Mike Hammerstein

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Mike Hammerstein
'
Position(s):
Defensive End
Jersey #(s):
Born: March 3, 1963 (1963-03-03) (age 45)
Career Information
Year(s): 19861990
NFL Draft: 1986 / Round: 3 / Pick: 65
College: Michigan
Professional Teams
Career Stats
Game Played     56
Quarterback sacks     5.5
Fumbles recovered     1
Stats at DatabaseFootball.com
Career Highlights and Awards

Mike Hammerstein (born March 3, 1963, in Kokomo, Indiana), is a retired professional American football player who played defensive end in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Bengals. Prior to that he played defensive tackle for the University of Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1982-1985.

Contents

[edit] College

Raised in Wapakoneta, Ohio, Hammerstein joined the Wolverines as an offensive lineman in the 1981 season and played sparingly. He then redshirted and played four years (1982-1985) as a defensive tackle. He wore #66 for his whole Michigan career, while his brother Mark wore #78 as an offensive lineman from (1982-1986).[1] During his career, he tied a single season record for tackles for losses with 23 while setting the record for yardage lost,[2] sacking opponents for 112 yards lost in 1985. Hammerstein was also named the Most Valuable Player of the 1985 Fiesta Bowl (a 27-23 win over Nebraska).[2] In the game he had two important quarterback sacks.[3] He was named first team All-American by the AP, UPI, and Kodak.

In 1985, Hammerstein was paired on the defensive line with Mark Messner. Led by the strong defense of Hammerstein and Messner, the 1985 team went 10-1-1 and finished the year ranked #2 in the nation.[4] In 1985, Hammerstein had 19 tackles for losses (#4 all-time best season at Michigan) for -101 yards (tied for #5). The defense was among the nation's leaders in scoring defense as it yielded only 8.1 pts. per game in 1985. The defense has been described as the best defense in the history of Michigan football.[5]

Hammerstein finished his career as the third highest in Michigan football history in career tackles for losses with 37 for 116 yards.

[edit] Professional career

In the 1986 NFL Draft where the Cincinnati Bengals had eight selections in the first four rounds, Hammerstein was the Bengals second of three third round choices and the 65th overall when taken with the tenth pick in the third round.[6] Hammestein played defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1986-1990 under Sam Wyche. Oddly, the 1986 Bengals team went 10-6,[6] but the only playoff team Mike played on was the 1990 team that went 9-7 and advanced to the second round of the 1990 NFL playoffs.[7] The 1990 team only had one Pro Bowler on defense (defensive back David Fulcher),[8] but with Pro Bowlers James Brooks, Rodney Holman and Anthony Munoz on offense they were able to cause some trouble in the playoffs. Hammerstein was part of the solid supporting cast. In the NFL, Hammerstein had no interceptions or forced fumbles, but he had 5.5 quarterback sacks and recovered one opponent fumble.[9]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Bentley Historical Library -- -- U of M Football Rosters: Hammerstein. The Regents of the University of Michigan (2003-08-25). Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
  2. ^ a b University of Michigan Football All-American: Mike Hammerstein. The Regents of the University of Michigan (2007-01-10). Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
  3. ^ Versus Nebraska January 1, 1986. Regents of the University of Michigan. Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
  4. ^ Deadly duos on the defensive line (2007-04-07). Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
  5. ^ Jones, Todd (2007). "Michigan", in MacCambridge, Michael: ESPN Big Ten College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Enterprises, 61. ISBN 1933060492. 
  6. ^ a b 1986 Cincinnati Bengals. databaseSports.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
  7. ^ 1990 Cincinnati Bengals. databaseSports.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
  8. ^ 1990 Pro Bowl rosters. pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
  9. ^ Mike Hammerstein. databaseSports.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-26.

[edit] External links