Nine former California Golden Bears football players are set to appear on active rosters during the 2025 NFL playoffs, following quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ performance in Pittsburgh’s 26-24 win over Baltimore. The victory secured the AFC North title for the Steelers and marked Rodgers’ 13th career playoff qualification, his first with Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh came from behind twice in the fourth quarter, with Rodgers leading touchdown drives on each of their final two possessions. His game-winning 26-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III put the Steelers ahead with one minute remaining. Baltimore missed a potential game-winning field goal as time expired.
Rodgers completed eight of ten passes for 108 yards and a touchdown on those final two drives, finishing the game with 31 completions out of 47 attempts for 294 yards and no interceptions.
“The other eight former Golden Bears on active rosters of teams in the 2025 NFL playoffs are Keenan Allen (Los Angeles Chargers), Chris Brooks (Green Bay), Jake Curhan (Carolina), Jaylinn Hawkins (New England), Elijah Hicks (Chicago), Patrick Mekari (Jacksonville), Jake Tonges (San Francisco) and Craig Woodson (New England).”
All nine will participate in Wild Card Weekend games scheduled from January 10 to January 12. At least one former Cal player is expected to appear in each of the six games. Jake Curhan will be first when Carolina faces Los Angeles Rams on Saturday afternoon. Chris Brooks’ Green Bay Packers play Chicago later that day.
Patrick Mekari’s Jacksonville Jaguars open Sunday’s action against Buffalo, followed by Jake Tonges and San Francisco visiting Philadelphia. The last Saturday matchup includes Keenan Allen’s Chargers playing New England, which features Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson as starting safeties.
Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh close out Wild Card Weekend Monday night against Houston.
In addition to these players, three former Cal football players—Matt Giordano (Chicago), Byron Storer (Green Bay) and Davis Webb (Denver)—are coaches for playoff teams this season, bringing the total number of Cal affiliates involved in this year’s postseason to twelve.
