- Mike Lucci
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Mike Lucci Date of birth: December 29, 1939 Place of birth: Ambridge, Pennsylvania Career information Position(s): Linebacker College: Tennessee NFL Draft: 1961 / Round: 5 / Pick 69 Organizations As player: 1962-1964
1965-1973Cleveland Browns
Detroit LionsCareer highlights and awards Pro Bowls: 1 Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com Mike Lucci (born December 29, 1939) is a former National Football League player for the Cleveland Browns for 3 seasons from 1962 to 1964 and 9 seasons with the Detroit Lions from 1965 to 1973. Lucci played collegiately at the University of Tennessee and for one year at the University of Pittsburgh.
He was a 6'2", 230-pound middle linebacker known for his ability to play through injury. Lucci’s defensive coverage abilities earned him a total of 21 career interceptions with Detroit. He returned four of those interceptions for touchdowns. Lucci was voted by his teammates the Lions’ Defensive Most Valuable Player from 1969-1971. In addition, he was All-NFL in 1969, NFC All-Conference in 1970-1971. Lucci was named to the Pro Bowl following the 1971 season where he intercepted five passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
Lucci also appeared in the film based on the George Plimpton book Paper Lion. The 1968 film starred Alan Alda, Lauren Hutton, and several Detroit Lion football players.
From 1976-78 Lucci served as color commentator for Lions broadcasts on WJR radio.
Business career
After retiring from the NFL Lucci was a successful business executive and entrepreneur. He is the former president of Bally Total Fitness which at the time was the largest commercial operator of fitness centers in the United States.
Currently
Lucci divides his time between homes in Michigan and Palm Beach County, Florida.
External links
- Mike Lucci career stats
- The Pennsylvania Football News All-Century Team
- Bally Total Fitness Official website
Cleveland Browns 1964 NFL Champions 11 Jim Ninowski | 13 Frank Ryan | 20 Ross Fichtner | 22 Lowell Caylor | 23 Larry Benz | 24 Bobby Franklin | 26 Dave Raimey | 27 Walter Roberts | 30 Bernie Parrish | 32 Jim Brown | 35 Galen Fiss | 36 Charley Scales | 38 Stan Sczurek | 42 Paul Warfield | 44 Leroy Kelly | 48 Ernie Green | 49 Walter Beach | 50 Vince Costello | 52 Mike Lucci | 56 John Morrow | 62 Dale Memmelaar | 60 John Wooten 64 Ed Bettridge | 66 Gene Hickerson | 67 Sid Williams | 69 Jim Kanicki | 70 John Brown | 72 Mike Bundra | 73 Monte Clark | 74 Dick Modzelewski | 75 Roger Shoals | 76 Lou Groza | 77 Dick Schafrath | 78 Frank Parker | 79 Bob Gain | 80 Bill Glass | 82 Jim Houston | 83 Johnny Brewer | 84 Paul Wiggin | 85 Clifton McNeil | 86 Gary Collins | 87 Tom Hutchinson |
Head Coach: Blanton Collier
Coaches: Howard Brinker | Fritz Heisler | Dub Jones | Nick Skorich | Ed UlinksiThis biographical article relating to an American football linebacker born in the 1930s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.