Desmond Howard is a former American National Football League player. Currently, he serves as a college football analyst for ESPN.
During his playing career, he was mostly known as a kick returner. Besides, he played in a wide receiver position too.
Howard played professional football for several teams like Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers. Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions.
He played college football for Michigan Wolverines and won the Heisman Trophy with them.
In addition, he is the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXI and is also ranked as the ninth greatest kick returner in NFL history.
Moreover, Desmond is also a College Football Hall of Fame inductee. He had a successful career both as a player and broadcaster.
You may be well familiar with his face and voice during pre-game shows and commentaries on ESPN.
But most of his fans are not aware of his career as a footballer. Thus, we have packed a summary of his NFL career and personal life. Let’s begin then.
Quick Facts:
| Full Name | Desmond Kevin Howard |
| Birth Date | May 15, 1970 |
| Birth Place | Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
| Nick Name | Desmond Howard |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Education | St. Joseph High School University of Michigan |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Father’s Name | JD Howard |
| Mother’s Name | Hattie Howard |
| Siblings | One brother |
| Brother | Jermaine Howard |
| Age | 52 Years Old |
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches (177 cm) |
| Weight | 85 kg (187 lbs) |
| Shoe Size | Not available |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Relationship | Married |
| Girlfriends | No |
| Spouse | Rebekah Howard (m. 1959) |
| Children | Two Sons and One Daughter |
| Sons | Desmond Howard Jr. Dhamir Howard |
| Daughter | Sydney Howard |
| Profession | Football Analyst NFL player (former) |
| Jersey Number | #21( Michigan Wolverines), #81 (Jacksonville Jaguars), #81 (Green Bay Packers), #80 (Detroit Lions) |
| Teams | Washington Football Team Jacksonville Jaguars Green Bay Packers Detroit Lions |
| Net Worth | $14 million |
| Salary | $3 million |
| Broadcasting Affiliations | ESPN Fox Sports |
| Social Media | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook |
| Merch | Jersey, Football Cards, Autographs |
| Last Update | July, 2022 |
Desmond Howard | Childhood, Families, and Education
JD Howard (father) and Hattie Howard (mother) gave birth to Howard on May 15, 1970, in Cleveland, Ohio (mother).
JD, his father, was a semi-pro basketball player who toured with the Jolly Jokers. Later, he worked as a tool and die plant in a nearby factory.
Similarly, Desmond’s mother, Hattie, used to be a school administrator. In addition, the couple had two sons. Jermaine, Desmond’s brother, was another.
Desmond attended Cleveland’s St. Joseph High School. He used to play for the school’s basketball and football teams.
Desmond played tailback during his senior year at the school. He was named All-American and All-Ohio for his football abilities.
Desmond had 18 touchdowns, 5,392 rushing yards, and ten defensive interceptions during his high school career. He also received varsity letters in all three sports he participated in: track, football, and basketball.
Desmond Howard | College Life
Desmond graduated from the University of Michigan. He was a standout for the Michigan Wolverines football team, where he set twelve records.
He won the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award during the 1991 season. Desmond was named to the All-American first team. In addition, in 2011, the first Michigan Football Legend was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Desmond’s college career started with limited playing time. The Michigan counselor was extremely helpful in boosting his confidence.
In 1991, Howard led the Big Ten Conference in scoring with 138 points. Fans voted him The Mount Rushmore of Michigan Football for the Big Ten Network in 2014 for his brilliance.
Heisman Trophy
Desmond put up impressive numbers during the 1991 season. This made him a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, which he did the following year.
In the year, his “The Heisman pose” celebration of imitating the football player on the Heisman trophy became famous. He performed the dance after scoring against Ohio State.
College Stats
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| *1989 | Michigan | Big Ten | WR | 12 | 9 | 136 | 15.1 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 2.2 | 0 | 14 | 147 | 10.5 | 2 | |
| *1990 | Michigan | Big Ten | WR | 12 | 63 | 1025 | 16.3 | 11 | 5 | 58 | 11.6 | 0 | 68 | 1083 | 15.9 | 11 | |
| *1991 | Michigan | Big Ten | WR | 12 | 62 | 985 | 15.9 | 19 | 13 | 180 | 13.8 | 2 | 75 | 1165 | 15.5 | 21 | |
| Career | Michigan | 134 | 2146 | 16.0 | 32 | 23 | 249 | 10.8 | 2 | 157 | 2395 | 15.3 | 34 | ||||
Desmond Howard | Work Experience
In the 1992 NFL Draft, Howard was selected by the then-Super Bowl XXVII champion Washington Redskins. He excelled as a kickoff returner rather than a receiver.
As a result of his 92 receptions in his first four seasons with the Redskins, he earned the moniker “return specialist.”
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the 1995 NFL expansion draft. Howard was with them for one season. He had 26 receptions, one touchdown, and ten kick returns during that time.
Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl
Desmond later joined the Green Bay Packers in 1996. With them, he had 58 punt returns, an NFL record 875 punt return yards, a 15.1 punt return average, and 460 kickoff return yards.
The Packers won Super Bowl XXXI in 1996, defeating the San Francisco 49ers. They defeated the New England Patriots by a score of 35-21.
In the Super Bowl, Howards returned a 99-yard kickoff for a Packers touchdown.
He was named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. Notably, he is the only NFL special teams player to have won the award.
