Mike Mikulak

Michael Nicholas "Iron Mike" Mikulak (December 2, 1912 – June 4, 1999) was an American football fullback who played three seasons in the National Football League (NFL) after starring collegiately for three years playing for the University of Oregon.

After his career in football, Mikulak became a career officer in the United States Army and later the United States Air Force, serving during World War II as the chief of military security in Casablanca and Rabat Morocco, Naples, Italy, and Southern France.

Biography High school and college athletics Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mikulak graduated from Edison High School in 1930, where he was named to All-City teams in football, baseball, and basketball as a senior.

He attended the University of Oregon in Eugene. Mikulak became Oregon's starting fullback and helped lead the Ducks to a 4–1 Pacific Coast Conference record in 1933, tying them with Stanford for the conference championship. (Stanford, however, received the bid to the 1934 Rose Bowl due to its victory over USC, the only team to beat the Ducks that year.) Mikulak was a two-time all-Pacific Coast Conference selection, and was a second-team All-American in 1933.

NFL career

Mikulak signed with the Chicago Cardinals in 1934. He played three seasons in the NFL, quickly earning a reputation as a bruising fullback, and was named to the All-Pro team in his second season. Following the 1936 season, Mikulak retired from professional football and returned to the University of Oregon to become the backfield coach on his old team, and to complete his degree.

Military career

After his career in football, Mikulak entered the United States Army as a career officer, receiving his commission in February 1937.

At the time of the end of the war, Mikulak was chief security officer for Southern France, headquartered in Marsailles. He was also a father to six step-children. and the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame.