 Muhlbach with the Lions in 2011 | |||||||||
| Detroit Lions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Special assistant to the team president | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1981-08-17)August 17, 1981 (age 43) Newark, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 258 lb (117 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Lufkin(Lufkin, Texas) | ||||||||
| College: | Texas A&M (1999–2003) | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2004 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
As a player: | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
As a staff member / executive: | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Donald Lynn Muhlbach Jr. (MULE-bach; born August 17, 1981) is an American former professionalfootball player who was along snapper in theNational Football League (NFL).[1] At the time of his retirement, he was the oldest active player in the NFL other thanTom Brady. He playedcollege football for theTexas A&M Aggies and was signed as anundrafted free agent in 2004 by theBaltimore Ravens before joining theDetroit Lions that same year. Muhlbach is second in Lions franchise history in games played, only behind former teammateJason Hanson. Muhlbach was the last remaining active member of the Lions infamous2008 season, where they went 0–16. At the time of his retirement, he was the oldest active player in the NFL other thanTom Brady.
Muhlbach attendedLufkin High School inLufkin, Texas. As a senior football player, he was the Lufkin special team's most valuable player, and earned Academic All-District honors.[2]
Muhlbach attendedTexas A&M University, where he served as the team's long snapper for the 2003 season. He also saw action at punter as a sophomore during the 2001 season.[2]
Muhlbach signed as anundrafted free agent with theBaltimore Ravens on April 30, 2004. He spent the summer and OTAs with the Ravens before being released duringtraining camp on August 30, 2004. On November 10, 2004, theDetroit Lions signed him as a replacement for injured long snapperJody Littleton.[3][4] Prior to joining the Lions, he had tried out for the team and theBuffalo Bills and was working at aFirst Bank and Trust inLufkin, Texas. Upon his signing, Muhlbach was described as "theNolan Ryan of long snappers" by then-general managerMatt Millen; Millen was referring to the speed at which the ball is snapped to the holder or punter, with Muhlbach having the quickest snaps of those the team timed.[5]
Early in his Lions career, