American football player (born 1956)
American football player
Mike Wellman Position:
Center Born: (1956-07-15 ) July 15, 1956 (age 67)
Newton, Kansas , U.S.Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Weight: 253 lb (115 kg) High school:
Lawrence (KS) College:
Kansas NFL draft:
1979 / Round: 3 / Pick: 81
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Player stats at
NFL.com ·
PFR
Michael J. Wellman (born July 15, 1956) is a former
American football
center . He played
college football for the
Kansas Jayhawks and was selected in the third round of the
1979 National Football League (NFL) Draft by the
Los Angeles Rams . He later had stints with the
Green Bay Packers ,
Kansas City Chiefs ,
Edmonton Eskimos and
San Francisco 49ers .
Early life and education
Wellman was born on July 15, 1956, in
Newton, Kansas .
[1] He was the son of
Vere Wellman , a football coach.
[2] He attended
Lawrence High School and competed in football as well as in
track and field .
[3] He was the fifth Lawrence alumni to make it to the NFL.
[4]
Wellman began his collegiate career with the
Kansas Jayhawks in 1975.
[5] He earned a starting role at
center as a
sophomore in 1976, as the Jayhawks compiled a record of
6–5 .
[5]
[6]
[7] He remained a starter in the 1977 season as a
junior during the Jayhawks'
3–7–1 season .
[8]
[9] He added 15 points for his
senior season in 1978, and although
Kansas went 1–10 , Wellman was selected All-
Big Eight Conference and was invited to the
Senior Bowl .
[8]
[10]
[11]
[12] In addition to playing center for the Jayhawks, Wellman also was a
long snapper and could play
guard .
[11]
Professional career
Wellman was selected in the third round (81st overall) of the
1979 NFL Draft by the
Los Angeles Rams .
[13] He was traded to the
Green Bay Packers in exchange for a middle round 1981 draft pick in August 1979 after the Packers were "desperate" for a center.
[14] He was one of nine
rookies to make the
1979 Packers squad .
[14] He made his NFL debut in a 6–3 loss to the
Chicago Bears and ended up playing all 16 games for the team in 1979.
[15]
Wellman was a backup to
Larry McCarren and saw little playing time, however; an article from
United Press International (UPI) noted that he "sat, sat, sat" and that "[e]xcept for an occasional long snap with the Packers, Wellman's career has been punctuated by clean pants."
[8] His only statistic recorded in 1979 was a 10-yard
kickoff return.
[1] Wellman returned to the Packers in 1980 and made the team, but was placed on
injured reserve after four games with an undisclosed non-football illness.
[5]
[16] He was released by the team on October 30, 1980.
[17]
After being released by the Packers, Wellman considered retiring, but then "spent more hours in the weight room ... than ever before" in an attempt to return to the NFL.
[8]
[18] He was signed by the
Kansas City Chiefs on April 2, 1981.
[17] He was
waived , however, on August 18 that year.
[19] Wellman then tried to make the
Edmonton Eskimos of the
Canadian Football League (CFL) for the
1982 season but did not make the team.
[20] He had a comeback attempt in 1983 with the
San Francisco 49ers , but was released in August of that year after having been signed in June.
[17]
[21]
[22] He then signed with the team again on July 22, 1984, only to be released on August 8.
[23]
[24] He finished his professional career with 20 games played, none as a starter.
[5]
References
^
a
b
"Mike Wellman Stats" .
Pro-Football-Reference.com .
Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2018-03-28 .
^
"Kansas prepsters turning in outstanding grid performances" .
The Manhattan Mercury .
Associated Press . September 19, 1973. p. 12.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^ Smith, Rod (April 1, 1973).
"Mile Relay Pushes Hutchinson to State Crown" .
The Wichita Eagle . p. 47.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Lawrence (Lawrence, KS) Alumni Pro Stats" .
Pro-Football-Reference.com .
Archived from the original on 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2023-10-17 .
^
a
b
c
d
"Mike Wellman Stats" . Pro Football Archives .
Archived from the original on 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-10-17 .
^
"Big 8 coaches concerned" .
The Wichita Beacon .
Associated Press . September 7, 1976. p. 14.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"1976 Kansas Jayhawks Schedule and Results" .
Sports Reference .
Archived from the original on 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-17 .
^
a
b
c
d
"KU's Wellman Giving NFL Another Try" .
The Wichita Eagle .
United Press International . July 22, 1981. p. 45.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"1977 Kansas Jayhawks Schedule and Results" .
Sports Reference .
Archived from the original on 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-17 .
^
"Big Eight players, KU's Mike Wellman on Senior Bowl squad" .
The Salina Journal .
United Press International . December 14, 1978. p. 18.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
a
b
"Rams grab talent, not names..."
The San Bernardino County Sun . May 4, 1979. p. 68.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"1978 Kansas Jayhawks Schedule and Results" .
Sports Reference .
Archived from the original on 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-17 .
^
"1979 NFL Draft" . Pro Football Archives .
Archived from the original on 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-10-17 .
^
a
b
"Nine Rookies Make 1979 Packer Roster" .
Green Bay Press-Gazette . August 29, 1979. p. 21.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Mike Well Career Game Log" .
Pro-Football-Reference.com .
Archived from the original on 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2023-10-17 .
^
"Packers in even match" .
Sunday News .
United Press International . October 5, 1980. p. 14.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
a
b
c
"Mike Wellman NFL Transactions" . Pro Football Archives .
Archived from the original on 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-10-17 .
^ Pulliam, Kent (April 17, 1981).
"Chiefs' free agent from KU 'completely healthy' again" .
The Kansas City Star . p. 23,
24 .
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Chiefs placed 3 on waivers, Morgado retired" .
The Iola Register .
Associated Press . August 19, 1981. p. 7.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Football" .
The Toronto Star . June 20, 1982. p. 17.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^ Cameron, Steve (June 12, 1983).
"49ers play name game" .
Oakland Tribune . p. 54.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Roster game getting tough" .
Auburn Journal . August 10, 1983. p. 11.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^ Tefertiller, Casey (July 23, 1984).
"Local angles" .
The San Francisco Examiner . p. 45.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Changes" .
The Sentinel . August 9, 1984. p. 14.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .