobby Brown III, defensive back Demani Richardson and outside linebacker Nic Scourton of the Carolina Panthers, wide receiver Jahdae Walker of the Chicago Bears, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper of the Green Bay Packers, wide receiver Christian Kirk of the Houston Texans, defensive back Antonio Johnson Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars, punter Braden Mann of the Philadelphia Eagles and offensive lineman Ryan McCollum of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Three Aggie lettermen are also on NFL coaching staffs in the playoffs including Dennis Allen of the Chicago Bears (defensive coordinator), Jerrod Johnson of the Houston Texans (quarterbacks coach) and Johnny Holland of the San Francisco 49ers (linebackers coach). Additionally, Klint Kubiak, who earned his master’s degree at Texas A&M after finishing his playing career at Colorado State, is the offensive coordinator for the playoff-bound Seattle Seahawks.
On the NFC side of the postseason bracket, the trio of Brown III, Richardson and Scourton take the field Saturday when the Panthers (8-9) host the Los Angeles Rams (12-5) at Bank of America Stadium at 3:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. ET) on Fox. Carolina earned the right to host as the NFC South Champions.
Former teammates Walker and Cooper face off when the NFC North Champion Bears (11-6) host the Packers (9-7-1) at Soldier Field on Saturday at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. ET) on Prime Video. The conference rivals split a pair of meetings with both teams emerging victorious on their home field during the regular season.
Mann and the defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles (11-6) host the 49ers (12-5) at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. ET) on Fox. The Eagles earned the right to host as the NFC East Champions.
In the AFC bracket, Johnson Jr. and the Jaguars (13-4) host the Buffalo Bills at Everbank Stadium on Sunday at 12 noon (1 p.m. ET) on CBS. The Jags are hosting after claiming the AFC South.
Another pair of former teammates reunite on the field when McCollum’s AFC North Champion Steelers host Kirk’s Texans at Acrisure Stadium on Monday at 7:15 p.m. (8:15 p.m. ET) on ESPN/ABC.
