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15 best Michigan football NFL careers ever

By Chris Peterson

Nov 21, 1998; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Tom Brady (10) in action against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Ohio St. defeated Michigan 31-16. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 1998; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Tom Brady (10) in action against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Ohio St. defeated Michigan 31-16. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports /
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6. Len Ford, defensive end/tight end

It can be difficult to compare eras in the NFL, especially without the benefit of stats and that really hurts the case of Len Ford, a former elite pass rusher when considering his ranking among Michigan football greats in the NFL.

Ford was part of three NFL championship teams and also earned four consecutive First-Team All-Pro selections from 1951-1954. That’s when he was one of the best defensive ends in the league but didn’t really get the statistical recognition.

Sacks were kept as a stat until decades after Ford played. Yet, he was also picked for five pro bowls and also had a couple of solid seasons as a pass catcher in the All-American Football Conference for the Los Angeles Dons.

Before that league disbanded, Ford caught 67 passes for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns in two seasons. He averaged 17.5 yards per reception, meaning that like Hewitt, he had the ability to contribute on more than one side of the ball.

Later, Ford would be named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1950s, which also helps justify his selection here as having the sixth-best NFL career of a Michigan football player. He’s also among the Wolverines in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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