Mike Lucci

Michael Gene Lucci (December 29, 1939 – October 26, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Cleveland Browns for three seasons from 1962 to 1964 and nine seasons with the Detroit Lions from 1965 to 1973. Lucci played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers before transferring to the Tennessee Volunteers.

Early life and college Lucci was born into an Italian-American family on December 29, 1939, in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, near the steel mills of western Pennsylvania. He only played football for the first time as a high school senior, at tackle.

Lucci earned a football scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, and later transferred for his final three years to the University of Tennessee. Over two consecutive seasons, he ran back interceptions for touchdowns against the University of North Carolina. He also played in the Senior Bowl in January of 1962. He was named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Star Team in 1960 and 1961, being named first-team All-SEC by the Associated Press (AP) at center in 1961. Lucci received honorable mention on both the 1961 United Press International (UPI) All-America Team and 1961 AP All-American Team. He was also elected team captain in 1961. He played for the Browns from 1962 to 1964. He was named to the 1962 NFL All-Rookie Team, and was on the Browns' 1964 NFL Championship team.

Lucci would be with the Lions from 1965 to 1973. Lucci's defensive coverage abilities earned him a total of 21 career interceptions in 117 games with the Lions. He returned four of those interceptions for touchdowns.

Lucci was the Lions' team captain in six seasons, In addition, in 1969, he was named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press and United Press International (UPI). The UPI named him second-team All-Conference in 1970 and 1971, and The Sporting News named him first-team All-Conference in 1971. Lucci was named to the Pro Bowl following the 1971 season during which he intercepted five passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Namath has said that injury began the downturn in his career, as witnessed by the number of games missed after that nearly season long injury, and the few games missed before the injury. Ironically, Lucci and Namath (Beaver Falls) are both from Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Both are members of the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame.

In the January 1972 Pro Bowl game, Lucci deflected a field goal attempt by future hall of Hall of Fame kicker and NFL 100th Anniversary All Time Team member, Jan Stenerud.

He retired before the 1974 season, having played 154 regular season games over 12 years. Inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (1986) Inducted into the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame (1995) Inducted into the Beaver County, Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (1979) Inducted into the Pennsylvania Italian American Hall of Fame Ricky Sandoval Award, presented by Detroit Lions for contributions in sports and the community (2017)

Media career Lucci appeared as himself in the 1968 film Paper Lion, He also appeared in commercials for Alitalia Airlines. From 1976 to 1978 Lucci served as a color analyst for Lions broadcasts on WJR radio. In 1979, he was a part-time NFL analyst for NBC television. At the time of his death, he had been married for 58 years to Patricia Lucci, with whom he had two children, and two grandchildren.