Mike Pyle (American football) facts for kids
Mike Pyle in 1964
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| Date of birth: | July 18, 1939 |
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| Place of birth: | Keokuk, Iowa, U.S. |
| Date of death: | July 29, 2015 (aged 76) |
| Place of death: | Highland Park, Illinois, U.S. |
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Career information
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| Position(s): | Center |
| College: | Yale |
| High school: | New Trier (Winnetka, Illinois) |
| NFL Draft: | 1961 / Round: 7 / Pick: 89 |
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Organizations
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Career highlights and awards
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Career stats
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| Games played | 121 |
| Starts | 119 |
| Fumble recoveries | 4 |
Michael Johnson Pyle (born July 18, 1939 – died July 29, 2015) was an American professional football player. He played as a center for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL). He played for nine seasons, from 1961 to 1969. In 2019, he was named one of the 100 greatest Bears of All-Time.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Mike Pyle was born in 1939 in Keokuk, Iowa. His father, William Palmer Pyle, worked as an executive for Kraft Foods. Mike had two brothers, William Palmer Pyle Jr. and Harlen Pyle. His brother William also played professional football.
Pyle attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. He was a talented athlete in many sports. He played football, wrestled, and competed in track and field. He threw the discus and shot put.
In 1957, Pyle won a state championship in wrestling. He was the heavyweight champion that year. He also won a state championship in discus. He set a new state record when he won the shot put title.
College Football at Yale
After high school, Pyle graduated in 1957. He then went to Yale University. At Yale, he was part of two well-known groups: Skull and Bones and the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
He played as an offensive lineman for the Bulldogs football team. In 1960, he was the captain of the Yale team. That year, the team was undefeated. They also shared the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy. The 1960 Yale team was ranked 14th in the final AP college football poll. They were also 18th in the final UPI college football poll.
Playing for the Chicago Bears
Mike Pyle played for the Chicago Bears for nine seasons. He played from 1961 to 1969. During his time with the Bears, he played for the famous coach George Halas.
In 1963, Pyle was chosen for the Pro Bowl. This is a special game for the best players in the NFL. He also became the offensive team captain for the Bears in 1963. That year, the Bears won the NFL championship. He remained captain until he retired.
Pyle received several honors during his career. In 1963, Sporting News named him to their First-team All-Conference. UPI also named him to their Second-team All-NFL. In 1965, the New York Daily News put him on their All-NFL team.
After Football: Broadcasting Career
After retiring from playing football in 1969, Mike Pyle became a broadcaster. He worked for WGN radio. He hosted the Bears' pre-game and post-game shows. He also hosted a Sunday sports talk show.
Later, he co-hosted the "Mike Ditka Show." This show was with Mike Ditka, who coached the Bears. In 1974, Pyle also worked as a color commentator. He helped broadcast games for the WFL team, the Chicago Fire, on WJJD radio.
Later Health and the 88 Plan
Years after he stopped playing football, Mike Pyle started having memory problems. His condition became worse over time. His family had to move him to a special assisted living facility.
Pyle received care at Silverado, a national care center. This center works with the NFL to help former players. Players who have played for at least three years and have memory issues can get free care. This program is called the "88 Plan."
The 88 Plan is a program for brain health. It is named after John Mackey, a Hall of Fame player. His jersey number was 88. Mike Pyle passed away on July 29, 2015. He died from a brain hemorrhage. He is one of many former NFL players who have been diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This disease is linked to repeated hits to the head.
