Desmond Howard looks back on Heisman pose vs. Ohio State, reveals original celebration plan

Former Michigan receiver Desmond Howard made several big plays during his time in Ann Arbor, but one is forever etched in college football history: the Heisman pose. In a 1991 rivalry game against Ohio State, Howard lined up to receive a punt with the Wolverines leading 17-3 late in the first half.

He received the ball, juked a couple of Buckeyes defenders and was off to the races for a 93-yard touchdown. As he crossed the plane of the end zone, Howard walked a few more steps before stopping in the middle and sticking his arm out in the same pose that is on the Heisman Trophy.

It’s one of the most memorable plays from the rivalry, but as Howard revealed on Monday night’s Manningcast of the game between the Packers and Raiders, it almost didn’t happen. The receiver originally had a different celebration planned.

“The backstory of that pose was that summer I was actually dating a gymnast,” he told Peyton and Eli Manning. “She taught me how to do a backflip and I was like, ‘This would be the coolest thing to do if I break out into the open, stop on the 1-yard line and do a backflip into the end zone.’ So here we are. Michigan-Ohio State. Good game. Biggest rivalry in college football. I’m like, ‘This is my opportunity.’

“But as I’m running down the field, I’m second-guessing myself. ‘Should I do it? Yes. No. If you do it and you mess up, you’ll be on SportsCenter for the wrong thing.’ So about the 8-yard line I kind of chickened out and then I crossed the goal line and I’m like, ‘OK, boom.’ I did that (Heisman pose) and the rest, as they say, is history.”

It certainly would have been entertaining to see Howard backflip into the end zone, but it almost worked out better that he didn’t. The receiver went on to win the Heisman that season after finishing the year with 1,115 yards from scrimmage and 21 total touchdowns.

Michigan went on to win the game against Ohio State 31-3 before losing to Washington in the Rose Bowl. Howard would go on to be the No. 4 pick in the NFL Draft that offseason to Washington and enjoyed 11-year NFL career. He won a Super Bowl in 1997 with the Green Bay Packers and was named Super Bowl MVP.

Of all the plays Desmond Howard made throughout his career, though, none carry the legend that the Heisman pose does. And to think, for as famous as the celebration was, he almost went a different route.