Bob Mike

Robert Melvin Mike (October 29, 1918 – June 29, 1981) was an American football player who played at the tackle position on both offense and defense. He played college football for Florida A&M and UCLA and professional football for the San Francisco 49ers of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the Calgary Stampeders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU).

Mike was just the second African-American to make the roster of the 49ers and was one of only 12 black players in the AAFC during its final season, 1949.

Early life Mike was born in 1920 in Edison, Georgia. He attended Steubenville High School in Steubenville, Ohio.

Professional football Mike played professional football in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for the San Francisco 49ers during their 1948 and 1949 seasons. He appeared in a total of 26 games for the 49ers, eight of them as a starter.

Mike was the second black player in the history of the 49ers franchise, following halfback Joe "The Jet" Perry. In 1949, the last year of the AAFC, Mike one of just 12 black players in the entire AAFC.

Family and later years After his playing career ended, Mike accepted a position as the line coach for the Wiley Wildcats in Texas. He died in 1981 at age 62.