At a Glance
Hometown: Houston, Texas (born October 9, 1958) College: Mike attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He was a four year letterman from 1977-1980. Mike is the all-time leader in tackles with 662, a Baylor record that remains to this day. Singletary was the only college junior to be selected to the All Southwest Conference Team of the 1970’s. He earned All-American Honors in both his junior and senior seasons. Mike was a two-time recipient of the Davey O’Brien Memorial Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding player in the Southwest Conference, now a trophy awarded to the nation’s top collegiate passer. During his senior season, Baylor won 10 games for the first time in school history, leading them to win the Southwest Conference Championship. NFL Experience: Mike was chosen by the Chicago Bears in the 1981 NFL draft (2nd round, 38th overall pick). He was known as ‘The Heart of the Defense’ for the Bears ‘Monsters of the Midway’ in the 1980s. Singletary started 172 games for the Bears during his twelve year career, recording the second most in club history. As a dedicated captain, he missed only two games throughout his career, both in 1986. Mike had fitting nicknames like ‘Samurai Mike’ and ‘Iron Mike’ because of his intense style of play. Just like his father, he was an ordained minister, earning himself yet another nickname, “Minister of Defense”. Mike finished as the Bears’ first or second leading tackler in each of his last 11 seasons. Singletary retired a Chicago Bear after the 1992 NFL season.He spent almost ten years away from the game he loved. During that time, he struggled to decide if he should return to teach the skills that made him one of the greatest NFL players ever. Mike knew what it took to coach. After all, he played under NFL Hall of Famer’s Tom Landry and Mike Ditka. In 2003, Mike made his coaching debut for the Baltimore Ravens. He was assistant coach under Brian Billick and Mike Nolan, both also a part of the Bill Walsh coaching tree. Mike spent two seasons coaching the linebacker unit for the Ravens before he was hired as assistant head coach with the San Francisco 49er’s. Behind his leadership, the 49er’s reflected much of the same heart Mike was known for playing with in Chicago. The players rallied under his leadership. On December 28, 2008, Mike was named the 16th head coach for the San Francisco 49er’s.In late 2010, the 49er’s front office went through changes. One of the decisions from the new staff was to move in a different direction from that under the path of Singletary. It wasn’t long until one of Mike’s good friends, 1985 Chicago Bear Super Bowl teammate and All Pro Dad Leslie Frazier came knocking. Fifteen days after Leslie was appointed head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Singletary accepted Frazier’s proposal to be the new assistant head coach/ linebackers’ coach for the Vikings on January 19, 2011.
Bio
Family Bio: Mike Singletary is a Hall of Fame football player and a hall of fame father. Mike and his wife Kim have seven children: Kristen, Matt, Jill, Jackie, Brooke, Becky, and John. Mike himself was the last of ten children in his family. Growing up in a ghetto in Houston, he faced many challenges that would shape the football player and father he was to become. Mike hit his lowest point when he was 12 years old. Mike’s father left the family, and Mike’s older brother Brady, who he was very close to, was killed by a drunk driver, Mike says that before his brother died, he told Mike to always do his best. After that, Mike made a vow that he would do just that. He started working harder in school and in football, and he rededicated himself to his Bible study. Mike went on to play college football at Baylor University and then signed with the Chicago Bears of the NFL. After 12 seasons and ten trips to the Pro Bowl, “Samurai Mike” retired.In 1998, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The words his wife spoke at the ceremony are a testimony to the kind of father Mike Singletary is. His induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is an incredible honor. But Mike will consider himself a success only when each of his children, after they are grown, will look back on their relationship with Mike and name him to the Fathers' Hall of Fame. Career Bio: PLAYER: Baylor University (1977-1980), Chicago Bears (1981-1992)COACH: Baltimore Ravens (2003-2004), San Francisco 49ers (2005-2010), Minnesota Vikings (2011- Present) Career Highlights: • Walter Camp ‘Man of the Year’ Award (2001)• NFL Hall of Fame Inductee (1998)• 10 NFC Pro Bowl Selections• NFL 1980’s All Decade Team• Super Bowl XX Champion (Chicago Bears)• NFL Man of the Year Award (1990)• 2nd Team All-Pro Selection (1990)• NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1988,1985)• NFC Player of the Year (1988,1985,1984)• Two time winner of the Davey O’Brien Memorial Trophy (Baylor University)• Southwest Conference Championship (Baylor University- 1980)• All American Linebacker (Baylor University- 1980,1979)
Books: •Title: “” Author: Jay Carty•Title: “Calling The Shots: Mike Singletary”Author: Mike SingletaryTitle: “Daddy’s Home at Last: What It Takes for Dads to Put Families First”Author: Mike Singletary
Players Influenced by Mike Singletary:
Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens), Adalius Thomas (Baltimore Ravens), Bart Scott (Baltimore Ravens), Terrell Suggs (Baltimore Ravens), Peter Boulware (Baltimore Ravens), Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49er’s), Frank Gore (San Francisco 49er’s), Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49er’s), Justin Smith (San Francisco 49er’s)
