Andre Ware facts for kids
Ware with the Houston Cougars
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||
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| Born: | July 31, 1968 Galveston, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Dickinson (Dickinson, Texas) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Houston (1987–1989) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1990 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7 | ||||||||||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Andre Trevor Ware (born July 31, 1968) is a former professional football quarterback. He also works as a sports analyst and commentator. Ware played in the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), and NFL Europe.
He played college football for the Houston Cougars. In 1989, he won the famous Heisman Trophy and the Davey O'Brien Award. Andre Ware was the first black quarterback to ever win the Heisman Trophy. In the 1990 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions picked him in the first round. In 2004, he was added to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Contents
College Football Star: Andre Ware's Journey
Andre Ware grew up in Galveston, Texas. He dreamed of playing football for the University of Texas. However, he chose to play for the University of Houston instead.
Winning the Heisman Trophy
In 1989, during his junior year at Houston, Andre Ware had an amazing season. He won the Heisman Trophy, which is given to the best college football player. He also won the Davey O'Brien Award for the best college quarterback. That year, he set 27 NCAA records! He threw for 4,699 yards and 46 touchdowns. Many of his records were thanks to a special way of playing called the "run and shoot offense."
The 1989 Houston Cougars team was very strong. They were the first college team to have a quarterback throw for over 4,000 yards, a running back rush for over 1,000 yards, and a receiver catch for over 1,000 yards in the same season. The team finished with a 9–2 record and was ranked #14 in the nation. Andre Ware was the only quarterback to win the Heisman while playing for a team that was on probation. After this incredible season, he decided to enter the NFL Draft early.
Andre Ware's Professional Football Career
In the 1990 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions chose Andre Ware as their top pick. He joined the Lions for the 1990 season. He played with another Heisman Trophy winner, Barry Sanders. Ware stayed with Detroit for four years. He played in 14 games and started six of them.
Playing in Different Leagues
After his time with the Lions, Ware played for other teams. In 1994, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He also spent some time with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.
Andre Ware also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders, the BC Lions, and the Toronto Argonauts. In Toronto, he was a backup to another Heisman winner, Doug Flutie. He also played five games for the Berlin Thunder, a German team in NFL Europe.
Some people wonder why Ware didn't have a longer NFL career. Some think he wasn't given enough chances to show his skills. Others believe it was hard for him to play in different offensive systems after using the "run and shoot" offense in college.
Andre Ware as a Broadcaster
After his playing career, Andre Ware became a well-known sports broadcaster. Since 2002, he has been part of the radio team for the Houston Texans.
Since 2003, Ware has also worked as a college football analyst for ESPN. He has called games for ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN on ABC. From 2014 to 2019, he called games for ESPN's SEC Network. In 2020, he joined the ESPN College Football Friday Primetime team.
Honors and Achievements
Andre Ware has received many honors for his football career.
- In 2004, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
- On February 29, 2012, he was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
See also
- List of NCAA major college football yearly passing leaders
- List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders
- Racial issues faced by black quarterbacks
- List of black quarterbacks
