Mickey Fitzgerald

Last updated

Mickey Fitzgerald
Mickey ftbl pic 1.jpg
No. 48, 38
Position: Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1958-04-10) April 10, 1958 (age 66)
Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school: E. C. Glass High School
College: Virginia Tech
Career history
Player stats at PFR

Mickey Fitzgerald (born April 10, 1957) is a former American football player. He played for the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles in 1981 [1] and was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. [2] In 2007, he was also inducted into the Central Virginia Hall of Fame. [3]

Biography

Fitzgerald is the oldest of his three brothers. [3] He was raised in a Catholic orphanage after his mother witnessed her lover getting shot, which made her feel that she wasn't fit to parent. Father Paul, a priest, took him and other orphanage residents to ball games.[ citation needed ] After two years in the orphanage, his grandmother took him and his siblings home. He attended E. C. Glass High School, where he played football. His athletic performance helped him secure college scholarships and he attended Virginia Tech. [4]

After playing fullback in college at Virginia Tech, Fitzgerald was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent in 1981 and made the regular season roster after leading the team in rushing during the preseason. [5] [6] [7] After playing in the season opener he was cut to make room for the Falcons to sign running back Bo Robinson. [8] [6] He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles but was waived by the Eagles to make room to sign running back Booker Russell. [8] He ended up playing one game each for the Falcons and Eagles. [9] He later played for the Memphis Showboats in 1984. [10] He began working in real estate and was a sumo wrestler in Japan. [7] He has one son.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morten Andersen</span> Danish-American football player (born 1960)

Morten Andersen, nicknamed "the Great Dane", is a Danish-American former professional football kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 25 seasons, most notably with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons. Following a career from 1982 to 2007, Andersen holds the NFL record for regular season games played at 382. He also ranks second in field goals (565) and points scored (2,544). In addition to his league accomplishments, he is the Saints all-time leading scorer at 1,318 points. Andersen was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Along with Jan Stenerud, he is one of only two exclusive kickers to receive the honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Bartkowski</span> American football player (born 1952)

Steven Joseph Bartkowski is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons (1975–1985), Washington Redskins (1985) and the Los Angeles Rams (1986). He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection. Bartkowski played college football for the California Golden Bears, earning consensus All-American honors as a senior in 1974. He was selected by the Falcons with the first overall pick of the 1975 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Reeves</span> American football player and coach (1944–2022)

Daniel Edward Reeves was an American professional football running back and coach in the National Football League (NFL). During his 38 years in the NFL, Reeves participated in nine Super Bowls, the third most for an individual. He was a head coach for 23 seasons, a position he held with the Denver Broncos from 1981 to 1992, the New York Giants from 1993 to 1996, and the Atlanta Falcons from 1997 to 2003. As a player, he spent his eight-season career with the Dallas Cowboys, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darryl Talley</span> American football player (born 1960)

Darryl Victor Talley is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. He played college football for West Virginia University, and was recognized as an All-American. Talley played professionally for the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings of the NFL, and played in four Super Bowls with the Bills.

Thomas Henry Nobis Jr., nicknamed "Mr. Falcon", was an American professional football linebacker who played for 11 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns, where he played as a linebacker and guard, and won the Maxwell Award in 1965. He was the first overall selection in the 1966 NFL draft.

Patrick Joseph Sullivan was an American professional football player and college coach. An All-America quarterback for the Auburn Tigers, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 and then played six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan was a head football coach at Samford University, a position he held from 2007 to 2014. He was previously the head football coach at Texas Christian University (TCU) from 1992 to 1997 and the offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) from 1999 to 2006. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1991.

Dan Klecko is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle and fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football for the Temple Owls.

Herbert Lee "J. R." Reed is an American former professional football safety. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL draft. He played football at Hillsborough High School to later go on and play college football at South Florida, where he is the school's career leader in interceptions.

