Mike Mercer (American football)

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Mike Mercer

| image =

| caption =

| number = 18, 10, 15, 7, 38

| position = Kicker
Punter

| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|11|21}}

| birth_place = Algona, Iowa, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|03|24|1935|11|21}}

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lbs = 220

| college = {{ubl|Hardin-Simmons|Northern Arizona (1960)}}

| draftyear = 1961

| draftround = 15

| draftpick = 197

| undraftedyear =

| pastteams =

Minnesota Vikings (1961–1962)
Oakland Raiders (1963–1966)
Kansas City Chiefs (1966)
Buffalo Bills (1967–1968)
Green Bay Packers (1968–1969)
San Diego Chargers (1970)

| highlights =

AFL All-Star (1967)

| statlabel1 = Field goals

| statvalue1 = 102 / 195

| statlabel2 = Field goal %

| statvalue2 = 52.3

| statlabel3 = Extra points

| statvalue3 = 288 /295

| pfr = MercMi20

| cfl =

| afl =

| HOF =

| CollegeHOF =

}}

Michael Mercer (November 21, 1935 – March 24, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a kicker and punter for six teams from 1961 to 1970 in the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL). He played college football for the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys and, in 1960, the Arizona State College Lumberjacks in Flagstaff, Arizona.{{efn|Because NAU was known at this time as Arizona State College, sources may state he attended Arizona State University, which changed its name in 1958.}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-sun-to-play-pro-ball-with/169862265/|date=January 5, 1961|page=8|title=To Play Pro Ball With Vikings: Axer Mike Mercer Signs Contract With Minnesota|newspaper=Arizona Daily Sun|location=Flagstaff, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 8, 2025}} In the AFL, Mercer played for the Oakland Raiders, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. He was a member of the Chiefs' 1966 AFL championship team that played in the first AFL–NFL World Championship Game, now known as the Super Bowl.

Mercer's 9-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Larry "Wildman" Eisenhauer and recovered by Don Webb, with about 3 minutes left, in the Oakland Raiders 43–43 tie with the Boston Patriots on October 16, 1964. On December 22, 1963, Mercer kicked a 4th quarter 39-yard field goal to break a 49–49 tie with the Oilers and give the Raiders a 52–49 win. In that same game Mercer was 7 for 7 on extra points.Football-reference.com Mercer led the Raiders in scoring in 1964 with 79 points, hitting 15 field goals and all 34 extra point attempts.

Mercer died on March 24, 2024, at the age of 88.[https://www.autumnfunerals.com/obituaries/Michael-Mercer?obId=31097157 Michael Mercer] Autumn Funerals