2021 in Michigan
Events from the year 2021 in Michigan.
Major events in Michigan in 2021 included the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, the Oxford High School shooting, disruptions in the supply chain slowing the automobile industry, the 2021 Kellogg's strike, and legal proceedings relating to the Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot.
Major sports stories in 2021 included the 2021 Michigan Wolverines football team defeating Ohio State, winning the Big Ten Conference championship, and advancing to the College Football Playoffs for the first time in school history. Other notable sports stories included the Detroit Lions trading quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams, the 2020–21 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team finishing the season ranked No. 4 and advancing to the Elite Eight, the 2021 Michigan State Spartans football team finishing the season ranked No. 8 in the Coaches Poll, the induction of Calvin Johnson and Charles Woodson into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the undefeated 2021 Ferris State Bulldogs football team winning the NCAA Division II national championship. The Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Detroit Red Wings, and Detroit Pistons all compiled losing records
Office holders
State office holders
- Governor of Michigan: Gretchen Whitmer
- Lieutenant Governor of Michigan: Garlin Gilchrist
- Michigan Attorney General: Dana Nessel
- Michigan Secretary of State: Jocelyn Benson
- Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Jason Wentworth
- Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate: Mike Shirkey
- Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court: Bridget Mary McCormack
Mayors of major cities
- Mayor of Detroit: Mike Duggan
- Mayor of Warren, Michigan: James R. Fouts
- Mayor of Grand Rapids: Rosalynn Bliss
- Mayor of Sterling Heights, Michigan: Michael C. Taylor
- Mayor of Ann Arbor: Christopher Taylor
- Mayor of Dearborn: John B. O'Reilly Jr.
- Mayor of Lansing: Andy Schor
- Mayor of Flint: Sheldon Neeley
- Mayor of Saginaw: Brenda Moore
Federal office holders
- U.S. Senator from Michigan: Debbie Stabenow
- U.S. Senator from Michigan: Gary Peters
- House District 1: Jack Bergman
- House District 2: Bill Huizenga
- House District 3: Peter Meijer
- House District 4: John Moolenaar
- House District 5: Dan Kildee
- House District 6: Fred Upton
- House District 7: Tim Walberg
- House District 8: Elissa Slotkin
- House District 9: Andy Levin
- House District 10: Lisa McClain
- House District 11: Haley Stevens
- House District 12: Debbie Dingell
- House District 13: Rashida Tlaib
- House District 14: Brenda Lawrence
Population of largest cities
| 2021 rank | City | County | 2000 pop. | 2010 pop. | 2020 pop. | 2021 pop. | Change 2000-21 |
| 1 | Detroit | Wayne | 951,270 | 713,777 | 639,111 | 632,464 | −33.5% |
| 2 | Grand Rapids | Kent | 197,800 | 188,036 | 198,917 | 198,173 | 0.2% |
| 3 | Sterling Heights | Macomb | 124,471 | 129,699 | 134,346 | 133,269 | 7.1% |
| 4 | Warren | Macomb | 138,247 | 134,056 | 139,387 | 138,130 | 0.1% |
| 5 | Ann Arbor | Washtenaw | 114,024 | 113,934 | 123,851 | 121,536 | 6.6% |
| 6 | Lansing | Ingham | 119,128 | 114,297 | 112,644 | 112,684 | 5.4% |
| 7 | Dearborn | Wayne | 97,775 | 98,153 | 109,976 | 108,420 | 8.9% |
| 8 | Livonia | Wayne | 100,545 | 96,942 | 95,534 | 94,422 | 6.1% |
| 9 | Troy | Oakland | 80,959 | 80,980 | 87,294 | 86,836 | 7.3% |
| 10 | Westland | Wayne | 86,602 | 84,094 | 85,420 | 84,515 | |
| 11 | Farmington Hills | Oakland | 82,111 | 79,740 | 83,986 | 83,292 | |
| 12 | Flint | Genesee | 124,943 | 102,434 | 81,252 | 80,628 | 35.5% |
| 13 | Wyoming | Kent | 69,368 | 72,125 | 76,501 | 76,749 | |
| 14 | Southfield | Oakland | 78,322 | 71,758 | 76,618 | 75,898 | |
| 15 | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo | 76,145 | 74,262 | 73,598 | 73,257 |
Sports
Baseball
- 2021 Detroit Tigers season – In their first year under manager A. J. Hinch, the Tigers began the season 9–24, but played over.500 the rest of the year and compiled a 77–85 record. The team's statistical leaders included Harold Castro with a.283 batting average, Robbie Grossman with 23 home runs, Jonathan Schoop with 84 RBIs, and Tarik Skubal with eight wins and 164 strikeouts.
