Chad Henne, who has backed up Mahomes for the last five years, announced after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII that he will retire. “Calling it a career. Capping it off with Bud Light and another ring,” Henne wrote.” Henne didn’t play much, but he made a major contribution to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run when Patrick Mahomes suffered his high ankle sprain in the divisional round against the Jaguars. Henne did an impressive job running the offense while Mahomes was out, leading a 98-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Henne to Travis Kelce. A 2008 second-round pick of the Dolphins, Henne spent four years in Miami and six in Jacksonville before finishing his career with five years as Mahomes’ backup. He started just 54 games over 15 seasons and never really established himself as a quality starter, but he was a reliable backup whom the Chiefs will need to replace.
He was never going to be a great one, but I still think that he could have been a better starter for the Fins with better coaching and support while he was here. Still, his Dolphins career ended immediately before Tannehill's started, and RT17 was much better.
Sad to see him retire, but he's got to be up there in years. Always liked him and rooted for him- good for Henne going out as a Super Bowl champion! By the way, did anyone expect him to play yesterday when Mahommes got hurt? I kind of got chills thinking about it, sending out the old vet to beat the unbeatable Eagles defense. I was kind of disappointed when Mahommes started the 2nd half. Really didn't think the Chiefs had a chance in that one.
I was pretty indifferent on who won, but was half-heartedly cheering for the Eagles because of a small bet with my brother. If Henne came in I would have started pulling for the Chiefs, as Henne was a likeable guy, even if it was apparent he was never going to be an above average starting QB in the NFL. Instead Mahomes is turning into Ben Roethlisburger's replacement, as the guy who will act injured every other play to put on a "tough guy" show, and then scramble at top speed 2 plays later completely unaffected by any injury.
LOL, it could be adrenaline in the moment....it could be great acting. Who knows. It did look like he was in pain on the sidelines after the play, so I do believe he was hurt. It didn't show for very long on the field though.
Hes had a long, successful career as a quality backup. Also hes made millions (39 million) by embracing his role and being a professional.
Good work if you can get it. Being a backup QB is the best. Fan favorite, win your a hero, lose and the rest of the team needs to step up and support you. Work out, watch some film, be ready to go if they call you. Flirt with the cheerleaders and go all year never getting your uniform dirty. For more money than most of us will see in 20 years work. Career backup for 40 mill please Alex!
Wow, just continues to prove that I'm definitely getting older. I remember him at Michigan like it was yesterday. Being from PA, so many people from the area were so angry about him choosing Michigan over Penn State coming out of high school. We drafted him, gave him a shot, didn't get the results we wanted. I'm happy he at least made a career for himself in the league.
I think he could have been better for us if we’d given him better coaching. Tony Sparano turned him into “check down Chad” when his Michigan tape suggested he was better suited to throwing the ball downfield. But solid backup/ fill in starter while you wait for next year’s draft seems to have been his ceiling.
I agree, he was in the wrong offense since it was built for Pennington. He had some good years in Jax though and he made it all these years for a reason- he's a good quarterback. Looked really good in KC in the limited snaps he received. Wish he could have led the Super Bowl comeback and then retired- that would have been a legendary ending. Wasn't meant to be though.
The funny thing is, even though he's from a small town of only 11,000 people, he's nowhere close to the most famous person to grow up there in the last few decades. Not only is Taylor Swift from the same place, but former QB Kerry Collins is a well, along with former NFL player and commentator Ross Tucker, and reality TV creep Jon Gosselin.
IMO, the biggest road block they but in front of Henne was the Wildcat. Every time they ran it out, it killed the momentum of the passing game, and his play got worse. In 2009 and 10, it did have splash plays here and there, but it was bad for Henne in specific and the long term growth of the offense as a whole. But it was like a drug Sparano couldn't quit.
