Every franchise has its regrets — but for the Detroit Lions, one name still stings when it comes to draft-day disasters: quarterback Andre Ware.
Drafted No. 7 overall in 1990 after winning the Heisman Trophy at Houston, Ware was supposed to be the future of the franchise. The problem? His electric college success didn’t translate to the pros — and it wasn’t even close.
Ware struggled to adapt to the NFL’s speed and complexity, rarely saw the field, and was buried on the depth chart behind less-heralded QBs. In four seasons with the Lions, he played just 14 games and threw only five touchdowns. By 1994, his time in Detroit was over.
The Lions’ offensive system didn’t help — it was built around Barry Sanders and didn’t suit Ware’s shotgun-heavy background. Still, fans expected more from a top-10 pick. Thirty years later, his name often pops up in “worst draft pick” conversations, a harsh but lasting legacy for a player who had all the hype but never found his footing in Motown.
Lions’ Most Painful QB Mistake? The Forgotten Tale of Andre Ware
