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Colorado football: Top 10 passing leaders in Buffaloes history

By Josh Yourish

Oct 7, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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28 Oct 1995: Quarterback John Hessler of the Colorado Buffaloes passes the ball during a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. Nebraska won the game, 44-21. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
28 Oct 1995: Quarterback John Hessler of the Colorado Buffaloes passes the ball during a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. Nebraska won the game, 44-21. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport /

Colorado football career passing leader No. 9: John Hessler (1995-97)

  • 4,788 passing yards
  • 34 passing touchdowns
  • 55.3% completion
  • 7.6 yards per attempt

When Rick Neuheisel took over for Bill McCartney in 1995, things changed with the Colorado offense. The former quarterback had his quarterbacks throwing the ball much more. Even in Hessler’s first year as a starter, he attempted more passes than Kordell Stewart did the year before in Colorado’s 11-1 season. That was Stewart and McCartney’s final year.

Hessler only ran for 110 yards that season but threw for 2,136 and 20 touchdowns with just nine picks. He only played five games the next season but returned in 1997 to throw for 2,478 yards and 14 touchdowns with 16 interceptions.

In ’95 and ’96 Colorado went 10-2, but in ’97 the Buffs fell all the way to 5-6 and missed a bowl game.

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