Don Muhlbach

Last updated

Don Muhlbach
Don Muhlbach.JPG
Muhlbach with the Lions in 2011
Detroit Lions
Position:Special assistant to the team president
Personal information
Born: (1981-08-17) August 17, 1981 (age 42)
Newark, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:258 lb (117 kg)
Career information
High school: Lufkin
(Lufkin, Texas)
College: Texas A&M (1999–2003)
Undrafted: 2004
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As an executive:
  • Detroit Lions (2021–present)
    Special assistant to the team president
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:260
Total tackles:26
Forced fumbles:1
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Donald Lynn Muhlbach Jr. (MULE-bach; born August 17, 1981) is an American former football long snapper who played in the National Football League (NFL). [1] At the time of his retirement, he was the oldest active player in the NFL other than Tom Brady. Muhlbach played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies and was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2004 by the Baltimore Ravens before joining the Detroit Lions that same year. He is second in Lions franchise history in games played, only behind former teammate Jason Hanson. Muhlbach was the last remaining active member of the Lions infamous 2008 season, where they went 0–16.

Contents

High school career

Muhlbach attended Lufkin High School in Lufkin, Texas. As a senior football player, he was the Lufkin special team's most valuable player, and earned Academic All-District honors. [2]

College career

Muhlbach attended Texas A&M University, where he served as the team's long snapper for the 2003 season. He also saw action at punter as a sophomore during the 2001 season. [2]

Professional career

Muhlbach signed as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens on April 30, 2004. He spent the summer and OTAs with the Ravens before being released during training camp on August 30, 2004. On November 10, 2004, the Detroit Lions signed him as a replacement for injured long snapper Jody Littleton. [3] [4] Prior to joining the Lions, he had tried out for the team and the Buffalo Bills and was working at a First Bank and Trust in Lufkin, Texas. Upon his signing, Muhlbach was described as "the Nolan Ryan of long snappers" by then-general manager Matt Millen; Millen was referring to the speed at which the ball is snapped to the holder or punter, with Muhlbach having the quickest snaps of those the team timed. [5]

Early in his Lions career, Muhlbach overcame the adversity brought on by a botched snap against the Minnesota Vikings in a December 20, 2004 game. Holder Nick Harris was unable to cleanly field a bounced snap on a PAT attempt with 8 seconds remaining in the game. The missed PAT and unsuccessful onside kick resulted in the Lions falling in regulation to the Vikings 28–27. Had the PAT been successful, the game likely would have gone to overtime, giving the Lions an opportunity for a win. [6] The Lions' faith in Muhlbach since paid off as he did not botch another snap through 2012. [7]

Muhlbach played in every Lions game since 2005 outside of a single game in 2009 due to a concussion. [8] Following the 2012 season, Muhlbach was named to the 2013 Pro Bowl, the first of his career. [9] He was also the first Lions long snapper to make a Pro Bowl. [10] Since 2015, Muhlbach signed consecutive one-year contracts to stay with the Lions. [11] [12] [13]

Muhlbach was released by the Lions on August 17, 2021, his 40th birthday, after 17 seasons with the team. [14] Following his release, Muhlbach retired from the NFL, and joined the Lions' front office as a special assistant to the team president. [15]

Personal life

Muhlbach is married to Alix Koetting. On August 24, 2012, she gave birth to their first daughter, Addison. His uncle, John Muhlbach, was a center for Ohio State. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Lions</span> National Football League franchise in Detroit, Michigan

The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team plays their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Millen</span> American football player and executive (born 1958)

Matthew George Millen is an American former professional football player and executive in the National Football League (NFL). Millen played as a linebacker for 12 years for the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Redskins, playing on four Super Bowl-winning teams and winning a Super Bowl ring for each of the three franchises for which he played.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Jennings</span> American football player (born 1976)

Brian Lewis Jennings is an American former football long snapper who played for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils, and was selected by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He was a twice Pro Bowl selection, having been chosen for the 2004 and 2012 Pro Bowls as a special teams player. He is the founder of Jennings 1–4–1, dedicated to developing the skill of long snapping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Hodel</span> American football player (born 1977)

Nathan William Hodel is a former American football long snapper. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football at Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long snapper</span> Specialized player in gridiron football

In gridiron football, the long snapper is a center on special teams whose duty is to snap the football over a longer distance, typically around 15 yards during punts, and 7–8 yards during field goals and conversion attempts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Campbell</span> American football player and coach (born 1976)

Daniel Allen Campbell is an American football coach and a former tight end who has been the head coach for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) since 2021. He served as the assistant head coach and tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2016 to 2020 and also served as an assistant coach for the Miami Dolphins from 2010 to 2015, most recently as the interim head coach and tight ends coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clark Harris</span> American football player (born 1893)