Jeffrey Aloysius Van Note is an American former professional football player who was a center for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL) during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats. The Falcons selected him in the 11th round of the 1969 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claude Humphrey</span> American football player and coach (1944–2021)

Claude B. Humphrey was an American professional football player who played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles. Humphrey was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. He played college football at Tennessee State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hootie Ingram</span> American football player, coach and administrator (1933–2024)

Cecil W. "Hootie" Ingram was an American college football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He played for the University of Alabama from 1952 to 1954 and was selected as an All-SEC defensive back in 1952. He worked as an assistant football coach at several colleges, including the University of Georgia and University of Arkansas before he received a head coaching assignment at Clemson University from 1970 to 1972. He was an administrator with the Southeastern Conference in the 1970s and later served as an athletic director at Florida State University (1981–1989) and Alabama (1989–1995).

Larry Thomas Pridemore Jr. is a former safety from West Virginia who played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons and served as a delegate in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1981-1983.

Lonnie Preston Warwick is a former professional American football player. He played 10 seasons in the National Football League, with the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons. He started in Super Bowl IV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Lothridge</span> American football player (1942–1996)

William Lamar "Billy" Lothridge was an American football punter and safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles Rams, the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins. He played college football at Georgia Tech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Khayat</span> American football player and coach (born 1935)

Edward Michel "Eddie" Khayat is a thirty-five year National Football League (NFL) veteran, ten years as a player and twenty-five as a coach. He was a starting defensive tackle for the victorious Philadelphia Eagles in the 1960 NFL Championship Game and later their head coach in 1971 and 1972. He has been inducted into six Halls of Fame. Currently he serves on the Former Players Board of Directors of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lew Carpenter</span> American football player and coach (1932–2010)

Lewis Glen Carpenter was an American football player and coach. He played college football for the University of Arkansas and professionally for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as a halfback and fullback with the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, and Green Bay Packers. He played on three NFL Championship teams, with Detroit in 1953 and with Green Bay in 1961 and 1962. After his playing career ended, Carpenter spent 31 years as an assistant coach in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings (1964–1966), Atlanta Falcons (1967–1968), Washington Redskins (1969), St. Louis Cardinals (1970–1972), Houston Oilers (1970–1974), Green Bay Packers (1975–1985), Detroit Lions (1987–1988), and Philadelphia Eagles (1990–1994). Carpenter also coached the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League of American Football in 1996 and at Southwest Texas State University. He concluded his 47 years of playing and coaching football at the end of the 1996 season. Scientific tests on his brain diagnosed post-mortem that he had an advanced case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Wilkes</span> American football player (born 1956)

Reginald Wayman Wilkes is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons. He attended university and played college football at Georgia Tech, graduating with a Bachelor of Science. Wilkes was selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 1978 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Quinn (American football)</span> American football coach (born 1970)

Daniel Patrick Quinn is an American professional football coach who is the head coach of the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He has been active in the NFL since 2001, most prominently as Atlanta Falcons head coach from 2015 to 2020. His career in coaching began in college football, spent mostly with the Hofstra Pride in the late 1990s. Quinn has been a defensive line coach for the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets, and as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, Florida Gators, and Dallas Cowboys. Prior to coaching, he competed in the hammer throw and played football at Salisbury University.

James Corbin Sidle was a professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at Auburn University and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 4th round of the 1965 NFL draft.

Silas Alexander "Sonny" Utz, III was an American football fullback in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Winnipeg Blue bombers. He also was a member of the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech.

References

  1. ↑ "Profile at NFL.com".
  2. ↑ "Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame".
  3. 1 2 "Iraq and Back.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Fortune Mag Gang Tackle.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Falcons get surprised with Mickey Fitzgerald". The Herald. August 12, 1981. p. 7. Retrieved May 3, 2024– via newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 Reese, Earnest (September 10, 1981). "Brief Falcon career ends for fullback Fitzgerald". Atlanta Constitution. pp. 1-C, 8-C. Retrieved May 3, 2024– via newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 Tech, Virginia. "Virginia Tech Magazine | Alumni Shorts". www.vtmag.vt.edu. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  8. 1 2 Aubrey, Coult (October 1, 1981). "13-day Eagle, Mickey Fitzgerald, a real card". The Morning Call. p. 48. Retrieved May 3, 2024– via newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Mickey Fitzgerald". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Mickey Fitzgerald". USFL. Retrieved May 3, 2024.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.