EDITOR’S NOTE: We published this last month but republished it for Super Bowl 57.
You remember Chad Henne, right? The former second-round NFL Draft pick out of Michigan from way back in 2007?
Well, he’s still in the NFL, and he’s the backup to one of the best players in the playoffs this season, Patrick Mahomes on the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s 37-years-old and has started one game since September 2014.
It seemed like fans were going to have familiarize themselves with Henne quickly during Saturday’s divisional round game between the Chiefs and Henne’s former team – the Jacksonville Jaguars – as Mahomes appeared to have injured his right leg early in the game. He tried to continue playing, but ultimately, he was replaced in the second quarter by Henne.
And Henne helped lead the Chiefs to the end zone on a 98-yard drive to give Kansas City a 17-7 with a one-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce.
Here’s what you need to know about Henne.
“it’s chad henne time” – chad henne
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) January 21, 2023
Henne was pretty good at Michigan
The 6-foot-5 native of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania played his college ball for the Wolverines and was a four-year starter. As a freshman, Henne threw for 2,743 yards and 25 touchdowns, leading Michigan to a 9-3 record and a Rose Bowl berth. Two years later, Henne played in his second Rose Bowl after leading Michigan to an 11-2 record, but again the Wolverines lost, this time to USC.
Henne finally won a bowl game his senior season, throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-35 triumph over a Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin-led Florida team in the Capital One Citrus Bowl.
The former Michigan quarterback is still third all-time in Big Ten history (since 1956) in career passing touchdowns with 87, trailing only JT Barrett and Drew Brees.
Never forget the LEGEND that was Chad Henne at @UMichFootball
(🎥: @CFB_History) pic.twitter.com/SmErleulL8
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 21, 2023
Start in Miami
Henne was selected 57th overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2008 NFL Draft. In his first season, he backed up Chad Pennington on the Wildcat team that won 11 games.
The next season, Henne got the starting job a few games into the season and started 31 games for Miami between 2009 and 2011. He went 13-18 as a starter in Miami and threw for 31 touchdowns to 37 interceptions in 36 appearances for the Dolphins.
As all journeymen quarterbacks a decade ago did, Henne then found himself in a Jaguars’ uniform, signing in Jacksonville as a free agent. Things weren’t much better there for him there, as Henne went 5-17 as the starter, throwing 27 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.
The #Chiefs are bringing QB Chad Henne back. One-year deal for $2 million, source says. It’ll be his fifth season as Patrick Mahomes’ backup.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 16, 2022
And since then?
Henne left the Jaguars in the 2018 offseason and signed with the Chiefs. In four seasons, he has appeared in 11 games and only started one. He has attempted a total of 59 passes with Kansas City, and along the way collected a championship ring for the Chiefs’ win in Super Bowl LIV.
In other words, Henne has a great gig. He’s on a team that competes for championships and he doesn’t have to do a whole lot. Except for, of course, on the rare occasions that Mahomes gets hurt.
Henne has proven to be capable when called upon with the Chiefs though. Before Saturday, his last notable moment in a Kansas City uniform was stepping in during a 2021 playoff game and converting a key fourth down to help the Chiefs top the Browns.
Henne and Tyreek clinch the win ‼️ @cheetah @Chiefs pic.twitter.com/jVTdSl6fr6
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 17, 2021
