Merv Krakau

Last updated

Merv Krakau
No. 52
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1951-05-16) May 16, 1951 (age 73)
Jefferson, Iowa, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:242 lb (110 kg)
Career information
College: Iowa State
NFL draft: 1973  / Round: 14 / Pick: 344
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played - started:72-54
Interceptions:3
Fumble recoveries:9
Player stats at PFR

Mervin Floyd Krakau (pronounced KRO-ker) (born May 16, 1951) is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for six seasons for the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots. After a five-year hiatus, he played a seventh professional season with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League (USFL).

Krakau was a four-sport star at Guthrie Center High School. His versatility in track and field attracted the attention of Jimmy Johnson, then an assistant to Johnny Majors at Iowa State University. Krakau accepted Iowa State's scholarship offer in the spring of 1969. He played defensive end for the Cyclones, helping Iowa State reach its first two bowl games, the 1971 Sun Bowl and the 1972 Liberty Bowl. Krakau's best game of his 1972 senior campaign came in the regular season finale against Nebraska. Krakau made 11 tackles, sacked the quarterback twice, and caused and recovered two fumbles as the Cyclones ended Nebraska's 24-game Big Eight winning streak with a 23-23 tie. Krakau was named Big Eight Player of the Week and Sports Illustrated's national Lineman of the Week for his outstanding play. For the season, he was named first-team All-Big Eight and third-team All-American. Krakau is the first defensive player from Iowa State to be named All-American.

Krakau played six seasons in the NFL, from 1973 to 1978. His best season in Buffalo was 1976, when he started all 14 games at middle linebacker, led the team in tackles with 132, and was second in the NFL in fumble recoveries, with six. In 1983, he played for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL.

Krakau is a member of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Football Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was inducted into the Iowa State University Athletics Hall of fame.


Related Research Articles

Grant Alden Wistrom is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. Wistrom played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and was a two-time All-American. He was selected in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft, and played in the NFL for the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks.

Teddy Lehman is an American former college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for the University of Oklahoma, and was twice recognized as a consensus All-American. The Detroit Lions chose him in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and he also played for the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL, and the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League (UFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Vanden Bosch</span> American football player (born 1978)

Kyle Dale Vanden Bosch is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft. He also played for the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions before retiring following the 2012 NFL season. He is currently a post-game commentator for the Arizona Cardinals on 98.7 Arizona Sports Radio.

Broderick Lee Thomas is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, earning unanimous All-American honors in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Blair</span> American football player (1950–2020)

Matthew Albert Blair was an American football linebacker who played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) for all 12 seasons of his career from 1974 to 1985. He played college football for the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden Norsemen and the Iowa State Cyclones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pepper Johnson</span> American football player and coach (born 1964)

Thomas "Pepper" Johnson is an American football coach and former linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, the first seven of which were for the New York Giants. He won two Super Bowls with the Giants before playing for the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and New York Jets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdul Hodge</span> American football player and coach (born 1983)

Abdul Rekeesha HodgeThe third Jr. is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the tight ends coach at Iowa, where he played as a 3-time all Big-Ten linebacker. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

Larry W. Station Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Iowa. He is Iowa's leader in career tackles and was twice named as a consensus first-team All-American. Station was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa State Cyclones football</span> Football team of Iowa State University

The Iowa State Cyclones football program is the intercollegiate football team at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. The team is coached by Matt Campbell. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference, and are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) member of the NCAA. The Cyclones play their home games at Jack Trice Stadium, with a capacity of 61,500.

Deon Juniel Figures is an American former football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons. He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes, and earned consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round pick of the 1993 NFL draft. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

George Eldon Andrews, II is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1979 to 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Iowa State Cyclones football team</span> American college football season

The 2002 Iowa State Cyclones football team represented the Iowa State University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team captains were Zach Butler, Jordan Carstens, Seneca Wallace, and Chris Whitaker. The Cyclones were quarterbacked by Seneca Wallace. Seneca is among many former Cyclones from the 2002 team to make it to the NFL. Others were Ellis Hobbs, Jordan Carstens, Jeremy Loyd. Iowa State would conclude its season by playing in the 2002 Humanitarian Bowl. It was Iowa State's third consecutive bowl appearance—the two previous bowls were the 2000 Insight.com Bowl and the 2001 Independence Bowl.

Cody James Grimm is an American football coach and former safety. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

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

Lavonte Lamar David is an American football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, twice earning All-American honors, and was selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. Since entering the NFL, David has been named to three All-Pro teams, one Pro Bowl and won Super Bowl LV during the 2020 season, in a 31–9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. J. Klein</span> American football player (born 1991)

Aaron James Klein is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Iowa State. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khalil Mack</span> American football player (born 1991)

Khalil Delshon Mack is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Buffalo and was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the fifth overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaquil Barrett</span> American football player (born 1992)

Shaquil Akeem Barrett is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks before transferring to the Colorado State Rams. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL draft. After five seasons with the Broncos, including winning Super Bowl 50, Barrett signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His level of play increased, making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in 2019 after leading the league in sacks, and in 2021 won Super Bowl LV.

The Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in American football.

Christian C. Sam is an American football linebacker for the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Arizona State, in 2017 leading the Pac-12 with 127 tackles, while also leading the Pac-12 with 87 solo tackles. He has been a member of the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Bandits, New Orleans Breakers, and Arlington Renegades.

Paul Piurowski is a former American football linebacker in the United States Football League (USFL) for the Tampa Bay Bandits. He played college football at Florida State University.