Was Desmond Howard Good In The NFL?
Desmond Howard was a good player in the NFL, but many people don’t think he was great. He was a receiver and return man who played for the Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, and Oakland Raiders.
Introduction
Desmond Howard was a receiver and punt returner in the National Football League for eleven seasons. He is best known for his performance as a punt returner, where he returned four punts for touchdowns in a single season, and was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXI.
In college, Howard played for the University of Michigan from 1989 to 1991. He helped the Wolverines win two consecutive Big Ten Conference championships and the 1989 Rose Bowl. Following his junior year, he won the Heisman Trophy as the nation’s most outstanding collegiate football player.
Desmond Howard’s College Career
Desmond Howard was a standout player for the University of Michigan from 1989 to 1991, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1991. He was selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft, and went on to play for the Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars over the course of his career. While Howard had some success as a returner in the NFL, he was never able to replicate his college offensive production at the pro level, finishing his career with just over 4,500 total yards and 21 touchdowns.
Desmond Howard’s NFL Career
Desmond Howard was drafted fourth overall by the Washington Redskins in the 1992 NFL Draft. He had an immediate impact in his rookie season, leading the league in punt return average and being named a first-team All-Pro. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year. Howard also became the first rookie in NFL history to return a kickoff for a touchdown in the Super Bowl when he did so in Super Bowl XXVII.
Howard struggled with injuries for much of his career and was never able to consistently duplicate his rookie season success. He had a couple of productive seasons, including a Pro Bowl campaign with the Green Bay Packers in 1999, but he was generally considered a disappointment. He retired after the 2003 season.
The Verdict
Desmond Howard was a great receiver in the NFL and is considered one of the best return men in league history. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions. In his 11 seasons, he had 5,834 receiving yards and 35 touchdown catches. He also had 7,313 kickoff return yards and four punt return touchdowns.
