For Central Michigan fans with a soft spot for Detroit, there's good news heading into the 2026 NFL season: Tyler Conklin is staying put.
The former Chippewa tight end is re-signing with the Detroit Lions, per a report from Yahoo Sports NFL, keeping a CMU product embedded in one of the league's most exciting offenses. Conklin, who played college ball in Mount Pleasant before working his way up through the league, gives the Lions flexibility at the tight end position — a unit that has quietly become a key part of Detroit's offensive identity.
It's a fitting homecoming story, even if Conklin never technically left. A Michigan-bred player sticking with a Michigan franchise carries real resonance for a CMU fanbase that doesn't always get to see its alumni in the spotlight. The Lions' decision to bring him back signals that he remains a valued piece of their roster construction, not merely a depth placeholder.
A Scattered but Notable Alumni Footprint
Conklin's re-signing is the headliner, but Central Michigan continues to quietly stock NFL rosters across the league. The Chippewas have 12 active alumni spread across 11 franchises — a testament to the program's ability to develop professional-caliber talent even outside the Power Four spotlight.
Bernhard Raimann holds down the blindside for the Indianapolis Colts at left tackle, continuing to carve out a starting role in the league. Luke Goedeke and Sean Murphy-Bunting are both suiting up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Goedeke protecting the offensive line, Murphy-Bunting in the secondary. Cooper Rush, long one of the more durable backup quarterbacks in the NFL, is now on the Atlanta Falcons roster heading into 2026.
Nick Bellore, one of the longest-tenured CMU alumni still active, remains on the Washington Commanders as a linebacker — a special teams stalwart whose career longevity is its own kind of accomplishment. Lew Nichols III is in Pittsburgh with the Steelers at running back, while Jonathan Ward carries the CMU flag in Baltimore with the Ravens.
Rounding out the list: Troy Hairston (Texans, DE), Julian Hicks (Seahawks, WR), Thomas Incoom (Panthers, LB), and Joel Wilson (Titans, LB) — a geographically diverse group that spans both conferences and every phase of the game.
The Bottom Line
Central Michigan doesn't generate the recruiting headlines of the college football blue bloods, but its NFL alumni map tells a compelling story about program development. Conklin's return to Detroit is the feel-good note of the week, but the broader picture — a dozen Chippewas active across the league — is what should have Mount Pleasant feeling good about the state of its football program as the 2026 season kicks off.
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