Mike Lewis (American football)
{{Short description|American football player (1949–2024)}}
{{for|other American football players|Michael Lewis (disambiguation)#American football}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Mike Lewis
| image = File:Lewis-Mike-1972.jpg
| caption = Lewis in 1972
| number = 69, 66
| position = Defensive tackle
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1949|07|14}}
| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|09|06|1949|07|14}}
| death_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 261
| high_school = Yates (Houston)
| college = Arkansas AM&N
| undraftedyear = 1971
| teams =
- Atlanta Falcons ({{nfly|1971|1979}})
- Green Bay Packers ({{nfly|1980}})
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 130
| statlabel2 = Starts
| statvalue2 = 96
| statlabel3 = Sacks
| statvalue3 = 25.0
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 4
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 1
| statlabel6 = Safties
| statvalue6 = 2
| pfr = LewiMi20
}}
Michael Henry Lewis (July 14, 1949 – September 6, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a defensive lineman for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers.{{Cite web | date = July 27, 2019 | title = Falcons all-time team has a high-powered offense and balanced defense | url = https://www.insidethehashes.com/ith-blog/2019/7/27/falcons-all-time-team-has-a-high-powered-offense-and-balanced-defense | access-date = December 6, 2023 | website = InsidetheHashes.com }}{{Cite web | last1 = Emerson | first1 = Seth | last2 = Butt | first2 = Jason | title = Atlanta sports ‘By the Numbers’: The 60s | url = https://theathletic.com/1675848/2020/04/06/atlanta-sports-by-the-numbers-the-60s/ | date = April 6, 2020 | access-date = December 6, 2023 | website = TheAthletic.com }}{{Cite web | url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LewiMi20.htm | title = Mike Lewis Stats | access-date = March 29, 2024 | website = Pro-Football-Reference.com }} He played college football for the Arkansas AM&N Golden Lions.
Biography
Mike Lewis was born July 14, 1949, in Houston, Texas. He attended Jack Yates High School in Houston.
Lewis attended Wiley College, private historically black college in Marshall, Texas, playing football there until the school dropped the sport in 1968.Tom Bennett, 1972 Atlanta Falcons (media guide). Atlanta, GA: Atlanta Falcons Football Club, 1972; p. 29. He then transferred to Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where he completed his college career in 1970.
Lewis initially joined the Falcons at their training camp ahead of the 1971 season as a linebacker, but was moved to defensive end as the team already had seven veteran linebackers in camp and there was little chance of cracking the roster at that position. His position switch helped him to make the club's 40-man roster. He saw action in nine games for Atlanta during his rookie year, playing on special teams.
Lewis was shifted to the interior of the defensive line in 1972 and became a starter at right defensive tackle.[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LewiMi20.htm "Mike Lewis,"] Pro Football Reference,
www.pro-football-reference.com/ He started every game for Atlanta at that position through the 1975 season.
Lewis died in Atlanta on September 6, 2024, at the age of 75.[https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/michael-henry-lewis-sr-atlanta-falcons-defensive-icon-dies-75 Michael Henry Lewis, Sr., Atlanta Falcons' defensive icon, dies at 75]
Mike Lewis child is named Mike Lewis Jr and he works at a school as a math teacher for 7th grade
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Mike}}
Category:Players of American football from Houston
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football players