28 Facts About Desmond Howard

Desmond Howard played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1991, and was selected fourth overall in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.

Desmond Howard is the only special teams player to receive the award.

Desmond Howard was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Desmond Howard was born in Cleveland, Ohio and earned All-American and All-Ohio honors as a tailback during his senior season at St Joseph High School in Cleveland, Ohio, scoring 18 touchdowns on 1,499 rushing yards and intercepting 10 passes.

Desmond Howard earned three varsity letters each in track and football as well as one in basketball.

In 1991, Desmond Howard caught 62 passes for 985 yards and scored 23 total touchdowns, while rushing for 180 yards and gaining 694 yards on special teams, with an average of 27.5 yards per kickoff return and 14.1 yards per punt return.

Desmond Howard won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp Award, earning unanimous All-American honors.

Desmond Howard captured 85 percent of the first-place votes in balloting for the Heisman, the largest margin in history at that time.

Desmond Howard finished his three seasons at Michigan with 249 rushing yards, 134 receptions for 2,146 yards, 1,211 kickoff return yards, and 339 yards returning punts, while scoring 37 touchdowns.

Desmond Howard had come to Michigan as a tailback and initially struggled for playing time.

Desmond Howard met with Michigan counselor Greg Harden, who helped him to build his confidence and achieve success on and off the field.

Desmond Howard was joined in the honor by Charles Woodson, Tom Harmon, and Anthony Carter.

The punt that Desmond Howard returned for a touchdown in the game was supposed to go out of bounds, so the Ohio State special teams players were unprepared for him.

Desmond Howard said that the pose has become a greeting for fans meeting him, but he avoids doing it himself "because the more I do it, it kind of cheapens it".

Desmond Howard was the highest Redskins draft pick since they took Hall of Fame receiver Charley Taylor with the third pick in 1964.

Desmond Howard played one season for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995, having been selected in the 1995 NFL expansion draft with the 55th pick.

Desmond Howard had 26 receptions and one touchdown, with 10 kick returns.

Desmond Howard led the NFL in punt returns, punt return yards, punt return average, and punt return touchdowns, while gaining 460 kickoff return yards and catching 13 passes for 95 yards.

The Patriots boomed the ensuing kickoff to the one-yard line, but Desmond Howard effectively shattered the Patriots' hopes for a comeback with a 99-yard kickoff return for a Packers touchdown.

Desmond Howard's performance won him the Super Bowl MVP award, making Howard the only player to ever win the award based solely on a special teams performance.

Desmond Howard became a free agent after the season and signed with the Oakland Raiders.

Desmond Howard led the NFL in kickoff returns and kickoff return yards.

Desmond Howard spent the 1998 football season with the Raiders before re-joining the Packers in 1999.

Desmond Howard was signed by the Detroit Lions four days later, where he spent the rest of his career until his retirement after the 2002 season.

Desmond Howard appears as an in-studio personality and, in 2005, began traveling with Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, and Kirk Herbstreit to marquee matchup sites during the season for the pregame show ESPN College Gameday.

Desmond Howard was the color commentator for Detroit Lions pre-season games on the Detroit Lions Television Network for two years.

Desmond Howard called games for the NFL on Fox for one season with former ESPN colleague Carter Blackburn.

Desmond Howard served as the cover athlete for the college football video game NCAA Football 06.