Michigan Football: 10 Greatest Players in NFL History

Mario Manningham's crucial catch in the recent Super Bowl will be recalled for many years to come.

Fans of the winning New York Giants will remember Manningham as Eli Manning's go-to receiver in the pivotal fourth quarter. New England fans will remember the veteran receiver as nothing less than a thorn in their side.

Another group of fans recall the reliable pass-catcher as one of Chad Henne's favorite targets at Michigan. On any given Sunday, Michigan football supporters can likely root for one of their former heroes.

Who can forget Desmond Howard's runbacks, Ty Law's interceptions or Tom Brady's Super Bowl rings. Michigan players have made their mark in the NFL since the league's inception in the 1920s.

Here are the 10 ex-Wolverines who have carved out the most illustrious pro football careers:

William Hewitt

The last NFL player not to wear a helmet, William Hewitt was a two-way end who played more than 50 minutes per game.

He is best known for leading the 1933 Chicago Bears to a 23-21 victory over the New York Giants in the first NFL title game. A six-time All-league performer, Hewitt was admitted to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1971.

He also played end for the 1930 and 1931 Big Ten co-championship Michigan Wolverines.  

Benny Friedman

Friedman was known as the first great passer in professional football. 

He began his NFL career in Cleveland in 1927, before moving on to Detroit the following season. There he led the NFL in several statistical categories, including touchdown passes.

The New York Giants decided they couldn't exist without Friedman, so owner Tim Mara bought the entire Detroit roster to get his services.

Friedman didn't disappoint as he led the league with 20 TD passes in 1929. He became a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

A two-time All-American quarterback at Michigan,  Friedman led the Wolverines to Big Ten titles in 1925 and 1926.   

Len Ford

An end on Michigan's 1947 national championship team, Len Ford first became recognized while playing in the ill-fated All-American Football Conference in 1948 and 1949.

Before the rival professional league folded after the 1949 season, Ford caught 67 passes for the Los Angeles Dons.

A supplemental draft landed Ford with the NFL Cleveland Browns, where he switched from offense to defense.

There, he became a five-time All-Pro defensive end, while helping Cleveland win NFL titles in 1950, 1954 and 1955.

Ford was admitted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976.

Elroy (Crazylegs) Hirsch

Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch began his collegiate career at Wisconsin in 1942. While playing for the Badgers, he received his nickname from Chicago sportswriter Francis Powers.

“His crazy legs were gyrating in six different directions, all at the same time,” wrote Powers after a game. “He looked like a demented duck.”

His membership in the U.S. Navy's V-12 program sent him to Michigan for the 1943-44 school year where he lettered in football, track, basketball and baseball.

The football team finished 8-1 and shared the Big Ten title with Purdue.

Like Len Ford, Hirsch began his pro football career in the AAFC, before moving on to stardom in the NFL.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Hirsch helped the Los Angeles Rams win the 1951 NFL championship.

He was admitted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.  

Tom Mack

The second player selected in the 1966 NFL Draft, Tom Mack went on to play 13 fruitful seasons with Los Angeles Rams.

An 11-time Pro Bowl selection, Mack acquired the starting left guard spot midway through his rookie year, then started 162 straight NFL games. 

At Michigan, Mack played for the 1964 Big Ten and Rose Bowl championship teams.

He was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Dan Dierdorf

Dan Dierdorf is better known for his work in the broadcast booth than his play as an offensive lineman.

A member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, Dierdorf was an analyst during ABC's Monday Night Football telecasts from 1987 through 1998. The following season, Dierdorf moved to CBS and has been there ever since.

Previous to playing 13 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals, Dierdorf was part of Michigan's 24-12 upset victory over No. 1-ranked and undefeated Ohio State in 1969.

A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Dierdorf was also honored by being named NFLPA NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year three times.

Ty Law

A first-round draft choice of the New England Patriots in 1995, Ty Law became a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time NFL Alumni Defensive Back of Year award winner.

Law joined former Wolverine quarterback Tom Brady to win three Super Bowls in four years. The hard-hitting cornerback completed his 15-year NFL career with 53 interceptions, 22nd on the all-time list.

As a Michigan Wolverine, Law was a 1994 Walter Camp All-American and a two-time All-Big Ten honoree. 

Steve Hutchinson

A first-round draft choice by Seattle, Steve Hutchinson has certainly upheld his end of the bargain.

Hutchinson has been selected to the Pro Bowl seven times in his 11-year NFL career. He played the first five years for the Seahawks (2001-2005), and the last six in Minnesota (2006-2011).

Hutchinson plans on returning to Minnesota for his 12th NFL season this fall.

The big offensive guard was equally impressive at Michigan. He earned All-American honors twice, before winning the prestigious Jim Parker award, given annually to college football's top lineman.

After a redshirt season in 1996, Hutchinson started for the co-national champions in 1997. 

Charles Woodson

Charles Woodson was the fourth player selected in the 1998 draft by Oakland, and has since played eight seasons with the Raiders and the last six with Green Bay.  An eight-time All-Pro selection, Woodson has now totaled 54 interceptions.

He also became Michigan's most recent Heisman Trophy winner in 1997.  He was the first primarily defensive player to win the award.  

He did it by leading the Wolverines to a perfect 12-0 season, returning punts, playing flawless cornerback, and catching passes on offense.  

In the 20-14 win over Ohio State, Woodson busted a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown and also caught a key 37-yard pass from Brian Griese,

Woodson, who was part of the Packers' Super Bowl run a year ago, in now one of four NFL players to have won the Heisman Trophy, a college national championship and the Super Bowl. The others are Marcus Allen, Tony Dorsett and Reggie Bush.

Tom Brady

Despite losing his second Super Bowl to the New York Giants, Tom Brady is still a lock to land in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

His NFL career has been stunning. Along with winning three Super Bowls, Brady's been named a Pro Bowl selection seven times, the NFL MVP twice and the Super Bowl MVP twice.

An injury to starter Drew Bledsoe gave Brady the Patriots' starting job early in his second NFL season. At Michigan, thing were more difficult.

Brady started his Michigan career seventh on the depth chart, well behind starter Brian Griese. He eventually beat out two-sport star Drew Henson for the starting job at the outset of his junior year.

Brady still holds the Michigan record for most completions in a game. He completed 34 of 46 passes for 369 yards and four touchdowns in Michigan's 35-34 overtime win over Alabama in the 2000 Orange Bowl.