Local Pittsburgh Steelers fans are so
used to seeing great linebackers that there is a tendency to forget
that one of the top players at that position came from Ambridge: Mike Lucci, who played three seasons with the Cleveland Browns and nine with
the Detroit Lions. Joe Schmitt, the former University of Pittsburgh All American who was
Mike’s coach with the Lions at the time, described Mike as “the
best linebacker in the NFL in 1969.” Coming from Schmitt, that was
high praise. Mike was a late bloomer at Ambridge High School, where
he didn’t go out for football until his senior year. After one year
at Pitt, he transferred to the University of Tennessee, where he was
named to the Southwest Conference All Star team in 1960 and 1961, received honorable mention on the 1961 United Press International
All America team, and played in the 1962 College All Star game in
Chicago. In the pros, Mike played three seasons with the Cleveland Browns,
including 1964 when they beat Baltimore, 27-0 for the NFL title,
then
was traded to Detroit after the season. During his nine seasons with
the Lions, he was the team’s most valuable player for three straight
years (1969-1971), was named defensive captain, and played in the
1971 Pro Bowl game. After his football career, Mike resided in Detroit, where he
was
vice president of a health spa chain.
Local Pittsburgh Steelers fans are so
used to seeing great linebackers that there is a tendency to forget
that one of the top players at that position came from Ambridge: Mike Lucci, who played three seasons with the Cleveland Browns and nine with
the Detroit Lions. Joe Schmitt, the former University of Pittsburgh All American who was
Mike’s coach with the Lions at the time, described Mike as “the
best linebacker in the NFL in 1969.” Coming from Schmitt, that was
high praise. Mike was a late bloomer at Ambridge High School, where
he didn’t go out for football until his senior year. After one year
at Pitt, he transferred to the University of Tennessee, where he was
named to the Southwest Conference All Star team in 1960 and 1961, received honorable mention on the 1961 United Press International
All America team, and played in the 1962 College All Star game in
Chicago. In the pros, Mike played three seasons with the Cleveland Browns,
including 1964 when they beat Baltimore, 27-0 for the NFL title,
then
was traded to Detroit after the season. During his nine seasons with
the Lions, he was the team’s most valuable player for three straight
years (1969-1971), was named defensive captain, and played in the
1971 Pro Bowl game. After his football career, Mike resided in Detroit, where he
was
vice president of a health spa chain.