John Navarre John Robert Navarre ( born September 9 , 1980 ) is a former American football quarterback who was a three - year starter for the Michigan Wolverines from 2001 to 2003 , leading the Wolverines to the 2003 Big Ten Conference championship in his final year of eligibility . He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2004 NFL Draft and played for the Cardinals in 2004 and 2005 . College career . Before coming to Michigan , Navarre attended Cudahy High School in Wisconsin , where he had a record of 33 – 4 as the starting quarterback . Navarre joined the Wolverines in 1999 . At that time , the starting quarterback position was filled by future NFL player Tom Brady . Drew Henson , who also later played in the NFL , was listed as Brady ' s backup and Navarre was to be redshirted . On that year ' s roster , Navarre was listed at 6 ' 6 " and weighed 220 pounds . 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 . 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 # 14 UCLA and lost , 23 – 20 . The following week , Michigan began Big Ten play against # 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 8 touchdowns in 10 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 . In 1998 , Henson was drafted by the Major League Baseball ' s New York Yankees in the amateur draft and although he had already told Michigan he was returning for his senior season , he left to begin his pursuit of a Major League career . 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 19 touchdowns . Michigan ended the regular season 8 – 3 before going on to lose their Citrus Bowl match - up with Tennessee , snapping the school ' s four - game bowl win streak . In the loss , Navarre threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns . In his junior season , 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 . 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 # 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 feats . Navarre currently holds the following Michigan football records : Navarre held several Michigan career passing records including those for attempts , completions , and passing yards before Chad Henne surpassed those marks in 2007 . He also held the records for most total offensive yards gained in a game ( 368 vs . Iowa in 2003 ) and in a season ( 3 , 240 in 2003 ) before being surpassed by Denard Robinson in 2010 . In 2003 , Navarre led the Wolverines to their largest comeback in school history , overcoming a 21 - point deficit as they defeated Minnesota , 38 – 35 . Professional career . Navarre was drafted in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and served as their third - string quarterback for the 2004 through 2005 seasons . He started one game for the Cardinals in 2004 , throwing four interceptions and one touchdown in a losing effort against the Detroit Lions . Navarre has appeared in five games in his three - year NFL career ; his debut was December 5 , 2004 . Personal life . Navarre currently resides in Waterford , Wisconsin along with his wife , Courtney , and their daughter Morgan and works for a ALRO Steel Milwaukee Branch , managing 45 employees .