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Lou Michaels, place kicker for the old Baltimore Colts, dies at 80 Lou Michaels, place kicker for the NFL’s Baltimore Colts, dies at 80
(2 days later)
Lou Michaels was the most productive kicker in Baltimore Colts history. He might also be the only tavern owner ever to get tossed out of his own bar. Lou Michaels was the most productive kicker in Baltimore Colts history. He might also be the only tavern owner to get tossed out of his own bar.
Burly and often boisterous, Mr. Michaels died Jan. 19 of pancreatic cancer at his home in Swoyersville, Pa. He was 80. Burly and often boisterous, Mr. Michaels died Jan. 19 of pancreatic cancer at his home in Swoyersville, Pa. He was 80.
His death was first reported by the Times Leader of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.His death was first reported by the Times Leader of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
In six years with the Colts (1964-1969), Mr. Michaels kicked 107 field goals (54 percent) and scored 586 points, which still ranks sixth in franchise history. During his tenure, the team won 63 games, lost 17 and tied 4. In six years with the Colts (1964-1969), Mr. Michaels kicked 107 field goals (with a 54 percent success rate) and scored 586 points, which ranks sixth in franchise history. During his tenure, the team won 63 games, lost 17 and tied 4.
Still, Mr. Michaels’s exploits both on and off the field drove Colts fans nuts. In 1967, he missed six consecutive field-goal attempts — and then made 10 straight. That same year, he kicked a 53-yarder in a victory over the Dallas Cowboys at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium. Still, Mr. Michaels’s exploits both on and off the field drove Colts fans nuts. In 1967, he missed six consecutive field-goal attempts — and then made 10 in a row. That same year, he kicked a 53-yarder in a victory over the Dallas Cowboys at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium.
Acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1964, Mr. Michaels celebrated his arrival by breaking curfew, reveling on The Block — Baltimore’s infamous street of bars and strip clubs — until 3 a.m. and crashing into a lamppost while driving home. Acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1964, Mr. Michaels celebrated his arrival by breaking curfew, reveling on the Block — Baltimore’s infamous street of bars and strip clubs — until 3 a.m. and crashing into a lamppost while driving home.
“Colt Kicker’s Car Hits Upright,” read the headline in the Baltimore Sun.“Colt Kicker’s Car Hits Upright,” read the headline in the Baltimore Sun.
At practice the next day, Mr. Michaels confessed to teammate Jimmy Orr that, fearful of being cut from the team, he’d given police his immigrant father’s Polish name, Majka, instead of his own.At practice the next day, Mr. Michaels confessed to teammate Jimmy Orr that, fearful of being cut from the team, he’d given police his immigrant father’s Polish name, Majka, instead of his own.
“I said, ‘Think about it, Lou — if you’d told them who you really were, they’d probably have let you go,’ ” Orr said.“I said, ‘Think about it, Lou — if you’d told them who you really were, they’d probably have let you go,’ ” Orr said.
On Sept. 25, 1966, the left-footed Mr. Michaels kicked five field goals against the San Francisco 49ers, a club record at the time. But he was prouder of his play that day at defensive end, having made two sacks in a rare start. On Sept. 25, 1966, the left-footed Mr. Michaels kicked five field goals against the San Francisco 49ers, a club record at the time. But he was prouder of his play that day at defensive end, having made two sacks in a rare start.
“I loved playing defense,” he told the Sun in 2009. “When I missed a field goal, I wanted to rush the passer harder to make up for it.”“I loved playing defense,” he told the Sun in 2009. “When I missed a field goal, I wanted to rush the passer harder to make up for it.”
Cornerback Bobby Boyd held for Mr. Michaels and recalled his teammate’s anxiety as important kicks loomed. Cornerback Bobby Boyd held the ball for Mr. Michaels’s kicks and recalled his teammate’s anxiety as important attempts loomed.
“He worried about it a lot, he really did,” Boyd said. “But he was good when we really needed it. If he missed one of those kicks, you didn’t want to be around him.”“He worried about it a lot, he really did,” Boyd said. “But he was good when we really needed it. If he missed one of those kicks, you didn’t want to be around him.”
