The Michigan football program has put an emphasis on recruiting family members in recent years. Two weeks ago we wrote a story about Kyle Whittingham’s strategy of recruiting the brothers of current players in order to keep them out of the portal. With the recent commitment of Charles Woodson Jr, we realized that now is as good a time as any to explore father/son duos, not just brothers. Certainly, the Woodsons and Hutchinsons come to mind, but there is a much more storied past when it comes to fathers
and sons playing for Michigan football.
While not an exhaustive list, here are some notable father/son duos who have both played at Michigan through the years.
Stan and Braylon Edwards
Braylon Edwards is a legend in Ann Arbor thanks to his heroics on the gridiron; many people forget that his father, Stanley, also played for Michigan. Stan was a tailback for Bo Schembechler from 1977 to 1981. He was then drafted in the third round of the 1982 NFL Draft. Stan was named Second Team All-Big Ten in both 1980 and 1981.
Braylon played at Michigan from 2001 to 2004 and was a star for the Wolverines. In his final season, he was a unanimous All-American, Big Ten Most Valuable Player, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and the Biletnikoff Award winner. He would go on to be the third overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
Butch and Troy Woolfolk
Butch Woolfolk’s tenure in Ann Arbor overlapped with Stan Edwards. Woolfolk played football at Michigan from 1978 – 1981 while also competing on the school’s track and field team. Butch broke the Michigan all-time rushing record, though that record no longer stands. He does, however, still have the record for the longest run from scrimmage in Michigan history at 92 yards. Butch would cap off his career by winning the Rose Bowl MVP in 1981, along with Second Team All-American Honors.
Butch’s son, Troy, played at Michigan during a more tumultuous time as he played for both Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke from 2007 to 2011. Troy was a defensive back who started 23 games, made 90 tackles, and broke up 5 passes. While not quite a star, Troy was a steady, reliable defensive back who battled through injuries to be a major presence on the Michigan defense.
John, Jack, and Jared Wangler
Stan Edwards and Butch Woolfolk’s quarterback, John Wangler, also had sons play for Michigan. The elder Wangler played for Michigan from 1977 to 1980, but was the starter primarily in 1979 and 1980. Wangler threw for 2,994 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in his collegiate career.
Wangler’s oldest son, Jack, was a preferred walk-on wide receiver at Michigan in 2013. Jack’s younger brother, Jared, then joined the program from 2014 – 2018. While neither saw much playing time, they would go on to become instrumental to the Michigan football program. All three Wanglers played a part in creating the Valiant Management Group and the Champions Circle. They have helped facilitate the Michigan program into the NIL era in a major way.
Tyrone and Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
In the early 1990’s, Tyrone Wheatley competed on both the Michigan football team and the track and field team. He had an excellent career as a Wolverine as he was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 1992, Rose Bowl MVP in 1993, and First Team All-Big Ten in both 1992 and 1993. He would go on to be drafted in the middle of the first round in the 1995 NFL Draft.
Wheatley and his wife have several kids, but one of them opted to play football at Michigan, albeit briefly, in Tyrone Jr. (known as TJ). TJ Wheatley came to Michigan as a tight end but was eventually shuffled to the defensive line in 2017 under Jim Harbaugh. He maxed out as a rotational player but did see the field occasionally.
Jon and Jon Runyan Jr.
Jon Runyan played for Michigan from 1992 to 1995 as an offensive tackle. He had an excellent career as a Wolverine as he was named First Team All-Big Ten and Third Team All-American in 1995. The elder Runyan would then be selected in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. After a few years with Houston, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he would become a Pro Bowler in 2002 and eventually enter the Eagles Hall of Fame. Runyan would go on to be a politician as he was elected a U.S. Representative from New Jersey from 2011 to 2015.
Runyan’s son, Jon Jr., followed his father’s footsteps and played for Michigan from 2015 to 2019 as an offensive tackle. He was a solid lineman for the Wolverines as he made the First Team All-Big Ten in both 2018 and 2019. Runyan Jr. would go on to be drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Chris and Aidan Hutchinson
The most well known father/son duo on this list is certainly the Hutchinsons. Chris was a defensive star for the Wolverines from 1989 to 1992. In his final season in 1992, he won the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Award along with being named First Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten. Chris, unfortunately, had to retire from football before getting a chance at the NFL level due to a medical complication. He is now a physician in suburban Detroit.
Chris’s son, Aidan, needs no introduction. Hutch won just about every award a defensive lineman can win in college, including the Lombardi Award, Lott Trophy, and unanimous All-American selection in 2021. Most notably, he kick-started a winning streak over the hated Buckeyes in 2021. Aidan is currently an All-Pro edge for the Detroit Lions.
Jonathan and Channing Goodwin
Jonathan Goodwin transferred to Michigan from Ohio before the 1998 season and played for the Wolverines until 2001. He was a stud offensive lineman who won Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2001, along with unanimous All-American honors. However, he is more known for his professional successes at the NFL level. Goodwin played for the Jets, Saints, and 49ers and won a Super Bowl with the Saints as the starting center.
Jonathan’s son, Channing, is a current wide receiver on the Michigan football team. Channing played sporadically in both 2024 and 2025 but will be competing for snaps this fall.
Charles and Charles Woodson Jr.
Charles Woodson (the elder version) also needs no introduction. Arguably the greatest Wolverine of all time, Charles won the 1997 Heisman Trophy as a primarily defensive player. His list of accolades also includes a National Championship, a unanimous All-American selection, First Team All-American Honors, and three First Team All-Big Ten selections. After college, Woodson went on to win a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers while also playing for the Oakland Raiders at various other times.
He now gets one more accolade as he is included in our list of father/son duos at Michigan, as his son, Charles Jr., recently committed to play for Kyle Whittingham and the Wolverines. Woodson Jr. is a three-star safety from Orlando, Florida, who stands at 5-foot-10 and 173 pounds. He will look to follow in his father’s footsteps and make an impact at Michigan.
