Michael Ford (gridiron football) facts for kids
Ford at Bears training camp in 2014.
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| No. 32, 27 | |||
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| Position: | Running back | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | May 27, 1990 Leesville, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Weight: | 216 lb (98 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Leesville (LA) | ||
| College: | Louisiana State | ||
| Undrafted: | 2013 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
Michael Deshown Ford (born May 27, 1990) is an American former professional football player. He played as a running back, which is a player who primarily runs with the ball. Michael Ford was signed by the Chicago Bears in 2013. Before that, he played college football for the LSU team. Many people thought he was one of the best running back players in his group.
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Early Life and High School Football
Michael Ford grew up in Leesville, Louisiana. When he was in high school at Leesville High School, he was a fantastic running back. He was even named an All-American, which means he was one of the best high school players in the entire country. Experts who watch young players, like Rivals.com, thought he was a very talented player. They ranked him as the 7th best running back prospect in 2009.
College Football Career
Michael Ford played college football for Louisiana State University (LSU). In 2012, he was one of the top players in the Southeastern Conference for kickoff returns. This means he was great at catching the ball after the other team kicked it and then running it back down the field.
He averaged 27.5 yards every time he returned a kickoff. He even had four returns where he ran for 40 yards or more! One amazing play was an 86-yard return against Arkansas, which helped his team score a touchdown. During his time at LSU, Michael Ford played in 37 games and started 5 of them. He scored a total of 14 touchdowns, mostly by running the ball.
Becoming a Professional Player
NFL Draft and Combine
After college, Michael Ford hoped to join the NFL. Before the 2013 NFL draft, players go to a special event called the NFL Combine. Here, they show off their skills. Michael Ford did very well! He was 5 feet 9.5 inches tall and weighed 210 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in a very fast 4.38 seconds. He also showed his strength by bench pressing 225 pounds 25 times.
He was especially good at jumping. He had the best broad jump among running backs, leaping 10 feet 10 inches. He also had one of the best vertical jumps, reaching 39.5 inches high. These tests showed that Michael Ford was a very athletic player.
Playing for the Chicago Bears
Even though Michael Ford was not chosen in the main 2013 NFL draft, the Chicago Bears quickly signed him as a free agent on April 28, 2013. This gave him a chance to play in the NFL. He played for the Bears for a couple of seasons. However, the Bears released him from their team on August 23, 2014.
Time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
After leaving the NFL, Michael Ford moved to Canada to play in the CFL. He signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on June 10, 2015.
Brief Time with the Atlanta Falcons
Later in 2015, Michael Ford got another chance in the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons signed him on August 7, 2015. But his time with the Falcons was short, and he was waived (released) by the team on August 30, 2015.
Returning to the Tiger-Cats
After his brief time with the Falcons, Michael Ford went back to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was added to their team again on September 27, 2015, and was active on the roster by October 1, 2015. He later played for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders in 2016.