Boyd had previously held for the right-footed Steve Myhra, so working with Mr. Michaels required some adjustment. Every day they put in extra work after practice, improving their chemistry. Boyd remembered how Mr. Michaels would draw a little X in the dirt with his toe to indicate where he wanted the ball placed. Boyd had previously held for the right-footed Steve Myhra, so working with Mr. Michaels required adjustments. Every day they put in extra work after practice, improving their chemistry. Boyd remembered how Mr. Michaels would draw an X in the dirt with his toe to indicate where he wanted the ball placed.
Mr. Michaels was frustrated at not earning more playing time on defense, but he simply could not push aside starters Gino Marchetti or Ordell Braase at defensive end, even though he had been an All-American tackle at the University of Kentucky. Mr. Michaels was frustrated at not earning more playing time on defense, but he simply could not push aside starters Gino Marchetti or Ordell Braase at defensive end, even though he had been an all-American tackle at the University of Kentucky.
Boyd said that after games, he and quarterback Johnny Unitas could always count on Mr. Michaels to show up at their restaurant, the Golden Arm, and charm patrons after he’d downed a few drinks.Boyd said that after games, he and quarterback Johnny Unitas could always count on Mr. Michaels to show up at their restaurant, the Golden Arm, and charm patrons after he’d downed a few drinks.
Louis Andrew Michaels was born Sept. 28, 1935, in Swoyersville, in northeastern Pennsylvania. Louis Andrew Michaels was born Sept. 28, 1935, in Swoyersville, in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Mr. Michaels played college football at Kentucky during the single-platoon era, playing both offense and defense and serving as the Wildcats’ punter and place kicker. He was named Southeastern Conference player of the year in 1957 and was an All-American as a junior and senior. He finished fourth in the voting for the 1957 Heisman Trophy. Mr. Michaels played college football at Kentucky during the single-platoon era, playing both offense and defense and serving as the Wildcats’ punter and place kicker. He was named Southeastern Conference player of the year in 1957 and was an all-American as a junior and senior. He finished fourth in the voting for the 1957 Heisman Trophy.
His No. 79 was retired at Kentucky, and he was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. His No. 79 jersey was retired at Kentucky, and he was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
The 6-2, 243-pound Mr. Michaels was a first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1958. He played three years in Los Angeles and three for the Steelers before he was traded to Baltimore. He finished his 13-year career in 1971 with the Green Bay Packers. The 6-foot-2, 243-pound Mr. Michaels was a first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1958. He played three years in Los Angeles and three for the Steelers before he was traded to Baltimore. He finished his 13-year career in 1971 with the Green Bay Packers.
As a kicker, he made 45 of 63 field goal attempts and converted 386 of 402 extra points. He recovered six fumbles and intercepted four passes as a defensive end. He was named to two Pro Bowl teams. As a kicker, he made 187 of 341 field goal attempts and converted 386 of 402 extra points. He recovered six fumbles and intercepted four passes as a defensive end. He was named to two Pro Bowl teams.
After his football career, Mr. Michaels owned a bar in Pittston, Pa., then he worked 20 years for the Luzerne County (Pa.) Department of Corrections as the prison’s athletic director. After his football career, Mr. Michaels owned a bar in Pittston, Pa.. He then worked 20 years for the Luzerne County (Pa.) Department of Corrections as the prison’s athletic director.
Survivors include his wife, Judy, and three children.Survivors include his wife, Judy, and three children.
An older brother, Walt Michaels, was an All-Pro NFL linebacker and later became head coach of the New York Jets. Walt Michaels was an assistant coach with the New York Jets when the Jets, led by quarterback Joe Namath, upset his brother’s Colts team to win Super Bowl III in 1969. An older brother, Walt Michaels, was an all-Pro linebacker in the National Football League and later became head coach of the New York Jets. Walt Michaels was an assistant coach with the Jets when New York, led by quarterback Joe Namath, scored an upset victory against his brother’s Colts team in Super Bowl III in 1969.
Lou Michaels once told the Sun that the Colts’ Super Bowl loss would nag at him to the end.Lou Michaels once told the Sun that the Colts’ Super Bowl loss would nag at him to the end.
“I’ve never been able to accept that” defeat, he said. “Forget it? How can I forget it when I see my brother and he has the ring?”“I’ve never been able to accept that” defeat, he said. “Forget it? How can I forget it when I see my brother and he has the ring?”
— The Baltimore Sun — Baltimore Sun
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