Any conversation about the number 89 at the University of Miami starts and ends with legendary DE Ted Hendricks.

A 6’7”, 220lb DE, the Guatemalan born Hendricks grew up in Hialeah, FL. Nicknamed “The Mad Stork” for his tall and thin build, Hendricks attended Hialeah HS, and continued his career at the University of Miami, enrolling in 1965. The nickname would follow Hendricks throughout his career, but was shortened to “The Stork” when he moved to the NFL.

In his 3 years playing at Miami — Freshmen eligibility wasn’t granted until 1972 so Hendricks had to sit out his first year — Hendricks was dominant. He had 327 tackles, a record for Hurricanes DL, recovered 12 fumbles, among many other accumulated statistics.

For his outstanding performance, Hendricks was a 3-time All-American, including twice being a consensus All-American in 1967 and 1968. Hendricks was so dominant in 1968 that he was named the UPI’s Defensive Lineman of the year, and also finished 5th in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious award in College Football.

Following his stellar collegiate career, Hendricks was selected as the 15th pick of the 2nd round in the 1969 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts. That was the start of a long and impressive NFL career for Hendricks which spanned 14 years and 3 teams. Here are Hendricks’ career statistics:

In his 15 year NFL career, Hendricks was an All-Pro 9 times — 4-time 1st Team All-Pro and 5-time 2nd Team All-Pro — an 8-time Pro Bowler, and a 4-time Super Bowl Champion — Super Bowl V (Colts), Super Bowl XI, XV, and XVIII (Raiders). Hendricks was named to the All-Decade teams for both the 1970s and 1980s, the NFL’s 75th anniversary team, and the Baltimore (now Indianapolis) Colt’s Ring of Honor, the Oakland (soon to be Las Vegas) Raiders’ Hall of Fame, the NFL Network named Hendricks 82nd on their list of the NFL’s 100 greatest players, and The Sporting News named him 64th on their list of the NFL’s 100 greatest players.

Raiders.com

The recognition for Hendricks did not stop there. He was inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987. The University of Miami retired Hendricks’ number 89 and put him in the Ring of Honor in 1997 (along with several others who we will discuss later this summer). And, Hendricks was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Hendricks was inducted as an Oakland Raider.

Hendricks continues to work on behalf of former NFL players with the Hall of Fame Players’ Association. Hendricks won the Bronco Nagurski Legends award in 2008.

There may have been other players who wore 89 for Miami, but none of them came close to the legacy of Ted Hendricks.

Go Canes