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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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ST. LOUIS, MO – CIRCA 1980: Ed Jones #72 of the Dallas Cowboys gets blocked by Dan Dierdorf #72 of the St. Louis Cardinals during an NFL football game circa 1980 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Jones played for the Cowboys from 1974-78 and 1980-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – CIRCA 1980: Ed Jones #72 of the Dallas Cowboys gets blocked by Dan Dierdorf #72 of the St. Louis Cardinals during an NFL football game circa 1980 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Jones played for the Cowboys from 1974-78 and 1980-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

3. Dan Dierdorf, offensive tackle

Michigan football is known for churning out great offensive linemen and this list certainly backs that up as five of the 15 selections played offensive line.

However, when it comes to former Wolverines that played O-line in the league, no one was better than Dan Dierdorf.

I considered Hutchinson for the No. 3 spot. It was tough to put anyone over him, yet Dierdorf was a dominant force during his day and earned three First-Team All-Pro selections. He also earned six trips to the Pro Bowl and started on both sides of the ball.

Beyond that, he was just violent. Offensive tackles definitely don’t attack people anymore with the brute force that Dierdorf did. The 6-foot-3 legend that was also recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his efforts as a broadcaster, was inducted as a player in 1996.

Dierdorf was also an All-American for Michigan football and played on the 1969 team that pulled off the upset over the mighty top-ranked Buckeyes, starting the Ten-Year War.

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