By Darin Desmond Howard shatters records and leaves defenders in the dust with a speed that defined an era of football excellence. From his legendary Heisman-clinching “Heisman Pose” in Ann Arbor to his historic MVP performance on the NFL’s biggest stage, Howard transformed the return game into a scoring threat on every snap. He remains one of the most explosive athletes to ever wear the winged helmet, providing a blueprint for the modern all-purpose playmaker.
Football Bio
May 15, 1970 – Cleveland, Ohio – Desmond Howard, the University of Michigan’s wide receiver and kick returner from 1989 to 1991, had his birth certificate completed.
Howard led the Big Ten in scoring while helping the Wolverines to three conference titles and two Rose Bowls during his time in Ann Arbor. He did so well that he won the Heisman Trophy, was named a consensus All-America, took home the Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp Player of the Year all in 1991 during his prolific senior season.
The FootballFoundation.org website claims he finished his career with 134 receptions for 2,146 yards and 32 touchdowns and set the Michigan record for most touchdowns (23) and points (138) scored in a single season. Desmond Howard was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010 after the National Football Foundation tabulated its votes.
Desmond was the fourth overall selection in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, Howard spent 11 seasons as a pro. Howard claimed the Super Bowl XXXI Most Valuable Player when he led the Green Bay Packers over the New England Patriots after setting Super Bowl records for punt return yards (90) and total return yards (244) in a game. He also set the Super Bowl record for the longest kick return of 99 yards.
Conclusion
Desmond Howard secures his place in gridiron history as a rare athlete who achieved ultimate success at both the collegiate and professional levels. He dominates the Michigan record books with scoring feats that still inspire the “Big House” faithful decades later. By earning Super Bowl MVP honors as a special teams returner, Howard proved that a single player can shift the momentum of a championship game with one explosive return. He stands today as a 2010 College Football Hall of Fame inductee and a symbol of pure athletic brilliance.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Heisman Trophy Winner: 1991.
- Maxwell Award Winner: 1991.
- Walter Camp Player of the Year: 1991.
- Consensus First-Team All-American: 1991.
- Super Bowl XXXI MVP: Green Bay Packers.
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2010.
- 3× Big Ten Champion: 1989, 1990, 1991.
- NFL Record Holder: First player to win Super Bowl MVP primarily for special teams performance.
- Super Bowl Records: Longest kick return (99 yards), punt return yards (90), and total return yards (244).
- Michigan Single-Season Records: Most touchdowns (23) and most points (138) in 1991.
- Career Statistics: 134 receptions for 2,146 yards and 32 touchdowns at Michigan.