Clark Harris is an American football long snapper who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Rutgers. Harris played for the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played for 14 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Forsett</span> American football player (born 1985)

Justin Forsett is an American former football running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Forsett also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and Denver Broncos. Forsett's best season came in 2014 as a member of the Ravens, when he was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate after finishing the season with career highs in carries (235), rushing yards (1,266) and touchdowns (8).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Prater</span> American football player (born 1984)

Matthew Phillip Prater is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Regarded as one of the best long distance kickers in NFL history, he held the NFL record for longest field goal from 2013 until 2021 and holds the NFL record for most 50+ yard field goals in a career, 80 as of 2023.

The history of the Detroit Lions, a professional American football franchise based in Detroit, dates back to 1928 when they played in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Spartans. They joined the National Football League (NFL) in 1930, then moved to Detroit and changed their name to the Lions in 1934 and won their first NFL Championship the following season. The Lions had their most success in the 1950s, winning the NFL Championship three times, in 1952, 1953, and 1957, and made several playoff appearances in the 1990s. In 2023, they began their 94th season, continuing to be one of the NFL's oldest franchises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Detroit Lions season</span> NFL team season

The 2008 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 79th season in the National Football League (NFL), and their 75th as the Detroit Lions. The Lions made history by becoming the first team since the schedule was expanded to 16 games to finish winless. It is one of only four winless seasons since the merger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Weeks</span> American football player (born 1986)

Jonathan Donald Weeks is an American football long snapper for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Baylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake McQuaide</span> American football player (born 1987)

Jacob McQuaide is an American football long snapper for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2011. McQuaide played college football at Ohio State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Tucker</span> American football player (born 1989)

Justin Paul Tucker is an American football placekicker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas and was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history and is regarded as one of the greatest kickers of all time. He currently holds two major NFL records for kickers: career field goal percentage with 90.2 percent, and longest made field goal at 66 yards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beau Brinkley</span> American football player (born 1990)

Beau Michael Brinkley is an American football long snapper who is a free agent. He played college football at Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Willson</span> Canadian player of American football (born 1990)

Luke Michael Willson is a Canadian former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quandre Diggs</span> American football player (born 1993)

Quandre Diggs is an American football safety for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas, and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played his first two years in the NFL as a cornerback before being moved to safety. In 2019, Diggs was traded to the Seahawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miles Killebrew</span> American football player (born 1993)

Miles Killebrew is an American football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Southern Utah. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and played for the team from 2016 to 2020.

Scott Daly is an American football long snapper for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Strong</span> American football player (born 1996)

Kevin Strong Jr. is an American football nose tackle for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UTSA before graduating in 2018. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions in 2019.

References

  1. 1 2 VanOchten, Brian (December 7, 2008). "Lions long snapper Muhlbach likes anonymity". Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "#69 Muhlbach, Don". AggieAthletics.com. Texas A&M University. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  3. "Don Muhlbach latest news and rumors". www.kffl.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. "Don Muhlbach (LS): Bio, News, Stats & more". www.detroitlions.com.
  5. "Long-snapper brings the heat". Detroit Free Press . November 12, 2004. Retrieved August 17, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  6. Lage, Larry (December 20, 2004). "Vikings Get an Early Present". Associated Press. p. D09. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  7. Zaroo, Philip (October 23, 2011). "Detroit Lions Q&A: Don Muhlbach grateful for career as Lions long snapper". mlive.
  8. "Hodel Released; Snapper Chart Updated". December 24, 2009.
  9. "Detroit Lions long snapper Don Muhlbach selected to participate in NFL Pro Bowl". MLive. January 16, 2013.
  10. "Lions long snapper Don Muhlbach added to NFC Pro Bowl team | Detroit Lions | Detroit Free Press | freep.com". Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  11. Twentyman, Tim (February 27, 2015). "Lions sign Don Muhlbach to one-year deal". Detroit Lions . Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  12. Reisman, Jeremy (March 3, 2017). "Report: Detroit Lions re-sign long snapper Don Muhlbach". PrideOfDetroit.com.
  13. "Lions re-sign LS Don Muhlbach". DetroitLions.com. March 10, 2018. Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  14. "Detroit Lions release long snapper Don Muhlbach after 17 seasons". ESPN.com. August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  15. Raven, Benjamin (September 10, 2021). "Don Muhlbach officially retires, joins Detroit Lions as special assistant to front office, Dan Campbell". Mlive.com. Retrieved September 12, 2021.