Mike Pringle (gridiron football) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mike Pringle

No. 24, 20, 27, 28, 34
Pringle holding the Grey Cup, 1995
Born:	(1967-10-01) October 1, 1967 (age 57) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Career information
CFL status	American
Position(s)	RB
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	202 lb (92 kg)
College	Cal State Fullerton
High school	John F. Kennedy (Los Angeles)
NFL draft	1990 / Round: 6 / Pick: 140
Drafted by	Atlanta Falcons
Career history
As player
1990–1991	Atlanta Falcons
1992	Edmonton Eskimos
1992	Sacramento Surge
1993	Sacramento Gold Miners
1994–1995	Baltimore Stallions
1996	Denver Broncos*
1996–2002	Montreal Alouettes
2003–2004	Edmonton Eskimos Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
3× Grey Cup champion (1995, 2002, 2003) Third-team All-American (1989) Montreal Alouettes No. 27 retired
CFL All-Star	1994, 1995, 1997–2000, 2003
CFL East All-Star	1994, 1996–2001
CFL West All-Star	2003
Awards	1995 CFL MOP 1998 CFL MOP
Records	Eskimos Record Most Rushing Touchdowns – Game - August 29, 2004
Career stats
Playing stats at CFL.ca (archive)
Canadian Football Hall of Fame, 2008

Michael "Mike" Pringle (born October 1, 1967) is a famous American former professional football player. He was an amazing running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Mike Pringle set or tied many important league records for his position.

Many people say Pringle is one of the greatest running backs in CFL history. He is often mentioned alongside legends like George Reed and Johnny Bright. In 2006, he was voted the #4 player in the CFL's modern era. In 2008, Mike Pringle was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. This honor came in his very first year of eligibility.

Early Life & College Football

Mike Pringle was born in Los Angeles, California. He played football in high school at John F. Kennedy High School.

College Career Highlights

Pringle started his college football journey at Washington State University. He later transferred to California State University, Fullerton. There, he played for the Cal State Fullerton Titans football team. In 1989, Pringle once shared an NCAA record for most rushing yards in a single game. He ran for an incredible 357 yards against New Mexico State. That same year, he led the nation in "all-purpose yardage" with 2,690 yards. This means he gained a lot of yards from running, catching, and returning kicks.

Professional Football Journey

Mike Pringle played for several teams during his professional career. He played in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Starting with the Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons picked Mike Pringle in the 1990 NFL draft. He was the 139th player chosen overall. Pringle spent most of his first NFL season on the practice team. He played in only three games. After being released by the Falcons, Pringle moved to the Canadian Football League.

First Time with the Edmonton Eskimos

Pringle joined the CFL in 1992 with the Edmonton Eskimos. He played in three games and ran for 129 yards. Even though he played well, the Eskimos decided to release him. They chose to keep other Canadian players instead.

Playing for Sacramento Teams

After leaving Edmonton, Pringle played for the Sacramento Surge in 1992. This was a team in the World League of American Football.

In 1993, Pringle joined the Sacramento Gold Miners in the CFL. He became a regular player for them. He ran for 366 yards and scored four touchdowns that season. After one year, he was traded to the Baltimore Football Club. This team later became the Baltimore Stallions.

Success with the Baltimore Stallions

Mike Pringle truly shined when he joined the Baltimore team. He became their starting running back in 1994.

Record-Breaking Seasons

In 1994, Pringle had an amazing season. He ran for 1,972 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. He almost became the first CFL player to run for 2,000 yards in a season. He also set a CFL record with 2,414 yards from scrimmage. This means he gained yards from both running and catching the ball. Pringle helped Baltimore reach the Grey Cup championship game. They lost a close game to the BC Lions.

Pringle drinking from the Grey Cup in 1995

The 1995 season was also excellent for Pringle. He ran for 1,791 yards, which was still the best in the CFL that year. In the playoffs, he was unstoppable. He ran for 484 yards and scored four touchdowns in three games. Pringle's strong play led the Baltimore Stallions to their second straight Grey Cup. This time, they won the championship, beating the Calgary Stampeders 37–20.

Brief Stint with the Denver Broncos

After his success in Baltimore, the Denver Broncos in the NFL signed Pringle in 1996. However, he was released before the season started.

Legendary Years with the Montreal Alouettes

With no other NFL offers, Pringle returned to the CFL. He joined the Montreal Alouettes late in the 1996 season. This team was the former Baltimore franchise that had moved to Montreal. Even though he played only eight games, Pringle rushed for 825 yards and five touchdowns.

Becoming the CFL's Best Running Back

In 1997, Pringle proved he was the best running back in the CFL. He ran for 1,775 yards. The Alouettes moved to a smaller stadium in 1998, Percival Molson Stadium. Fans packed the stadium to watch Pringle play.

The 1998 season was one of the greatest for any offensive player in CFL history. Pringle ran for an incredible 2,065 yards! This set a new CFL record by a large amount. He became the first, and so far only, player in CFL history to run for over 2,000 yards in a season. He also tied his own CFL record with 2,414 yards from scrimmage.

In 1999, Pringle ran for 1,656 yards. In 2000, his rushing yards increased to 1,778. He also set another CFL record by scoring 19 rushing touchdowns that year. The Alouettes reached the 88th Grey Cup in 2000 but lost to the BC Lions.

By 2001, Pringle was 34 years old. He ran for 1,323 yards that season while dealing with injuries. In 2002, the Alouettes won the 90th Grey Cup. However, Pringle was injured for much of the year. He also had disagreements with his coach. Pringle left the Alouettes after the season. He signed with the team he started with, the Edmonton Eskimos.

Second Time with the Edmonton Eskimos

Pringle's 2003 season with the Edmonton Eskimos was a strong comeback. He ran for 1,376 yards, his best total since 2000. He helped the Eskimos reach and win the 91st Grey Cup.

Breaking Rushing Records

In 2004, Mike Pringle continued to make history. He ran for 1,141 yards, which was fourth in the CFL. This yardage pushed his career total to 16,425 rushing yards. Pringle broke George Reed's long-standing record for career rushing yards. He broke the record in Vancouver against the BC Lions.

Pringle also tied George Reed's record for career rushing touchdowns with 137. He needed one more touchdown to break that record too. However, in the last game of the season, his coach called a different play. This meant Pringle finished tied with Reed.

Retirement from Football

After the 2004 season, Mike Pringle announced he was retiring from professional football. He finished his career with 16,425 rushing yards. He also had 20,254 total yards from scrimmage. Both of these were CFL records at the time. He ended his career tied with George Reed for 137 career touchdowns. Pringle led the CFL in rushing yards six times during his career.

On June 22, 2005, Pringle signed a contract with the Montreal Alouettes. He then officially retired as an Alouette. The Alouettes retired his jersey number 27. This means no other player on the team will wear that number.

On April 2, 2008, Mike Pringle was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Career Statistics