Mike Pritchard facts for kids

Michael Robert Pritchard was born on October 26, 1969. He is a former American football player. He played as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Mike played college football at the University of Colorado. He spent nine years in the NFL. He played for the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, and Seattle Seahawks.

Growing Up and College Football

A Star in Las Vegas

Mike Pritchard grew up in Las Vegas. He was a fantastic all-around athlete. He played as an "all-purpose back" in high school. This means he was good at many different things on the football field. His amazing talent caught the eye of many college football teams.

Playing for the Colorado Buffaloes

Pritchard decided to accept a scholarship. He went to the University of Colorado. There, he played for head coach Bill McCartney. Mike was a very flexible player in college. He was great at many different positions. These included wide receiver, kick returner, and running back.

National Champion

In 1990, Mike was a senior. He was named a first-team All-Big Eight wide receiver. This is a big honor in college football. He also received an honorable mention All-American award. This came from the United Press International (UPI).

That same year, he was named the most valuable player. This was for the University of Colorado's national championship team. It was the only national championship in the school's history. Mike Pritchard was later added to the University of Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

Mike Pritchard's NFL Career

Drafted by the Falcons

In 1991, Mike Pritchard was the first of nine Colorado players chosen. This happened in the NFL draft. The Atlanta Falcons picked him as the 13th player overall. He played nine seasons in the NFL.

Teams and Highlights

Mike played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1991 to 1993. Then he joined the Denver Broncos from 1994 to 1995. Finally, he played for the Seattle Seahawks from 1996 to 1999.

His best professional season was in 1992. He was playing for the Falcons that year. He caught 77 passes for 827 yards. He also scored 5 Touchdowns.

Throughout his NFL career, Mike played in 127 games. He caught 422 passes. He gained 5,178 yards in total. He also scored 26 touchdowns.

After Football

After his football career ended, Mike moved back to Las Vegas. This is his hometown. He started a new career in broadcasting. He became a "color commentator" for the UNLV radio network. This means he helps explain the game during broadcasts.

He has also appeared on TV and radio. He works as a commentator in both Las Vegas and Denver. Mike Pritchard currently co-hosts a morning radio show. You can hear it on KRLV in Las Vegas.