John Navarre
John Robert Navarre is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, and was selected in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He was also a member of the Indianapolis Colts.
Early life
Navarre was born in Cudahy, Wisconsin, on September 9, 1980. He attended Cudahy High School where he had a record of 33-4 as the starting quarterback for the football team.College career
Navarre played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1999 to 2003. He redshirted in 1999 behind Tom Brady and Drew Henson.To begin the 2000 season, Henson sustained an injury in practice that required redshirt-freshman Navarre to start under center against Michigan's first opponent, Bowling Green. In his first career start, Navarre threw for four touchdowns—a school record for a first-time starting quarterback and the most ever in a season-opener. The four touchdown passes also tied a school record at the time. Navarre's play in the opener earned him Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Navarre continued his role as starting quarterback as Henson continued to be sidelined by injury; getting his second start against Rice. Michigan went on the road against No. 14 UCLA and lost, 23-20. The following week, Michigan began Big Ten play against No. 19 Illinois. While Navarre started his fourth game in a row, Henson replaced him late in the first half. Navarre saw limited action at quarterback the rest of the season; ending the season with 583 passing yards and eight touchdowns in nine games.
Shortly after Michigan's win against Auburn in the 2001 Citrus Bowl, Henson announced he would come back for his senior season and forgo entering the 2001 NFL draft.
Navarre began the 2001 season as Michigan's starting quarterback—a role he kept until his last year of eligibility in 2003. In his first full season as Michigan's starting quarterback, Navarre threw for 2,345 yards and nineteen touchdowns. Michigan ended the regular season 8-3 before going on to lose their Citrus Bowl match-up against Tennessee which snapped the school's four-game bowl win streak. In the loss, Navarre threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns.
In his junior season in 2002, Navarre led Michigan to a 9-3 regular season record before a showcase performance in the Outback Bowl, where he threw for a career-high 319 yards and one touchdown en route to 38-30 win over Florida and a 10-3 record to end the season.
On October 4, 2003, at Kinnick Stadium, Navarre established the school single-game record for most passing yards: 389 vs. Iowa. The record stood until Devin Gardner totaled 503 yards on October 19, 2013, against Indiana. In his senior campaign, Navarre again led Michigan to a 10-3 overall record, and the team's first Rose Bowl appearance since the 1997 season. During the regular season, Navarre amassed 3,331 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, posting wins over Michigan rivals, Notre Dame, 38-0; and Ohio State, 35–21. The Wolverines finished the season against USC, ranked No. 1 in both polls, in the Rose Bowl. In the 28-14 loss, Navarre had played his last game as a quarterback at Michigan; gaining 271 passing yards and one touchdown on 27 completions in 46 attempts.
Michigan records
Navarre holds the following Michigan football records:- Most pass attempts in a season: 456
- Most pass completions in a season: 270
- Most passing yards in a season: 3,331
- Most touchdown passes in a game: 4, three occasions
- Most total offensive plays in a season: 504