In 1998, he signed as a free agent with the Oakland Raiders. Before rejoining the Packers in 1999, he had 61 kickoff returns there.
However, he was injured and performed poorly. As a result, the Packers were let go in the middle of the 1999 season.
The Lions of Detroit
He was later signed by the Lions. He made his team debut with a special teams touchdown. Desmond also served as a kick returner in the 2001 Pro Bowl.
This was his only appearance in the competition. Howard retired from football after the 2002 season.
Desmond Howard’s Career in Broadcasting
Desmond hasn’t played football in nearly two decades. Howard took a break from football after leaving the league.
Then he went to work for ESPN, where he is now. He has been traveling to match sites with Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, and Kirk Herbstreit since 2005. There, they cover the ESPN College Gameday pre-game show.
Howard is mostly seen as a studio figure in-game. You can hear his voice in commentaries when you watch Detroit Lions preseason games on the Detroit Lions Television Network.
Furthermore, he has called NFL games for Fox Sports. Desmond worked in the studio for one season, sharing it with former ESPN colleague Carter Blackburn.
Desmond is currently employed by ESPN as a college football analyst.
He has appeared on College GameDay and College Football Live. With his expertise, he evaluates NCAA and other college-level games.
Desmond Howard | Gaming
Howard appears in EA Sports’ NCAA Football video game series. He was the cover athlete for NCAA Football 06, the series’ most recent installment.
The previous year’s college football players who went to the NFL were featured on the cover.
The game’s new feature, “Race for the Heisman,” was inspired by the renowned Desmond’s celebration “The Heisman pose.” The image serves as a symbol for anyone who is interested in college football games.
Desmond Howard | Awards and Recognition
In college, Howard was a standout performer. During the 1991 season, the Heisman Trophy winner received honors such as the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award, and the Chicago Tribune Silver Football Award.
He was named College Football Player of the Year by Sporting News in 1991. He holds the final UPI College Football Player of the Year award.
The 1991 Big Ten Athlete of the Year award went to the Super Bowl XXXI Most Valuable Player.
Furthermore, the College Football Hall of Fame inductee’s jersey number 21 has been retired by the Michigan University football team.
In addition, Howard was inducted into the National Football College Football Hall of Fame in 2010 as well as the University of Michigan Hall of Honor in 2008.
Similarly, he was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
Who is the wife of Desmond Howard? Weddings and kids
Howard married Rebekah, his long-term girlfriend. She is a licensed attorney. She also works as a marketing and event management executive.
According to reports, the couple married in a private ceremony. The couple lives happily in their Miami, Florida home.
Until now, the couple has had three children: two sons and a daughter. Their sons are Desmond Jr. and Dhamir, and their daughter is Sydney.
Desmond devotes enough time to his wife and children. Until today, no controversies or tensions have been reported regarding the Howard family.
Desmond appears to have a happy married life, as no extramarital affairs involving him or his wife have been reported.
Desmond Howard’s Salary and Net Worth
Howard had an outstanding college football career as well as a ten-year NFL career. Similarly, he has a relatively successful broadcasting career and currently works for ESPN. It can now be assumed that the man has amassed a substantial fortune throughout his life.
“Desmond Howard’s net worth is estimated to be around $14 million in 2022.” According to some sources, Howard has earned a total of $190 million during his football career.
In terms of his success back then, the figure cannot be questioned. Desmond’s salary is $3 million.
Desmond Howard’s age? Age, Height, and Body Dimensions
As of 2022, the football analyst is 52 years old. He has a height of 5 feet and 10 inches (177 cm). Likewise, he weighs around 85 kilograms (187 lbs). Howard was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States. He went to school and spent his entire career in the United States. As a result, he has an American passport.
Presence on social media:
Howard’s social media handles are Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. He is very active on these platforms and frequently communicates with his fans and admirers.
Through his social media posts, one can get a glimpse of the most recent college and professional football news.
Twitter: 377,500 Followers
Facebook: 33,707 Followers
Instagram: 42,000 Followers
Some FAQs:
Who made the Heisman pose famous?
Desman Howard imitated the posture of the man in the Heisman Trophy during his celebration after scoring against Ohio State University in 1991. The photo went viral.
It was a subject of discussion in almost every sports media for weeks. Besides, some critics compared the act to Muhammad Ali’s way of teasing opponents.
Where does Desmond Howard live now?
Desmond Howard resides with his wife and children in his house in Miami, Florida. He works at ESPN as a college football analyst.
Is Desmond Howard a vegetarian?
In an interview, Desmond has stated that he takes egg whites as his post-workout meal but does not eat any meat. Thus, whether you call him, a vegetarian or not depends upon you.
What was Desmond Howard’s 40 yard dash time?
Desmond Howard’s 40 yard dash time was 4.35 seconds.
How much is a Desmond Howard rookie card worth?
Desmond Howard’s rookie card price ranges from $0.05-$24.95.
Is Desmond Howard available for autograph signing?
Yes, Desmond Howard is available for autograph signing both publicly and privately. Howard has signed at numerous shows, including the National Convention.
What did Desmond Howard say about Devonta Smith?
Desmond Howard says that Devonta Smith is the best wide receiver of the 2021 NFL draft.
Who won the 1991 Heisman Trophy?
Desmond Howard won the 1991 Heisman Trophy.
You may also like: 34 Lance Armstrong Quotes that will inspire you