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4.4k voters

The Best Michigan Football Players of All Time

Updated May 28, 2020 37.9k votes 4.4k voters 70.7k views87 items

List RulesRank the players based only on their time at Michigan

A list of the best Michigan Wolverines football players of all time. When many people think of college football, the University of Michigan is one of the first schools that they associate with the game. Michigan currently has the most wins in college football history and many of college football's greats have worn the maize and blue. Michigan has won or shared 42 league titles; only Oklahoma and Nebraska have more conference championships in college football. Since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936, Michigan has finished in the top 10 a record 37 times. The Wolverines claim 11 national championships, most recently that of the 1997 squad voted atop the final AP Poll.

With championships comes great players. Some of the best Michigan players ever have led the school to not only titles, but to the Rose Bowl. The New Year's Day game is a Michigan staple and the Wolverines have played in Pasadena 20 times. Some of Michigan's best players cemented their legacy as famous Michigan football players with strong Rose Bowl performances.

Michigan has a rich history of having outstanding players on its rosters. Who wouldn't want to play for the winningest team in college history? That's what attracted Heisman Trophy winners like Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson to the school. Even a former President of the United States played for the Wolverines. Yes, Gerald Ford was a standout footballer before he entered the White House.

This is a list of the best Michigan Wolverines football players of all time. If you see someone missing from this list, feel free to add him. Vote or rerank this list of the greatest Michigan Wolverines of all time by who you think should be at the top.

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298
Charles Woodson
Cornerback, Return specialist
Birthplace: Sebring, Ohio, United States of America
Age: 43
Teams: Michigan Wolverines football, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers
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#39 of 322 People Who Should Be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame#45 of 106 The Fastest NFL Players of All Time
2
1,422
502
Desmond Howard
Return specialist, Punt returner
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Age: 50
Teams: Michigan Wolverines football, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers
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#780 of 1,323 The Best Football Players Ever#25 of 83 The Best Heisman Trophy Winners of All Time
3
706
210
Tom Harmon
Halfback
Birthplace: Marion Township, Rensselaer, Indiana, United States of America
Age: Died at 71 (1919-1990)
Teams: Michigan Wolverines football, St. Louis Rams
4
799
255
Anthony Carter
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Riviera Beach, Florida
Age: 60
5
1,052
371
Ty Law
Cornerback, Safety
Birthplace: Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Age: 46
Teams: Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs
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#73 of 432 The Greatest Defenders in NFL History#13 of 246 The Best New England Patriots Of All Time
6
563
168
Steve Hutchinson
Guard
Birthplace: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States of America
Age: 42
Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Michigan Wolverines football, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings
7
909
325
Jake Long
Tackle
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
Age: 35
Teams: Michigan Wolverines football, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins
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#20 of 53 The Best No. 1 Overall NFL Draft Picks Of All Time, Ranked#15 of 61 The Best NFL Players From Michigan
8
657
214
LaMarr Woodley
Outside Linebacker
Birthplace: Saginaw, Michigan
Age: 31
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Michigan Wolverines football
9
749
270
Braylon Edwards
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
Age: 37
Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Michigan Wolverines football, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets
10
334
75
devin bush jr
Linebacker
Birthplace: Pembroke Pines, Florida
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers
11
673
238
Tyrone Wheatley
Running back
Birthplace: Inkster, Michigan
Age: 48
Teams: Oakland Raiders
12
566
199
Dan Dierdorf
Tackle, Offensive Lineman
Birthplace: Canton, Ohio, United States of America
Age: 71
Teams: Michigan Wolverines football, St. Louis Cardinals
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#9 of 35 Undeserving Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame#20 of 61 The Best NFL Players From Ohio
13
1,108
403
Jabrill Peppers
Safety
Birthplace: New Jersey

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2,012
838
Tom Brady
Quarterback
Birthplace: San Mateo, California, United States of America
Age: 38
Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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The Funniest Tom Brady Memes For Football Fans#3 of 150 Athletes You Didn't Know Were Conservative
15
893
353
Jim Harbaugh
Quarterback
Birthplace: Toledo, Ohio
Age: 52
Teams: Michigan Wolverines football, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers
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#108 of 252 The Best Quarterbacks Of All Time#41 of 61 The Best NFL Coaches of All Time
16
424
125
Anthony Thomas
Running back
Birthplace: Winnfield, Louisiana
Age: 42
Teams: New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, Michigan Wolverines football, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys
17
500
166
Tshimanga Biakabutuka
Running back
Birthplace: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Age: 46
Teams: Carolina Panthers
18
473
159
Brandon Graham
Defensive end
Birthplace: Detroit, Oregon
Age: 32
Teams: Michigan Wolverines football, Philadelphia Eagles
19
575
203
Mike Hart
Running back
Birthplace: Syracuse, New York
Age: 34
Teams: Michigan Wolverines football, Indianapolis Colts
20
732
337
Denard Robinson
Running back, Quarterback
Age: 30
Teams: Michigan Wolverines football, Jacksonville Jaguars
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#88 of 119 The Greatest College Football Quarterbacks of All Time#7 of 19 The Best QB's Under Age 24
21
432
152
Amani Toomer
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Berkeley, California
Age: 46
Teams: Michigan Wolverines football, New York Giants
22
338
135
Leon Hall
Cornerback
Birthplace: Vista, California
Age: 35
Teams: Cincinnati Bengals
23
391
161
Mario Manningham
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Warren, Ohio
Age: 34
Teams: Michigan Wolverines football, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants

24
397
160
Jourdan Lewis
Cornerback
25
434
206
Brian Griese
Quarterback
Birthplace: Miami, Florida
Age: 45
Teams: Michigan Wolverines football, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins
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#6 of 9 9 Idiot Football Players Injured Off The Field#140 of 246 The Best Miami Dolphins of All Time

Anthony Carter

Denard Robinson

Leon Hall

Jourdan Lewis