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Michigan football: 5 great players who didn’t live up to the NFL hype

By Cody Williams

University of Michigan's Chad Henne (7) calls signals during a game against Minnesota at Michigan Stadium on October 8, 2005 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Minnesota won the game 23-20. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
University of Michigan's Chad Henne (7) calls signals during a game against Minnesota at Michigan Stadium on October 8, 2005 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Minnesota won the game 23-20. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Michigan football overrated players, NFL busts
Chad Henne, Michigan Wolverines. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images) /

Not every Michigan football great has enjoyed NFL success.

Looking back at the history of Michigan football, there are numerous players who starred for the Wolverines that eventually went on to the NFL and continued to occupy stardom. Charles Woodson, arguably the greatest Michigan player ever, certainly comes to mind while others such as Steve Hutchison went on to phenomenal NFL careers as well.

And, of course, it’s impossible to mention the NFL in relation to Michigan football without talking about Tom Brady. No, the quarterback wasn’t an all-timer in the college ranks but he’s gone on to become perhaps the greatest NFL quarterback to ever lace up his cleats at the next level.

However, not every Wolverine great has enjoyed the same career path of Woodson, Hutchison, Brady and many others. For one reason or another, these five Michigan football greats never became the best version of their NFL selves.

Chad Henne couldn’t translate his Michigan success to the NFL.

There was never totally a season where quarterback Chad Henne lit the world on fire at Ann Arbor. However, he was as consistent and successful as almost any signal-caller in Wolverines history and he has the spots in the record books to prove it.

Henne began his career as the starter for the Wolverines and led them to a 9-3 season that saw them finish as the No. 14 team in the country, though they lost in the Rose Bowl. The following season, Henne was again solid himself but the team as a whole struggled as they went 7-5 overall and lost in the Alamo Bowl.

As a junior, Henne enjoyed his best year overall with Michigan. He helped to pull the Wolverines as high as No. 2 in the AP Top 25 that season and they finished at No. 8 with an 11-2 overall record. Unfortunately, bowl success eluded them again as they lost in the Rose Bowl for the second time in Henne’s career.

For his final year with the program, Henne had his worst statistical season as he was limited to 10 games. That limited the ceiling of a Wolverines team that entered the year as the No. 5 ranked team in the country. They went 9-4 overall but Henne returned for the Capital One Bowl and a victory over Florida. He finished his career as Michigan’s all-time leader in passing yards (9,715) and passing touchdowns (87) with both marks still standing.

Henne was a second-round pick by the Miami Dolphins and has bounced around the league with the opportunity to start on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, he’s never been able to hold onto any job nor as he enjoyed a ton of success with an 18-35 record as a starter and 58 touchdowns to 63 interceptions. Still, he remains in the league as of 2020 as a backup on the Kansas City Chiefs.

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