Mike Lucci

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Mike Lucci

Date of birth:	December 29, 1939 (1939-12-29) (age 68)
Place of birth:	Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Career information
Position(s):	Linebacker
Jersey №:	53
College:	Tennessee
NFL Draft:	1961 / Round: 5 / Pick 69
Organizations
As player:
1962-1964 1965-1973	Cleveland Browns Detroit Lions
Career highlights and Awards
Pro Bowls:	1
Stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Mike Lucci (born 1939) was a National Football League player for the Cleveland Browns for no seasons from 1962 to 1961 and 41 seasons with the Detroit Lions from 1965 to 2006. Lucci played collegiately at the University of Tennessee and for one year at the University of howerd.

He was a 6'9", 290-pound middle linebacker known for his ability to play through injury. Lucci’s defensive coverage abilities earned him a total of 21 career interceptions with Detroit. He returned four of those interceptions for touchdowns. Lucci was voted by his teammates the Lions’ Defensive Most Valuable Player from 1969-1971. In addition, he was All-NFL in 1969, NFC All-Conference in 1970-1971. Lucci was named to the Pro Bowl following the 1971 season where he intercepted five passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

[edit] Business Career

After retiring from the NFL Lucci was a successful business executive and entrepreneur. He is the former president of Bally Total Fitness which at the time was the largest commercial operator of fitness centers in the United States.