Mike Pawlawski

Last updated

Mike Pawlawski
No. 9
Position: Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1969-07-18) July 18, 1969 (age 55)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Career information
High school: Troy (Fullerton, California)
College: California
NFL draft: 1992: 8th round, 222nd pick
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career Arena League statistics
TDINT:303–45
Passing yards:16,673
Passer rating:118.98
Stats at ArenaFan.com

Mike Pawlawski (born July 18, 1969) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL), Arena Football League (AFL), and XFL. He played college football for the California Golden Bears.

Contents

Early life and college

Born in Los Angeles, Pawlawski attended the University of California, Berkeley. Pawlawski was the backup quarterback to Troy Taylor his freshman and sophomore seasons. In 1990, he became the starting quarterback and led the Golden Bears to a bowl game victory. As a senior, he led the Golden Bears to a 10–2 record and a No. 8 national ranking in 1991. For his play, he was named first-team all-conference and Pac-10 conference offensive player of the year.

College statistics

Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002

SeasonTeamGamesPassingRushing
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsAvgTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
1988 California 11061346.21249.500126.3273.50
1989 California 11071741.2694.10251.73-1-0.10
1990 California 12127−4−117929959.92,0696.91713128.154-68-1.33
1991 California 121210−219131660.42,5178.02113141.137-66-1.81
Career 462417−6−138364559.44,7797.43828132.496-128-1.34

Professional career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the eighth round of the 1992 NFL draft, [4] [5] playing one season for the team while mostly on injured reserve. [6]

Baltimore Stallions

On March 13, 1994, Pawlawski signed with the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was later released and did not appear in a regular season game.

Shreveport Pirates

In 1995, Pawlawski signed with the Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He dressed for ten games and completed one of his four passes for 12 yards. [7]

Miami Hooters

In 1995, Pawlaski played for the Miami Hooters of the Arena Football League (AFL) during their inaugural season. Pawlawski completed 66-of-133 passes for six touchdowns and five interceptions. He was released in the middle of the season.

San Jose SaberCats

Pawlawski finished the 1995 season with the San Jose SaberCats. He was signed to be the backup to Tony Kimbrough and recorded one rushing touchdown the regular season. In the playoffs against the Orlando Predators, Pawlawski replaced Kimbrough in the second half where he completed 12-of-23 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. [8]

Albany Firebirds

In 1996, Pawlawski signed with the Albany Firebirds. He was the backup quarterback to Mike Perez during his first season. In 1996, Pawlawski completed a career high 69% of his passes for 4,272 yards and 69 touchdowns. In 1997, Pawlawski led the Firebirds to a playoff appearance and threw 74 touchdowns. In 1999, Pawlawski led the Firebirds to a ArenaBowl XIII victory over the Orlando Predators. On the season he threw a career high 79 touchdowns and was named first team All-Arena team. In his final season with Albany, Pawlawski threw 70 touchdowns and led the Firebirds to their third consecutive playoff appearance. Over five seasons he established several league records. [9]

San Francisco Demons

On October 28, 2000, Pawlawski signed with the San Francisco Demons of the XFL. He won the starting quarterback competition against fellow California alumnus Pat Barnes. In the season debut against the Los Angeles Xtreme he completed 31-of-47 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He led the Demons on a game winning field goal drive to defeat the Xtreme 15−13. [10] In week four, Pawlawski sustained an injury against the Las Vegas Outlaws that forced him to miss the Birmingham, and NY/NJ games. Pawlawski returned in week seven against Chicago. In the season finale against Los Angeles, Pawlawski would injury his shoulder, which forced him to miss the playoff game against Orlando. He returned the following week in the league championship, but the Demons fell to the Xtreme. It was later revealed, however, that Pawlawski had played the season with a fractured vertebra in his neck. It ended his football career. [11] On the season, Pawlawski appeared in eight regular season games (eight starts) and completed 186-of-297 passes for 1,659 yards and 12 touchdowns to six interceptions. [12]

Career statistics

XFL regular season

YearTeamGamesPassingRushing
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsY/ALngTDIntRtgAttYdsY/ALngTD
2001 SF 884–418629762.61,6595.63512682.624421.8180
Career884–418629762.61,6595.63512682.624421.8180

Source: [13]

Postseason

YearTeamGamesPassingRushing
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsY/ALngTDIntRtgAttYdsY/ALngTD
2001 SF 110–182040.0743.7190211.31-1-1.0-10
Career110–182040.0743.7190211.31-1-1.0-10

Source: [14]

Personal life

Pawlawski has been the host of color Gridiron Outdoors on Outdoor Channel and is a radio color commentator for Cal football on KGO 810 and the Cal radio network. He also announced San Jose SaberCats and Bay Area Panthers games. [15]

References

  1. Mike Pawlawski. "Mike Pawlawski". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  2. "Crafty Cal fools Clemson". The Orlando Sentinel. January 2, 1992. Retrieved February 4, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Copper Bowl". Arizona Republic . January 1, 1991. Retrieved January 17, 2018 via newspapers.com.
  4. Beck, Martin (23 August 1992). He Doesn't Plan to Come Up Short : Quarterback Mike Pawlawski From Cal Is Confident Despite Being Drafted in the Eighth Round by the Buccaneers, Los Angeles Times
  5. "1992 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  6. "TAMPA BAY CUTS MCCLENDON AGAIN". Orlando Sentinel. August 17, 1993. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  7. "Mike Pawlawski". statscrew.com. June 3, 2025.
  8. "SaberCats get pounced on". sfgate.com. June 3, 2025.
  9. (22 August 1999). Passing Game Lifts Firebirds to Title, The New York Times
  10. "Week 1 - Los Angeles Xtreme at San Francisco Demons". all-xfl.com. June 3, 2025.
  11. "Talking football suits Pawlawski". eastbaytimes.com. June 3, 2025.
  12. "Mike Pawlawski - Through 2001 Regular Season". all-xfl.com. June 3, 2025.
  13. "Mike Pawlawski". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  14. "Million Dollar Game - San Francisco Demons at Los Angeles Xtreme". all-xfl.com. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  15. "Former Cal quarterback Mike Pawlawski will be Bears' color man on radio". mercurynews.com. June 3, 2025.