- 2021 Michigan Wolverines baseball team - In their ninth season under head coach Erik Bakich, the team compiled a 27–19 record.
- 2021 Michigan Wolverines softball team - In their 37th season under head coach Carol Hutchins, the team compiles a 38–8 record and was the Big Ten regular season champion.
- 2021 Little League World Series - Taylor North Little League of Taylor, Michigan, defeated West Side Little League of Hamilton, Ohio, in the championship by a 5–2 score. It was the first championship for a team from Michigan since 1959.
American football
- 2021 Detroit Lions season - Led by head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions compiled a 3–13–1 record. The team's statistical leaders included Jared Goff with 3,245 passing yards, D'Andre Swift with 617 rushing yards, and Amon-Ra St. Brown with 912 receiving yards.
- 2021 Michigan Wolverines football team - Led by head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines compiled a 12–2 record, won the Big Ten championship, and played for the first time in school history in the College Football Playoff, losing to eventual national champion Georgia. The team's statistical leaders included Cade McNamara with 2,576 passing yards and Hassan Haskins with 1,327 rushing yards. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was a unanimous All-American and finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.
- 2021 Michigan State Spartans football team - Led by head coach Mel Tucker, the Spartans compiled an 11–2 record and defeated Pitt in the Peach Bowl. The team's statistical leaders included Payton Thorne with 3,232 passing yards, Kenneth Walker III with 1,636 rushing yards, and Jayden Reed with 1,026 receiving yards. Walker won the Walter Camp and Doak Walker Awards.
- 2021 Ferris State Bulldogs football team - Led by head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled a perfect 14–0 record and won the NCAA Division II national championship.
- 2021 Central Michigan Chippewas football team - Led by head coach Jim McElwain, the Chippewas compiled a 9–4 record and defeated Washington State in the Sun Bowl.
- 2021 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team - Led by head coach Chris Creighton, the Eagles compiled a 7–6 record and lost to Liberty in the LendingTree Bowl.
- 2021 Western Michigan Broncos football team - Led by head coach Tim Lester, the Broncos compiled an 8–5 record and defeated Nevada in the Quick Lane Bowl.
- 2021 Michigan Tech Huskies football team - Led by head coach Steve Olson, the Huskies compiled a 6–4 record.
Basketball
- 2020–21 Detroit Pistons season – Under head coach Dwane Casey, the Pistons compiled a 20–52 record. The team's statistical leaders included Jerami Grant with 1,203 points and Mason Plumlee with 519 rebounds and 202 assists.
- 2020–21 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team – Under head coach Juwan Howard, the Wolverines compiled a 23–5 record and advanced to the Elite Eight at the NCAA tournament. The team's statistical leaders included Hunter Dickinson with 394 points scored and 206 rebounds and Mike Smith with 149 assists.
- 2020–21 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team – Under head coach Tom Izzo, the Spartans compiled a 15–13 record. The team's statistical leaders included Aaron Henry with 430 points, 158 rebounds, and 101 assists.
- 2020–21 Michigan Wolverines women's basketball team – Under head coach Kim Barnes Arico, the Wolverines compiled a 16–6 record.
- 2020–21 Michigan State Spartans women's basketball team - Under head coach Suzy Merchant, the team compiled a 15–9 record
- 2020–21 Central Michigan Chippewas men's basketball team - 7–16
- 2020–21 Detroit Mercy Titans men's basketball team - 12–10
- 2020–21 Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball team - 6–12
- 2020–21 Michigan Tech Huskies men's basketball team - 15–8, Sweet Sixteen
- 2020–21 Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team - 12–18
- 2020–21 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team - 5–16
Ice hockey
- 2020–21 Detroit Red Wings season – Under head coach Jeff Blashill, the Wings compiled a 19–27–10 record. The team's statistical leaders were Anthony Mantha and Adam Erne with 11 goals each and Filip Hronek with 24 assists and 26 points.Dylan Larkin was the team captain.
- 2020–21 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey season – Under head coach Mel Pearson, the Wolverines compiled a 15–10–1 record. The team's statistical leaders included Thomas Bordeleau with 22 points and 30 points.
- 2020–21 Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey season - Under head coach Danton Cole, the team compiled a 7–18–2 record.
- 2020–21 Lake Superior State Lakers men's ice hockey season - 19-7-3 record
- 2020–21 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season - 17-12-1 record
- 2020–21 Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey season - 10-12-3 record
- 2020–21 Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey season - 11-17-1 record
- 2020–21 Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey season - 1-23-1 record