Mel Lunsford

Last updated
Mel Lunsford
Personal information
Born: (1950-06-13) June 13, 1950 (age 72)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:256 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school: Lockland (OH)
College: Central State (Ohio)
Position: Defensive end
NFL Draft: 1972  / Round: 3 / Pick: 72
Career history
New England Patriots (19731980)
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Melvin T. Lunsford (born June 13, 1950) is a former American football player from 1973 through 1980 for the New England Patriots. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 1972 NFL Draft.

During a November game against the Bills Lunsford and several other Patriots defenders stuffed superstar running back O. J. Simpson for no gain and as Simpson tried to continue driving forward Lunsford bodyslammed him to the ground. Simpson got up and punched Lunsford which prompted Lunsford to swing back. Bills offensive lineman Reggie McKenzie then jumped on Lunsford's back but Lunsford bent down and flung McKenzie over his head and went back to swinging at Simpson before a melee of the two teams stopped the fight and ended up in a pile on the field. Lunsford and Simpson were both ejected from the game as the Patriots solid defense persisted with New England going on to win 20-10 on their way to finishing the 1976 season 11-3. The Bills finished 2-12. [1]


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Belichick</span> American football coach (born 1952)

William Stephen Belichick is an American professional football coach who is the head coach of the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Additionally, he exercises extensive authority over the Patriots' football operations, effectively making him the team's general manager as well. Widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time, he holds numerous coaching records, including the record of most Super Bowl wins (six) as a head coach, all with the Patriots, along with two more during his time as the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, for the record of eight combined total Super Bowl victories as coach and coordinator. Belichick is often referred to as a "student of the game", with a deep knowledge of the intricacies of each player position, as well as a renowned American football historian. Under his tenure with the Patriots, he was a central figure as the head coach as well as the chief executive during the franchise's dynasty from 2001 to 2019.

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

Michael Terrance McKenzie is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He also played for the New Orleans Saints. He played college football at Memphis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O. J. Simpson</span> American football player (born 1947)

Orenthal James Simpson, nicknamed "Juice", is an American former football running back, actor, and broadcaster who played for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Once a popular figure with the U.S. public, he is now best known for being tried for the murders of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. Simpson was acquitted of the murders in criminal court but was later found responsible for both deaths in a civil trial.

Jack Anthony Carlson is an American former professional ice hockey forward.

Michael R. Montler was an American football guard, center and offensive tackle who played ten seasons in the American Football League and in the National Football League for the Boston/New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, and the Detroit Lions.

The history of the Buffalo Bills began in 1960, when the team began play as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL), winning two consecutive AFL titles in 1964 and 1965. The club joined the National Football League (NFL) as part of the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. The Bills have the distinction of being the only team to advance to four consecutive Super Bowls between 1990 and 1993, but also the dubious distinction of losing all four of them.

The 1974 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 5th season in the National Football League and 15th overall. The Patriots ended the season with a record of seven wins and seven losses and finished tied for third in the AFC East Division. The Pats stunned the Super Bowl Champion Miami Dolphins in Week 1 at Schaffer Stadium. The Pats went on to win their first five games on their way to a 6–1 start. However, they struggled in the second half, winning only one game before finishing with a 7–7 record.

The 1976 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 7th season in the National Football League and 17th overall.

William Nolen Parker is a former American football center who played for eleven seasons in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric Company (football)</span> 1970s American-football offensive line

The Electric Company were the offensive line of the Buffalo Bills during the mid-1970s that helped running back O. J. Simpson establish numerous National Football League (NFL) all-time records and earn numerous statistical titles. The nickname is sometimes more loosely used to refer to the Electric Company Offense for the Bills offensive unit or the Electric Company Buffalo Bills for the teams of this era.

The Jets–Patriots rivalry is a rivalry between the New York Jets and New England Patriots of the National Football League. The teams both play in the AFC East. They have been in the same division since the two teams' inception in 1960 in the American Football League, and have played each other at least twice a year since then.

The 1973 Buffalo Bills season was the 14th season for the team and their 4th season in the National Football League (NFL). The Bills finished in 2nd place in the AFC East division and finished the 1973 NFL season with a record of 9 wins and 5 losses, the team's first winning record since 1966.

The 1975 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 6th season in the National Football League, and the 16th overall.

The 1976 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 7th season in the National Football League, and the 17th overall.

Tyrone McKenzie is an American football coach and former linebacker who is currently the outside linebacker coach for the Miami Dolphins. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He debuted for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010 and also played for the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at South Florida.

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

Alfonzo Dennard is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 7th round with the 224th overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played in college for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The Bills–Patriots rivalry is an American football rivalry between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Both teams are members of the East division of the American Football Conference (AFC) and play two games against each other annually. The series debuted in 1960 when both were charter members of the American Football League (AFL). The two clubs have combined for seventeen AFL or AFC championships, the most in any rivalry of the AFC East. Either the Patriots or Bills have won the AFC East division in 27 out of 34 seasons since 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaiah McKenzie</span> American football player (born 1995)

Isaiah McKenzie is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia, and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Buffalo Bills season</span> 59th season in franchise history

The 2018 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 49th season in the National Football League, and the 59th overall. The season also marked the fourth full season under the ownership of Terry and Kim Pegula and their second under the head coach/general manager tandem of Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane. The team previously finished with a 9–7 record in 2017 and returned to the playoffs for the first time after having not been to the playoffs since 1999. After a 21–17 loss to the rival Miami Dolphins in Week 13, the Bills failed to match their 9–7 record from the previous season. They were officially eliminated from playoff contention the following week with a 27–23 loss to the New York Jets, ultimately finishing with a 6–10 record as numerous players from the previous season departed via trades, roster cuts or retirement. They went 4–3 in their last 7 games. This season was also notable for being the first season for quarterback Josh Allen and the last one for longtime defensive tackle Kyle Williams. As of the most recent season, this is the only time where Coach Sean McDermott has not led the Bills to the playoffs.

James Charles White was an American football defensive end for the New England Patriots, the Houston Oilers, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Denver Broncos of the National Football League, as well as the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Colorado State.

References

  1. "Simpson Ejected for Fighting". The New York Times. 1976-11-08. Retrieved 2022-04-05.