Mike Singletary: Linebacker Eyes Don’t Lie

October 9, 1958 – Mike Singletary was a linebacker who played for Baylor University from 1977 through 1980. 

The National Football Foundation’s website notes that Mike was a four-year letterman and set a school record for tackles in a season, with 232 as a sophomore, and holds the career record for tackles with 662. In 1978, during the game against Arkansas, he registered an astounding 35 tackles in a single game. Needless to say, Baylor named an award for the standout aptly called the Mike Singetary Ward for the Senior who brings honor to the school by contributing to Baylor football.

The Britannica.com website records that the Chicago Bears drafted Mike Singletary in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft. Despite not starting until the 8th game of his first season, he received all-rookie team accolades. He went on to have a brilliant 12-year career with the Bears, and was one of the top two tacklers on the team during his last ten seasons, as well as making it to the Pro Bowl in each of those ten seasons. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and again in 1988.

The 1985 season was one in which the Bears arguably had the best defense in the NFL’s history, as they allowed a mere 12.4 points per regular-season game. On their way to the Super Bowl victory, they outscored their playoff opponents 91-10. Mike Singletary was the anchor of that great defense. The  College Football Hall of Fame inducted Mike into their group in 1995. The Pro Football Hall of Fame followed that up with an invite to Mike Singletary of their own in 1998, his first year of eligibility. After playing, Mike transitioned into coaching, including serving as the head coach of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers for a few seasons.