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Chad Henne wasn’t supposed to be the playoff hero for the Kansas City Chiefs, the man partly responsible for sending the defending Super Bowl champions to their third consecutive AFC championship game. Henne, replacing Patrick Mahomes after the star quarterback suffered a concussion, was tasked with preserving the Chiefs’ second-half lead – making the two biggest games of his career in a row to seal the 22- win. 17.
The victory was Henne’s first in the NFL since 2013, a long time coming for the longtime quarterback. Henne – who actually has a Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs – finally got the chance to make his own mark in the playoffs. Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns marked the first time Henne has taken a playoff photo despite 14 years of playing in the NFL.
Here are five interesting facts about the Chiefs’ playoff hero on Sunday:
NFL quarterback for 14 seasons, mostly as a substitute
Henne was a second-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2008, starting 31 games for the team in four seasons and completing 60.6% of his passes with 31 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. Henne spent the next five seasons at Jacksonville – mostly as a substitute – completing 57.6% of his passes with 27 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.
Henne signed with the Chiefs in the 2018 season and did not make a decision in the 2019 season due to a broken ankle (Henne was on the injured reserve when Matt Moore took over from Patrick Mahomes). Henne was the Kansas City Super Bowl run alternate quarterback, winning his first Super Bowl ring.
Henne had been on an NFL roster for eight playoff games before Sunday, but had never played in a playoff before. He has 60 touchdown passes for 63 interceptions (odds of 76.1 in his career).
Holds several Michigan crossing records
Henne is Michigan’s all-time leader in passes completed (828), attempts (1,387), yards (9,715) and touchdowns (87). His 87 touchdown passes are third in Big Ten history, behind JT Barrett (104) and Drew Brees (90). He beat Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators in his last college game, winning Capitol One Bowl MVP honors.
Was Michigan’s starting quarterback when he was bowled over by Appalachian State
Henne was a starting quarterback for Michigan for several seasons in the mid-2000s and was instrumental in one of the biggest upheavals in college football history. Michigan, ranked fifth in the country to start the season, lost to Championship Subdivision Appalachian State School of Football in the season opener in 2007 – Henne’s senior season.
Henne completed 19 of 37 passes for 233 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He failed to convert a fourth pass and threw his only interception in the fourth quarter as Michigan lagged behind. The Wolverines were pre-game national championship contenders and never recovered, falling off the Associated Press poll after the loss (they finished 18th in the last poll).
Graduated from the same high school as Kerry Collins
Henne attended Wilson High School in West Lawn, Pa. – located an hour outside of Philadelphia in the Reading area. It’s the same high school as former Penn State and NFL standout Kerry Collins. Collins, who led the New York Giants to Super Bowl XXXV and made two Pro Bowls, is 20th in NFL history with 40,922 passing yards. He graduated from Wilson in 1991.
Former Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year
Henne was the state’s top player in his final year at Wilson, earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Lavar Arrington (1996) and Kyle Brady (1989) are other Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year winners who have had notable careers in the NFL. Ron Powlus (1992) and Jeff Smoker (1999) are former outstanding quarterbacks from Pennsylvania who won the award.
Henne threw for 7,071 passing yards during his high school career, which was the fourth greatest record in PIAA history when he graduated in 2004. He was also the PIAA finalist in the javelin his last year.
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