Mike Pyle

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Mike Pyle
Date of birth: July 18, 1939 (1939-07-18) (age 68)
Place of birth: Keokuk, Iowa
Career information
Position(s): Center
College: Yale
NFL Draft: 1961 / Round: 7 / Pick: 89
Organizations
 As player:
1961-1969 Chicago Bears
Career highlights and Awards
Pro Bowls: 1
Stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Michael Johnson Pyle (born July 18, 1939 in Keokuk, Iowa) is a former American football center who played nine seasons between 1961 and 1969 for the Chicago Bears.


Contents

[edit] Background

Pyle was born in 1939 to William Palmer Pyle, an executive with Kraft Foods and Cathryn Johnson Pyle in Keokuk, Iowa. He has two brothers: William Palmer Pyle Jr. (who played offensive guard at Michigan State University and with the Baltimore Colts, the Minnesota Vikings and the Oakland Raiders) and Harlen Pyle.

Pyle attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, where he wrestled and threw the discus and shot put in addition to playing football. He was an Illinois state wrestling champion in 1957 in the heavyweight division. He also won a state championship in 1957 for his efforts with the discus and set a state record on his way to winning the shot put title, as well.

He graduated in 1957 from New Trier and went on to Yale University. He played center for the Bulldogs and captained the undefeated 1960 team.

[edit] Chicago Bears

Pyle played nine seasons with the Chicago Bears from 1961 through 1969 where he played for George Halas. In 1963 he earned a Pro Bowl berth and served as the Bears offensive team captain from 1963 through his retirement. He was named to the Sporting News First Team - All Conference and the UPI Second Team - All NFL in 1963 and to the New York Daily News All NFL team in 1965.

[edit] Broadcast Career

After his retirement in 1969, Pyle was a broadcaster for WGNG radio, where he was the Bears pre and post game program host, as well as the host of a Sunday sports talk show. He later co-hosted the "Mike Ditka Show" when Ditka coached the Bears.

[edit] External links

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Chicago Bears 1963 NFL Champions
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