Has Michigan ever had a number 1 draft pick?

With 1004 victories out of 1393, the University of Michigan's Michigan Wolverines hold the record for most all-time victories in college football history. Besides this, they are recognized for their "winged helmets," the Victory Song, and the sheer number of people with a record breaking number at the Michigan Stadium.

The Wolverines rivalry with Ohio State, also known as "The Game," is voted to be the best sports rivalry by ESPN. They also have a long history of 145 years and 21 head- coaches, claiming 12 national titles and seven unclaimed national titles.

The most notable coach was Fielding H. Yost, under whom they won six national titles between 1901 and 1926. The most recent national title was in 2023, under Jim Harbaugh, who, during his final three years as head coach, from 2021 to 2023, guided the Wolverines to three straight Big Ten titles and spots in the College Football Playoffs.

After defeating Washington in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, his final team, the 2023 Michigan Wolverines, claimed the first national championship for the program since 1997 and the first uncontested title since 1948.

Harbaugh departed Michigan after the title game to resume his coaching career in the National Football League (NFL). As of April 2024, Sherrone Moore, a member of Harbaugh's coaching staff since 2018, is the head coach.

Michigan Wolverines History

In 1879, Michigan started playing collegiate football and after the conference's founding in 1896, the Wolverines remained their members, with the exception of a break from 1907 to 1916. Michigan has won or shared 45 league titles and has placed in the top-10 39 times since the AP Poll's inception in 1936. They also have 12 national titles and seven unclaimed national titles.

Nine head coaches, who were all elected into the College Football Hall of Fame as coaches or players, oversaw Michigan from 1900 to 1989. Fielding H. Yost took over as Michigan's head coach in 1901 and led his "Point-a-Minute" teams to a 56-game winning streak from the time of his hiring until the season's conclusion in 1905.

Bo Schembechler won 194 games, a program record, and 13 Big Ten titles during his 21 seasons as the team's coach (1969–1989). During the first 10 years of his leadership, he faced intense rivalry with Woody Hayes, his old mentor, whose Ohio State Buckeyes faced Schembechler's Wolverines in a section of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry known as the "Ten-Year War."

Tom Harmon in 1940, Charles Woodson in 1997, and Desmond Howard in 1991 are the three Wolverines who have taken home the prestigious Heisman Trophy. The Wolverines also have a U.S. president, Gerald Ford, who was selected as the team's MVP in 1934 and was the 38th president of the United States.

Michigan Wolverines No. 1 Draft Picks

The Michigan Wolverines have two No. 1 NFL draft picks: Tom Harmon in 1941 and Jake Long in 2008.

In the 145 year-old history of Michigan's NFL draft selections, just two players have ever been selected first overall: Tom Harman, chosen by the Chicago Bears in the 1941 NFL draft, and Jake Long, chosen by the Miami Dolphins in the 2008 NFL draft.

In all, 59 Michigan players have been selected in the first round. Michigan has produced 399 players selected in the draft overall. Many of the players selected in the draft have gone on to have extremely successful NFL careers.

Tom Brady, who went on to win seven Super Bowls in his lengthy NFL career after being selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, is the one player who everyone can trace back to Michigan.

The Wolverines had nine draft selections in 2023; the Dallas Cowboys took Mazi Smith in the first round, 26th pick, while the San Francisco 49ers selected Ronnie Bell in the seventh round, 36th pick.