Mike Richardson (running back, born 1946)
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1946)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Mike Richardson
| image =
| number = 24
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|12|8}}
| birth_place = Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 196
| high_school = Castleberry (Fort Worth)
| college = SMU (1965–1968)
| draftyear = 1969
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 171
| pastteams =
- Houston Oilers (1969–{{NFL Year|1971}})
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|1972}})
- Houston Texans/Shreveport Steamer (1974)
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 35
| statlabel2 = Rushing yards
| statvalue2 = 452
| statlabel3 = Touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 2
| cflstatus = International
| pfr = R/RichMi00
}}
Michael Wayne Richardson (born December 8, 1946) is an American former professional football running back who played three seasons with the Houston Oilers. He was selected by the Oilers in the seventh round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft after playing college football at Southern Methodist University. He also played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Houston Texans/Shreveport Steamer of the World Football League (WFL).
Early life
Michael Wayne Richardson was born on December 8, 1946, in Fort Worth, Texas.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/players/r/rich07940.html | title=MIKE RICHARDSON | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=22 March 2025}} He attended Castleberry High School in Fort Worth.
College career
Richardson played college football for the SMU Mustangs of Southern Methodist University. He was on the freshman team in 1965 and a three-year letterman from 1966 to 1968. He rushed 81 times for 357 yards his sophomore year in 1966 while also catching six passes for 47 yards.{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mike-richardson-2.html | title=Mike Richardson | publisher=Sports Reference | accessdate=22 March 2025}} In 1967, Richardson recorded 52 carries for 164 yards, and 22 receptions for 270 and two touchdowns. On November 10, 1968, against Texas A&M, he had a Southwest Conference (SWC) record 39 carries for a school-record 244 yards as SMU won 36–23.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times/168620334/ | title=Pass Masters Edd Hargett, Chuck Hixson Knocked Aside By Mustang Mike Richardson; SMU Beats Texas A&M | work=The Times | date=November 10, 1968 | accessdate=22 March 2025 | author=Robichaux, Gerry | pages=2D}} He also had three rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown during the game. Overall in 1968, Richardson totaled 207 rushing attempts for 1,034 yards and eight touchdowns, and 49 catches for 581 yards and three touchdowns, earning Associated Press first-team All-SWC honors.{{cite news|title=Gilbert, Lewis Pace All-Southwest Conference Team|newspaper=The Amarillo Globe-Times|date=November 26, 1968|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5296514/gilbert_lewis_pace_allsouthwest/}} His 1,615 yards from scrimmage and 256 plays from scrimmage both led the SWC that year. Richardson was inducted into the school's athletics hall of fame in 1984.{{cite web | url=https://smumustangs.com/honors/hall-of-fame/mike-richardson/70 | title=MIKE RICHARDSON | publisher=Southern Methodist University | accessdate=22 March 2025}}
Professional career
Richardson was selected by the Houston Oilers in the seventh round, with the 171st overall pick, of the 1969 NFL draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RichMi00.htm | title=Mike Richardson | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=22 March 2025}} He played in all 14 games during his rookie year in 1969, rushing five times for 51 yards while also returning seven punts for 93 yards. He also appeared in one playoff game that year. Richardson played in all 14 games for the second consecutive season, starting seven, in 1970, recording 103 carries for 368 yards and two touchdowns, 34 receptions for 381 yards and one touchdown, and ten punt returns for 30 yards. He appeared in seven games during the 1971 season, totaling 17 rushing attempts for 33 yards, four catches for 17 yards, and one kick return for 26 yards.
Richardson played in five games for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in 1972, rushing 24 times for 109 yards while also catching one pass for 13 yards.
Richarson played for the Houston Texans/Shreveport Steamer of the upstart World Football League in 1974, accumulating 98 carries for 334 yards and two touchdowns, 19 receptions for 158 yards, seven kickoff returns for 113 yards, and 14 punt returns for 84 yards.{{cite web | url=http://www.nasljerseys.com/WFL/Players/R/Richardson.Mike.htm | title=Mike Richardson | publisher=nasljerseys.com | accessdate=September 6, 2014}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=richamik001 Stats Crew profile]
{{Houston Oilers 1969 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richardson, Mike}}
Category:Players of American football from Fort Worth, Texas
Category:American football running backs
Category:Canadian football running backs
Category:Players of Canadian football from Texas
Category:SMU Mustangs football players
Category:Houston Oilers players
Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players
Category:Houston Texans (WFL) players