- Michigan State offensive lineman Luke Newman was drafted at No. 195 overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2025 NFL Draft.
- Newman is the first MSU player selected in this year’s NFL draft.
Luke Newman turned a one-year homecoming with Michigan State football into his ultimate goal: Getting drafted into the NFL.
The offensive lineman from Bloomfield Hills was selected by the Chicago Bears in Round 6 of the 2025 NFL Draft with the No. 195 overall pick on April 26.
“I was actually walking down the stairs as I got the call from Chicago,” Newman said from his family’s home in the Detroit area. “You could kind of tell the room quieted up pretty quickly after that, and it just happened, man. It’s a very unique and special moment that I really have the gratitude to say that — I’m almost at a loss of words for a moment quite like this.
“I’ve seen it happen before, I’ve been to a draft party of a friend of mine last year and see him go through it. But to actually experience and be blessed to have an opportunity in a franchise that believes in your abilities and is willing to help you grow and develop in a person and player in their building, that’s special.”
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Newman spent four years playing at the Football Championship Subdivision level, twice being named All-American. The Brother Rice High grad had only two FCS offers, picking Holy Cross over Lafayette. He was a first-team All-American in 2022 and a second-team All-American in 2023, starting at left tackle his last 37 games with the Crusaders.
After entering the portal and considering testing the NFL draft waters, the 6-foot-3, 312-pound Newman instead decided to move up a level and join Jonathan Smith and offensive line coach Jim Michalczik in their first year at MSU, finishing his degree in economics at Holy Cross before arriving in the summer.
Newman earned All-Big Ten honorable mention from both the coaches and media after starting all 12 games at left guard. He led the Spartans with 739 offensive snaps, playing the entire game eight times and finishing the season graded as the No. 9 offensive guard in the Big Ten according to Pro Football Focus.
“Obviously, Holy Cross is home for me. That’s the place that gave me my first shot and let me get my foot int he door in college football and let me grow and succeed as a person and a player,” said Newman, who visited Vanderbilt, Illinois and Purdue before picking MSU. “Leaving was hard, for sure. I wanted a chance to showcase more of my abilities at different positions and also take a step up and play against some of the best in the country. …
“Man, something bout Michigan State felt like literal home for me, even it being an hour away — which was awesome. The coaches in that building, that felt like family. And that’s rare, I think, to experience in college, especially at such a high level. “
Newman went to the Bears and new coach Ben Johnson, the Lions’ former offensive coordinator, one pick before Detroit selected in the sixth round.
“I was grateful enough to come down to Chicago on a visit and meet with coach Johnson and his staff. And, man, he’s a competitor,” Newman said. “He loves to win, he loves to grind. He’s just the ultimate competitor and someone you would really hope is your coach. I’m just really excited to play for that guy. He’s had a lot of success in Detroit, and I think he’ll carry that over big-time in Chicago.”
It is the second straight year MSU had an offensive lineman drafted. Center Nick Samac was taken in the seventh round by the Ravens in 2024. That means a Spartan has been picked in 84 of the 85 NFL drafts. MSU’s 80-year streak ended in 2021.
Contact Chris Solari:[email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
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