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Mike Fanning
No. 79, 74
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:(1953-02-02)February 2, 1953
Mount Clemens, Michigan, U.S.
Died:October 30, 2022(2022-10-30) (aged 69)
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:Thomas Edison (OK)
College:Notre Dame
NFL draft:1975 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:43.5
Fumble recoveries:4
Safeties:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Michael LaVern Fanning (February 2, 1953 – October 30, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, earning first-team All-American honors in 1974. He started in Super Bowl XIV for the Los Angeles Rams.[1]

College career

Fanning was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan.[2] At the University of Notre Dame, he accounted for 164 tackles. He was a starter for the Fighting Irish at defensive tackle in 1973 and 1974, and was a 1974 first-team All-America selection by the Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News,[3] Newspaper Enterprise Association, and Time. He was a second-team selection by the Associated Press.[4] In his years at Notre Dame, he shared the practice field with Rudy Ruettiger, whose saga was made into a Hollywood film, Rudy.

Notre Dame ranked second in the nation in total defense in 1973 and the Irish claimed the national championship with an 11–0 record. In 1974, the defense ranked first in the nation, allowing only 195.2 yards per game and were ranked sixth in the nation in the final AP poll.

NFL career

Fanning was drafted on the first round (9th selection) of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He was touted to be the successor to Merlin Olsen, who was entering his 14th season in 1975. As a rookie, Fanning broke his leg, and saw limited action after returning midseason.[5] In 1976, in spot duty for Olsen, he recorded four sacks.

Fanning took over as the starter at left tackle in 1979 after an injury to Cody Jones. Fanning had eight sacks in 1979 and ten sacks in 1980. He led the Rams in sacks in the strike-shortened 1982 season with five.

Prior to the 1983 season, Fanning was traded to the Detroit Lions. He played one season with the Lions and was signed as a free agent by the Seattle Seahawks in 1984. He had seven sacks in 1984 as a pass-rush specialist for the Seahawks.

Later life

In 2009, Fanning joined the University of Tulsa athletic department, where he worked for 14 years.[6] He initially worked with group ticket sales, before serving as the special assistant for administration and operations until his death.[7]

Fanning died on October 30, 2022, at the age of 69.[7]

References

  1. ^ Trammel, Jimmie (August 27, 2006). "The best players from Oklahoma to play in the NFL?". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022. Mike Fanning: An Edison High School and Notre Dame product, Fanning spent eight years as an L.A. Rams defensive lineman and was a starter in Super Bowl XIV.
  2. ^ "Mike Fanning Stats". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "Sporting News Tabs Humm All-American". The Lincoln Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. December 11, 1974. p. 57. Retrieved November 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "USC Star All-America 3rd Time; 3 SWC Players Named On Defense". The Corpus Christi Times. December 6, 1974. p. 10B. Retrieved November 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Moskowitz, Bob (February 17, 1976). "The Way the Ball Bounces". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. p. 14. Retrieved November 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Sinclai, Savannah (November 1, 2022). "Tulsa born NFL veteran, TU athletics employee passes at age 69". KTUL. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Tranchina, John (October 31, 2022). "Former local high school football star who went on to NFL, Mike Fanning, passes away". Tulsa World. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
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