Bill Overmyer

{{Short description|American football player (born 1949)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL player

|name=Bill Overmyer

|position=Linebacker

|number=56

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1949|06|16}}

|birth_place=Fremont, Ohio, U.S.

|height_ft=6

|weight_lb=220

|height_in=3

|draftyear=1972

|draftround=14

|draftpick=352

|college=Ashland College

|teams=

• Philadelphia Eagles (1972)
• Philadelphia Eagles (1973)*
• Houston Texans (1974)*
• Washington Redskins (1975)*

|statlabel1=Kickoff returns

|statvalue1=1

|statlabel2=Kickoff return yards

|statvalue2=0

|pfr=OverBi20

}}

William Lee Overmyer (born June 16, 1949) is an American former professional football linebacker.

Overmyer played college football as a defensive end at Ashland College, where he was named the school's "best defensive lineman" in 1969, 1970 and 1971.{{cite web|title=Bill Overmyer|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OverBi20.htm|publisher=Sports Reference|work=Pro Football Reference|accessdate=2022-08-31}}{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-31|newspaper=News-Messenger|date=December 15, 1970|title=Overmyer called 'Ashland's Best'|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66196451/the-news-messenger/|page=13}}{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-31|newspaper=News-Journal|title=Eagles receive sports awards|author=Valk, Frank H.|date=December 3, 1971|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108691474/news-journal/}}{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-31|newspaper=News-Messenger|title=Overmyer rates best on defense|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60800782/the-news-messenger/|date=December 7, 1971}}{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-31|newspaper=News-Messenger|pages=7, 9|date=October 7, 2011|author=Shields, Kevin|title=St. Joe's legend Overmyer will see number retired at Saturday|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108708061/the-news-messenger/}} In 1971 he also earned an honorable mention in the Associated Press All-America team and he was a second-team of the Kodak College All-America Football Team.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-31|date=December 17, 1971|title=Overmyer receives second team honors|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108691955/the-news-messenger/|newspaper=News-Messenger}} He was inducted into Ashland's hall of fame in 2004.

Overmyer was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 14th round of the 1972 NFL draft with the 352nd overall pick. In the preseason he competed with three others – fellow rookie Will Foster and veterans Ike Kelley and Bill Cody – to replace Tim Rossovich, who was holding out and was eventually traded, to be the Eagles' middle linebacker after Steve Zabel was injured in training camp.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-30|newspaper=News-Messenger|title=Mental Pressure Impresses Overmyer in pro grid bid|date=August 3, 1972|page=19|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108622036/the-news-messenger/}} Overmyer said of the experience:{{quote|I have never played linebacker before so making the adjustments is hard. I am doing okay against the pass with out zone coverage but I'm having trouble picking up the keys...When those experienced linemen come at you a rookie is in trouble. Also, I don't get as much work as I require since we have so many linebackers here. One thing, the coaches keep talking to me so I know I have a chance...I understand that they are teaching me on defense but experience is the major difference; however, the other rookies who have played linebacker are having trouble adjusting too. I am just as well prepared as those rookies from major universities. One thing I am working hard for is making the specialty team, which can help keep me up here...One of the scary things here is that you wake up in the morning and your roommate is not there anymore. My roomie (a rookie from South Carolina University) was cut; he was gone when I woke up. I'm holding my breath...I want to get past those cuts.}}

Because he always had to prove himself, his Eagles' teammates nicknamed him "underdog." Overmyer was waived late in the preseason but was later signed to join the Eagles' taxi squad.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-31|newspaper=Lancaster New Era|date=September 7, 1972|page=62|title=Eagles trade Baker for Tom Butler|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108694242/lancaster-new-era/}}{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-31|newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer|page=40|date=October 18, 1972|title=Eagles activate guard Winfield, Place Calloway on injured list|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108694086/the-philadelphia-inquirer/}}

He was activated for the first time in November for the Eagles' 9th game of the season against the Houston Oilers.{{cite web|title=Bill Overmyer Game Logs|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OverBi20/gamelog/1972/|publisher=Sports Reference|work=Pro Football Reference|accessdate=2022-08-31}}{{cite news|title=Oilers call two|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-31|newspaper=Atlanta Constitution|date=November 12, 1972|page=8-D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108692480/the-atlanta-constitution/}} He then played in every game for the Eagles for the rest of the season, for a total of 6 games. In the last game of the season, which proved to be his last game in the National Football League, he was credited with a kickoff return for no yards against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was cut by the Eagles during the 1973 preseason.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-31|newspaper=Asbury Park Press|date=August 21, 1973|title=2 linebackers cut by Eagles|page=39|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108694687/asbury-park-press/}}

In 1974 he signed with the Houston Texans of the World Football League but was not on their regular season roster.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-31|newspaper=Waco Tribune-Herald|date=April 10, 1974|page=3D|title=WFL Houston Texans announce 4 signings|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108695465/waco-tribune-herald/}}{{cite web|title=Confidential Report, 1974 On World Football League Prepared by the National Football League|publisher=Charlotte Hornets|url=http://wfl.charlottehornetswfl.com/pages_1974/files/nfl_report.pdf|accessdate=2022-08-31}}{{cite web|title=1974 Houston Texans Roster|url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/roster/t-WFLHOU/y-1974|accessdate=2022-08-31|publisher=Stats Crew}} In 1975 he signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins but was cut during preseason.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-31|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|date=August 5, 1975|title=Redskins cut four players|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108695920/the-spokesman-review/}}