Mike Estep (American football)
{{Short description|English gridiron football player (born 1963)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Mike Estep
| image =
| number = 77, 79
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|12|29}}
| birth_place = Northampton, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 270
| high_school = Newark (OH)
| college = Bowling Green (1982–1986)
| undraftedyear = 1987
| pastteams =
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|1987}})*
- Green Bay Packers (1987)
- Buffalo Bills (1987)
| pfr = EsteMi20
}}
Michael Lawrence Estep (born December 29, 1963) is an English-born American former professional football tackle and guard who played one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers. He played college football for the Bowling Green Falcons, where he was a two-time first-team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) selection, and appeared in three games in the NFL as a replacement player during the 1987 NFL strike.
Early life
Estep was born on December 29, 1963, in Northampton, England, and later moved to the U.S., where he attended Newark High School.{{Cite web|url=https://profootballarchives.com/players/e/este00400.html|website=Pro Football Archives|access-date=April 12, 2025|title=Mike Estep Stats}} At Newark, he competed in football, basketball, and track and field.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate/170172028/|newspaper=The Newark Advocate|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 5, 1982|page=6|title=BG to sign Mike Estep}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate/170183803/|newspaper=The Newark Advocate|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 26, 1982|page=12|title=Crowds inspire Wildcats' Estep|author=Waitkus, Dave}} {{Open access}} In football, he played as a guard and defensive end.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-tribune/170172345/|newspaper=The Daily Sentinel-Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 7, 1986|page=13|title=Falcons have guard up on opponents|author=Delph, Marc}} {{Open access}} As a senior, he helped Newark compile a 7–3 record while leading the team in tackles, fumble recoveries and sacks.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate/170183572/|newspaper=The Newark Advocate|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 11, 1982|page=13|title=Estep tabs BG over Kentucky and Toledo|author=Canizzaro, John}} {{Open access}} He was named first-team All-Ohio, All-Class AAA and the Central Ohio League lineman of the year for his performance. He committed to play college football for the Bowling Green Falcons.
College career
Estep enrolled at Bowling Green in 1982. Initially a defensive end and outside linebacker, he redshirted as a freshman and then, as a sophomore in 1983, switched to playing as an offensive lineman. He received a varsity letter all four years at Bowling Green. Known for his aggressiveness, he was nicknamed The Terminator after the film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Daily Sentinel-Tribune described him as having "the demure of a person who wouldn't hurt a fly," but noted he was completely different on the field. Estep said that "I like to hit people ... When I pull I like to level somebody. And in pass protection, when a linebacker or someone is blitzing, I like to get a good shot on him. After one or two of those, he doesn't want to blitz."
In 1985, Estep was named first-team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) as well as an honorable mention All-American. He was also named to an All-American team composed of players from the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. As a senior in 1986, he repeated as a first-team All-MAC selection.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-tribune/170184739/|newspaper=The Daily Sentinel-Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 18, 1986|page=11|title=Five Falcons on MAC first team}} {{Open access}}
Professional career
After going unselected in the 1987 NFL draft, Estep signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate/170184830/|newspaper=The Newark Advocate|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 20, 1987|page=17|title=Estep joins Jets camp|author=Stewart, David}} {{Open access}} Increasing his weight to {{convert|285|lb|kg}} when he joined the Jets, he was reported to be among their top performers on the bench press and was asked to play right guard.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate/170184958/|newspaper=The Newark Advocate|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 25, 1987|page=11|title=Estep likes his chances with Jets|author=Stewart, David}} {{Open access}} However, he ended up being waived at the start of August 1987.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate/170185102/|newspaper=The Newark Advocate|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 3, 1987|page=12|title=Jets waive Newark grad}} {{Open access}} Later, in October, NFL players went on strike, and as a result, teams signed replacement players.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate/170185152/|newspaper=The Newark Advocate|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 4, 1987|page=11|title=Newark grad thankful for NFL experience|author=Stewart, David}} {{Open access}} Estep signed to play for the Green Bay Packers as a replacement and saw action in their first strike game against the Minnesota Vikings. He was waived after his first game with the Packers, but then claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills the following day. He appeared in the Bills' next two games, against the New England Patriots and New York Giants, and was tasked with blocking future Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor against the Giants. In the strike games, Estep appeared as a guard and tackle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EsteMi20.htm|website=Pro Football Reference|title=Mike Estep Stats|access-date=April 12, 2025}} At the end of the strike the following week, Estep and most other replacement players were released. He noted to The Newark Advocate that his three-game stint in professional football gave him the money that allowed him to finish school, pay off his bills and make "a pretty good down payment on a new car."
After his football career, Estep worked as a salesman for Mathews Ford.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/news/local/granville/2017/10/11/former-football-players-help-kick-fuel-play/106332532/|newspaper=The Newark Advocate|title=Former football players help kick off ‘Fuel Up to Play 60’|date=October 11, 2017}}