Chad Henne

Henne was just the second true freshman in Michigan history to start on opening day, a feat not seen at Michigan since Rick Leach in 1975.

Alongside freshman running back Mike Hart, he galvanized an explosive offensive unit that featured receivers Braylon Edwards, Jason Avant, and Steve Breaston.

All five would later go on to the NFL.

Henne's freshman season was highlighted by a triple-overtime win over in-state rival Michigan State and a record-tying performance in the Rose Bowl against Texas.

Chad Steven Henne (born July 2, 1985) is a former American football quarterback who played 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines.

While there, Henne became only the second freshman starting quarterback in Michigan history, accumulated a total of 32 wins in regular season play, 8,740 offensive yards, and 87 touchdowns, and in his senior season led the Wolverines to a Capital One Bowl victory over Florida.

He was subsequently named as the game's most valuable player (MVP) after throwing for over 350 yards.

The Bulldogs ended their season with an overall record of 6–4 and suffered three consecutive losses for the first time since the 1988 season.

He also tied the Michigan season record for touchdown passes with 25, first set by Elvis Grbac in 1991.

Henne moved into the Wilson School District prior to the start of his 3rd grade year in 1994.

He played in 43 scholastic games for the Bulldogs (42 starts) over four seasons, earning a record of 33–10.

His Wilson football teams won two Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 titles, the first his freshman year (2000 ) and the second his junior season (2002).

Henne's third scholastic year was his most successful, both individually and as a team.

In 2000, his freshman season at Wilson Senior High School in West Lawn, Pennsylvania, Henne played QB in all 11 of Wilson's games, with 10 starts.

He rotated at QB with junior Ian Firestone in the Week 1 storm-delayed win vs Harrisburg but would start the final 10 games for the Bulldogs and play the majority of the positional snaps.

Henne led come-from-behind victories against Wilson's first three opponents – Harrisburg, Stroudsburg, and Boyertown – before a setback at Cedar Crest to open League play.

Henne's Wilson team would win their next six contests, including a thrilling comeback victory at Reading, before falling in the 2000 District 3 AAAA semifinals to eventual champion Cumberland Valley, 21–7.

His freshman season was an overwhelming success, with the team finishing 9–2 and earning a share of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 title (with Cedar Crest and Reading).

Henne's Wilson football team would struggle during his second campaign as a starter.

His 2002 Wilson Bulldogs squad finished their regular season undefeated with a record of 10–0 and were the 2002 PIAA District 3 AAAA runner-up, falling to Central Dauphin in a thrilling championship game.

At the end of his junior year in 2002, having been offered forty scholarships from various collegiate athletic programs, Henne narrowed his college options down to five schools: Miami, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, and Penn State.

Before his first game as a senior, Henne announced his plans to become a Wolverine at the University of Michigan.

He was named to the preseason Pennsylvania All-State Football First-team.

He amassed 7,071 passing yards in his high school career, which was fourth-most all-time in PIAA history (and first in PIAA District 3) at the conclusion of the Henne's senior season in the fall of 2003, behind John Veach (Mount Carmel Area), Evan Kraky (Lakeland), and Ron Powlus (Berwick).

He was named to the Pennsylvania All-State Football Team as a senior in 2003, selected to participate in the 47th Annual Big 33 Football Classic in July 2004, was named the Pennsylvania Football Gatorade Player of the Year for 2003–2004, and earned national recognition as a member of the 2003–2004 Parade High School All-American Football Team.

Following high school, Henne played in the 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl as a member of the East team.

In 2004, Henne entered the season as a freshman for the Wolverines, and third on the depth chart behind redshirt sophomore Matt Gutierrez and redshirt freshman quarterback Clayton Richard.

The Monday prior to the season opener against the Miami RedHawks, Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr announced Gutierrez would start even though he was suffering from a sore shoulder.

A few days later, Carr decided to allow Henne to start in relief of Gutierrez.

Henne ended his first career game with a 43–10 win, completing 14 of 24 passes for 142 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

Henne's professional career began when he was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft.

Henne spent most of his rookie season on the bench as the back-up to veteran quarterback Chad Pennington.

In his second season with the Dolphins, Henne started the majority of the 2009 season after Pennington was unable to play due to an injury.

Henne would go on to act as a starter for several seasons for both the Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars, before serving as a backup for the Jaguars.

In October 2014, Henne was inducted into the Wilson High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

In addition to his football accomplishments, Henne was also a member of the Wilson varsity basketball team for three years as well as an outstanding athlete for the Bulldogs track and field team, finishing as the PIAA runner-up in the javelin as a senior after finishing first at the District 3 meet two weeks earlier.

Henne aspires to become a coach at his alma mater following his lengthy NFL career.

In 2018 he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs serving as a backup as well, winning two Super Bowls with the team.

Henne owns three significant Wilson football program records (as of February 2020): career passing yardage (7,071); career passing touchdowns (74), and most touchdown passes in a game (5; tied).