Mike Jolly

Michael Anthony Joseph Jolly (born March 19, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1980 to 1983. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1976 to 1979. He started at weak side cornerback for Michigan in 35 of 36 games from 1977 to 1979 and was selected as a first-team all-conference player in the Big Ten in both 1978 and 1979.

Early life Jolly was born in Detroit and grew up in Melvindale, Michigan. He attended Dearborn Sacred Heart High School for three years and one year at Aquinas High School in Southgate Michigan. He played four sports, football, basketball, track and baseball, in high school. He played both tailback and defensive back, and returned punts, in high school.

Michigan He played at the University of Michigan for the Wolverines football team under head coach Bo Schembechler from 1976 to 1979. As a sophomore in 1977, Jolly started 11 of 12 games for Michigan at the weak side cornerback position. On October 1, 1977, in Michigan's 41–3 victory over Texas A&M, Jolly intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. Jolly played in the 1978 Rose Bowl against the Washington Huskies on New Year's Day. In the third quarter of the Rose Bowl, he intercepted a pass at the Washington 36-yard line and returned it 25 yards.

As a junior in 1978, Jolly started all 12 games at weak side cornerback for the 1978 Michigan Wolverines football team and was selected as an All-Big Ten Conference player. In the team's 51–0 victory over Duke, Jolly intercepted two passes.

Over the three-year period from 1977 to 1979, Jolly started 35 of 36 games for the Wolverines and appeared in two Rose Bowls and a Gator Bowl.

Professional football Jolly was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round (96th overall pick) of the 1980 NFL draft. In August 1980, Jolly was cut by the Saints and picked up on waivers by the Green Bay Packers.

As a rookie, Jolly appeared in all 16 games as a defensive back for the 1980 Packers. Jolly missed the entire 1981 season after the injury. He returned for the 1982 season but appeared in only seven games, none as a starter.