Chris Spielman
Detroit Lions | |||||||||
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Position: | Special assistant to the owner and CEO | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | Canton, Ohio, U.S. | October 11, 1965||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 247 lb (112 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | Massillon Washington (Massillon, Ohio) | ||||||||
College: | Ohio State (1984–1987) | ||||||||
NFL draft: | 1988 / Round: 2 / Pick: 29 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
As a player: | |||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
As a coach: | |||||||||
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As an executive: | |||||||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Charles Christopher Spielman (born October 11, 1965) is an American former professional football player who is a special assistant to the owner and CEO for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes, twice earning All-American honors. He played professional football for the Detroit Lions in the NFL, where he was a three-time All-Pro. He also played for the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, and coached for the Arena Football League (AFL)'s Columbus Destroyers. He was a broadcaster for Fox Sports and ESPN from 1999 to 2020.
Football career
In 1984, Spielman graduated from Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio, where he was awarded the Dial Award for the national high-school scholar-athlete of the year in 1983. He was the first high school athlete to have his picture on a box of Wheaties. For college, Spielman initially wanted to attend the University of Michigan, but his father, a lifelong fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes (Michigan's arch-rival), strongly opposed the idea. Spielman recounted the story in the HBO Documentary "Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry":
My dad said, "Okay, where are you going to go?" I said, "Dad, I want to go to Michigan." And he said, "You traitor. I'll tell you where you're going. You're going right down 71 South and you're going to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes... Better not go there [Michigan]. Don't ever come home if you do."[1]
Spielman was a two-time All-American at Ohio State, intercepted 11 passes, and won the
Height | Weight | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle |
Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
234 lb (106 kg) |
9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) |
4.90 s | 1.71 s | 2.87 s | 4.13 s | 32.5 in (0.83 m) |
9 ft 1 in (2.77 m) |
23 reps | |||
All values from NFL Combine[2] |
In the
Spielman represented the Lions in four Pro Bowls (1990–92, 1995) and was named the team's defensive MVP in 1993 and 1994. He played for the Buffalo Bills in 1996 and 1997. His 1997 season was limited because of a neck injury that required spinal surgery.
He chose to miss the 1998 season to assist his wife battling cancer.
He returned to the NFL in the 1999 season, with the
On October 21, 2021, the Detroit Lions announced they were inducting Spielman into their "Pride of the Lions" club, which honors the greatest players in their history.[8]
Broadcasting career
Spielman's broadcasting career started in 1999, as an NFL studio-show analyst for
In 2016,
Coaching career
After the 2000 season, Spielman interviewed for the vacant
Executive career
Spielman was hired by the Detroit Lions as special assistant to chairman and president & CEO on December 15, 2020.[12]
NFL career statistics
Legend | |
---|---|
Led the league | |
Bold | Career high |
Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | Int | Yds | TD | FF | FR | ||
1988 | DET | 16 | 16 | 153 | – | – | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
1989 | DET | 16 | 16 | 125 | – | – | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
1990 | DET | 12 | 12 | 108 | – | – | 2.0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
1991 | DET | 16 | 16 | 126 | – | – | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
1992 | DET | 16 | 16 | 146 | – | – | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
1993 | DET | 16 | 16 | 148 | – | – | 0.5 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
1994 | DET | 16 | 16 | 195 | 124 | 71 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
1995 | DET | 16 | 16 | 137 | 90 | 47 | 1.0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
1996 | BUF | 16 | 16 | 157 | 111 | 46 | 0.0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
1997 | BUF | 8 | 8 | 68 | 50 | 18 | 0.0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career | 148 | 148 | 1,363 | 375 | 182 | 10.5 | 6 | 36 | 0 | 13 | 19 |
Personal life
Spielman and his first wife Stefanie had four children. Stefanie survived four bouts with breast cancer, during which both she and her husband were active in raising funds for breast cancer research. While undergoing treatment, she lost her hair, prompting Spielman to shave his head in a show of solidarity.[13] Stefanie died on November 19, 2009, after the disease returned for the fifth time.[14]
In 2013, Spielman married Carrie Yocom, and adopted her two daughters.
His elder brother is Rick Spielman, former general manager of the Minnesota Vikings.[16] His son Noah played football for Wheaton College,[17] while his nephew J.D. currently plays football for TCU. His daughter Macy will be playing basketball in 2021-22 for Ashland University.
References
- ^ "Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry". HBO. 2007-11-13.
- ^ "Chris Spielman, Combine Results, ILB - Ohio State". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
- ^ "Chris Spielman Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Timeline « Chris Spielman".
- ^ Mel Kiper's comments re "missing out" on Spielman
- ^ "NFL Network's A Football Life Explores Life, Legacy of Steve McNair Oct. 17". titansonline.com. 2012-10-12. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
- ^ "Lions to add Chris Spielman to Pride of the Lions". detroitlions.com. 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ "FOX Sports Announces NFL Broadcast Teams for Super Bowl Season". www.foxsports.com. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
- ^ "Former Ohio State star Chris Spielman joining Fox as college football, NFL analyst". 2016-05-18.
- ^ Arena Fan - Celebrating the History of the Arena Football League
- ^ "C. Spielman returns to Lions as special assistant". ESPN.com. 2020-12-15. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
- ^ Official webpage for Chris Spielman Archived October 17, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Notice of Stefanie Spielman's death Archived November 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "About Chris « Chris Spielman". chrisspielman.com. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
- ^ "Staff Members". Vikings.com. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^ Noah Spielman Bio - Wheaton Football