Mike Wellman
No. 65
Position:Center
Personal information
Born: (1956-07-15) July 15, 1956
Newton, Kansas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:253 lb (115 kg)
Career information
High school:Lawrence (KS)
College:Kansas
NFL Draft:1979 / Round: 3 / Pick: 81
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played:20
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

  1. 1 2 "Mike Wellman Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  2. ↑ "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. Open access icon
  3. ↑ 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. Open access icon
  4. ↑ "Lawrence (Lawrence, KS) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Mike Wellman Stats". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  6. ↑ "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. Open access icon
  7. ↑ "1976 Kansas Jayhawks Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "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. Open access icon
  9. ↑ "1977 Kansas Jayhawks Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  10. ↑ "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. Open access icon
  11. 1 2 "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. Open access icon
  12. ↑ "1978 Kansas Jayhawks Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  13. ↑ "1979 NFL Draft". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  14. 1 2 "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. Open access icon
  15. ↑ "Mike Well Career Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  16. ↑ "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. Open access icon
  17. 1 2 3 "Mike Wellman NFL Transactions". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  18. ↑ 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. Open access icon
  19. ↑ "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. Open access icon
  20. ↑ "Football". The Toronto Star. June 20, 1982. p. 17. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  21. ↑ 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. Open access icon
  22. ↑ "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. Open access icon
  23. ↑ 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. Open access icon
  24. ↑ "Changes". The Sentinel. August 9, 1984. p. 14. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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