Mel Tom

Melvyn Maile Tom (August 4, 1941 – April 27, 2006) was an American professional football player who was a defensive lineman for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears.

Early life Tom was born on August 4, 1941, in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. He attended Maryknoll High School, where he did not play football. Tom signed with the Eagles in 1967. He finished his rookie season with five sacks.

During the 1968 season, Tom committed a roughing the punter penalty in the final two minutes of a 7–6 Eagles loss to the Giants. He finished the season with 5.5 sacks. Tom finished the season with four sacks and a safety. Tom finished the season with a career-high 7.5 sacks and a fumble recovered. After being fined, Tom claimed that "It's more or less an unwritten rule in this league that you're not supposed to hit the quarterback hard." Tom, who had a mustache, proposed only shaving off half of his mustache, a request which was refused. Tom ended the year with 4.5 sacks and a fumble recovered. He finished the season with 6 sacks. During training camp, Tom was fined for being three hours late to practice. Before the season began, he publicly mulled reviving his trade request and even retirement. After an argument with defensive line coach Jerry Wampfler, Tom told Wampfler to "Trade me, fire me, or fight me." Despite only playing four games for the Eagles that season, he still was second on the team in sacks.

Chicago Bears Tom ended the season with seven sacks and two fumbles recovered. However, Tom ended up playing in 1974, and had 32 solo tackles (51 total), four sacks, and one fumble recovered.

In 1975, Tom was placed on waivers after the Bears signed Dan Neal.

NFL career statistics LegendBoldCareer high

Personal life and death Tom had two children, Landon Tom and Logan Tom. Logan Tom was a member of the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 American Olympic indoor volleyball teams.

Tom died at age 64 of heart failure.