5 Best Michigan NFL Players
Michigan has won more games than any program in college football history, and the Big House has been a launch pad for pro careers since the leather helmet era. This list ranks five Wolverines by what they did in Ann Arbor, not by their NFL resumes. Heisman seasons, award sweeps, and rivalry games that swung a whole year all counted here.
1. Charles Woodson
Cornerback · 1995 to 1997
Woodson is the only primarily defensive player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, and the 1997 season that got him there still holds up under any amount of scrutiny. He picked off seven passes, shut down half the field for a defense that gave up nine points a game, and also lined up at receiver and returned punts because Michigan needed the plays. Against Ohio State he had an interception in the end zone, a 78 yard punt return touchdown, and a long catch on offense, all in the same afternoon. He finished his college career as a consensus All American, the Bednarik and Thorpe winner, and a national champion, then went fourth overall to Oakland in 1998.
2. Desmond Howard
Wide Receiver · 1989 to 1991
Howard won the 1991 Heisman by one of the widest margins in the award's history after scoring 23 touchdowns in a single season, which was almost unheard of for a receiver at the time. He caught passes in 13 straight games, averaged big yardage on returns, and made the diving touchdown catch against Notre Dame that Michigan fans can still describe frame by frame. The Heisman pose in the end zone against Ohio State turned him into a national figure overnight. He added the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards and left as one of the most complete offensive weapons the Big Ten had seen.
3. Tom Harmon
Halfback · 1938 to 1940
Harmon won the 1940 Heisman while doing essentially everything on the field, which was the job description for a great back in that era. He ran, passed, punted, returned kicks, kicked extra points, and played defense, accounting for 33 touchdowns over his final two seasons. His four touchdown game at California, where a fan ran onto the field trying to tackle him, became one of the sport's early legends. He led the nation in scoring twice and remains the standard every Michigan back is measured against.
4. Anthony Carter
Wide Receiver · 1979 to 1982
Carter was a three time All American in an era when Michigan barely threw the ball, which makes his production even more remarkable. He averaged over 17 yards a catch for his career and turned short throws into long scores with a first step that Big Ten defensive backs simply could not match. The last second touchdown against Indiana in 1979, where he broke three tackles on the way to the end zone as time expired, is one of the most replayed plays in program history. He finished fourth in Heisman voting as a senior and left with 40 touchdowns from scrimmage.
5. Aidan Hutchinson
Defensive End · 2018 to 2021
Hutchinson came back for a fifth year after a broken leg and turned in the best pass rushing season any Michigan defender has ever had. He recorded 14 sacks, set the single season program record, and finished second in Heisman voting, which almost never happens for a lineman. He had three sacks in the win over Ohio State that ended an eight game losing streak in the rivalry and sent Michigan to its first Big Ten title in it a generation. He was a unanimous All American and went second overall to Detroit in 2022.
Who Just Missed the Cut
Tom Brady, Jake Long, Braylon Edwards, LaMarr Woodley, Steve Hutchinson, Jabrill Peppers, and Ty Law all have arguments. Brady is the greatest pro on this list by a mile, but he split time at Michigan and never won a national award, and this ranking is about college production. Edwards owns most of the receiving records and Woodley won the Lombardi Award in 2006, so the top five here is closer than it looks.
Michigan by the Numbers
Michigan has produced three Heisman winners, has had more than 40 first round NFL draft picks, and has sent players to the league in essentially every draft class of the modern era. The program's strongest pipeline has been at offensive line and defensive back, where the pro style scheme and physical practice habits translate directly. Recent classes have leaned heavier on the defensive front, with Hutchinson, Kwity Paye, and Mazi Smith all going in the first two rounds.
Why the Big House Produces Pros
Michigan plays in front of more than 100,000 people every home Saturday, so nothing about an NFL stadium is intimidating by the time these players get there. The program has historically run a pro style offense and a multiple front defense, which means less to relearn at the next level. Add a November schedule played in cold, wet, physical conditions and scouts get a clear look at who holds up when the weather turns.
Test Yourself on Michigan Players
Reading about them is one thing. Naming them on sight is another. CollegeGuessr shows you an NFL player and asks which college he came from. Build a streak, post your score on the Big Board, and see how your football knowledge holds up.