About Mike Howell
Lived 1943 – 2016 (aged 73). Mike Howell was an American american football player.
Michael Lionel Howell (July 5, 1943 – August 1, 2016) was an American professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins. Howell played college football for the Grambling State Tigers and was selected 111th overall by the Browns in the eighth round of the 1965 NFL draft.
A college quarterback, Howell converted to defensive back in the NFL. He felt he had no chance playing quarterback in the NFL due to his race. At the time African-Americans were stereotyped as not being able to successfully play the position. "I know I'm not going into the NFL as a black quarterback," is what Howell told his coach, the legendary Eddie Robinson. So, he changed to cornerback, winning a starting job in 1966, and moved to free safety in 1968.
In 2012, the Cleveland Plain Dealer selected Howell as one of the 100 best players in Browns history.
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Important facts
People in Mike Howell's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Mike Howell?
American football player
When was Mike Howell born?
Mike Howell was born on 5 July 1943 in West Monroe.
When did Mike Howell die?
Mike Howell died on 1 August 2016.
What was Mike Howell's occupation?
Mike Howell was an american football player.
What nationality was Mike Howell?
Mike Howell was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mike Howell. https://biography.guide/mike-howell/
MLA: "Mike Howell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mike-howell/.
Chicago: "Mike Howell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mike-howell/.
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