Michael Bishop (gridiron football) facts for kids
Bishop in 2008
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | May 15, 1976 Galveston, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Willis (Conroe, Texas) | ||||||
| College: | Kansas State | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1999 / Round: 7 / Pick: 227 | ||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
| Player stats at CFL.ca (archive) | |||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Michael Paul Bishop (born May 15, 1976) is a former American football player. He was a quarterback in several leagues, including the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Bishop played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats. He was recognized as an All-American in 1998. The New England Patriots picked him in the 1999 NFL draft. He was also a key player for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts from 2002 to 2008. In 2023, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life & High School Sports
Michael Bishop was a talented athlete at Willis High School in Willis, Texas. He was excellent at both football and baseball. As a senior, he was a two-year starter in football. He threw for an average of 221.2 yards per game. He earned honors like All-Montgomery County and all-state in football. In baseball, the Cleveland Indians drafted him in 1995.
College Football Journey
Blinn Junior College Success
Bishop started his college career at Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas. In his first year, he led the Buccaneers to a perfect 12–0 record. They won the NJCAA National Championship. He rushed for 387 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also passed for 1,712 yards and 18 touchdowns.
In his second year, Blinn again went 12–0 and won another NJCAA National Championship. He helped his team gain over 3,000 rushing yards and score 47 touchdowns. He also passed for 972 yards and 9 touchdowns. After Blinn, he played baseball for one season at Independence Community College.
Becoming a Star at Kansas State
Many top college teams wanted Bishop to play for them. Most wanted him as a defensive back. But Kansas State University and coach Bill Snyder offered him the chance to play quarterback. This was the position Bishop wanted.
In 1997, his first year at Kansas State, Bishop started all 11 games. He threw for 1,557 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also ran for 556 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Kansas State won 11 games that season. This included a 35–18 victory over Syracuse in the 1997 Fiesta Bowl. Their only loss was to the national champions, the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
In his senior year (1998), Kansas State was a top team. Bishop set school records with 2,844 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. He had only 4 interceptions. He also led the team with 14 rushing touchdowns. He threw for 440 yards in one game, tying a school record. He helped the Wildcats beat Nebraska for the first time in 30 years.
Bishop led Kansas State to an undefeated regular season. They won the Big 12 North title. This put them in first place in one national poll. However, they lost a close game to Texas A&M in the 1998 Big 12 Championship Game. This ended their national championship hopes.
Bishop started all 25 games in his two seasons at Kansas State. He had an impressive 22–3 record. He finished second in the 1998 Heisman Trophy voting. He ended his college career with 4,401 passing yards. He also set a school record with 59 total touchdowns (rushing and passing). After his senior year, he was named a consensus All-American. He was also the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Professional Football Career
National Football League (NFL)
The New England Patriots drafted Bishop in 1999. He played his first NFL game in the 2000 season. He had limited playing time. In one game against the Indianapolis Colts, he threw a 44-yard "Hail Mary" touchdown pass. This was on his very first attempt. Some fans wanted him to be the starting quarterback. Tom Brady even called Bishop "one of the best athletes he has ever seen."
NFL Europe Experience
In 2001, Bishop played for the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe. He started six games in Germany. He threw for 1,090 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. He also ran for 244 yards and one touchdown. After this, the Patriots released him. He briefly signed with the Green Bay Packers but was cut before the regular season.
Canadian Football League (CFL) Highlights
In 2002, Bishop joined the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL. He was mostly a backup quarterback. But he had some chances to start. Between 2002 and 2005, he threw for 3,192 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also rushed for 768 yards and 7 touchdowns.
In a 2003 playoff game, he threw a pass about 70 yards downfield. This showed he had a very strong arm. In 2004, he helped the Argonauts win the 92nd Grey Cup championship.
In 2006, Bishop often played in short-yardage situations. In a playoff game, he came in late and threw two touchdown passes. This helped the Argonauts reach the East Division Final. The next year, he fractured his wrist. The Argonauts struggled without him. But after his return, they went 9–1. Bishop finished the 2007 season with 2,920 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. He led the Argonauts to the Eastern Division final.
In 2008, the Argonauts traded Bishop to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He became their starting quarterback. He won his first two games with the team. In one game, he led a comeback, scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter. He was named the CFL's Offensive Player of the Week. Later that year, the Roughriders released him.
In 2009, Bishop returned to the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He led them to a 13–12 victory in his first game back. He was released by the Blue Bombers in 2010. He briefly played for the Calgary Stampeders in 2011 before returning to the Blue Bombers for a short time.
Arena Football League (AFL) Career
From 2004 to 2007, Bishop also played in the Arena Football League. In 2005, playing for the Grand Rapids Rampage, he led the league in rushing yards for quarterbacks. He set a record by rushing for 100 yards in a single AFL game. He also holds the AFL record for most rushing yards in a season with 459. His strong running and passing skills led some to compare him to NFL quarterback Michael Vick.
In 2006, he signed with the Chicago Rush. He had limited playing time, partly due to a family matter. The Rush went on to win ArenaBowl XX that season. In 2007, he signed with the Kansas City Brigade but was traded back to the Rampage. He later left the team to return to the CFL.
Indoor Football Leagues
In 2009, Bishop played for the Corpus Christi Hammerheads in the Indoor Football League. He was their starting quarterback. He also played for the Texas Hurricanes in the Southern Indoor Football League that same year.
Images for kids
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Bishop playing for the Frankfurt Galaxy.
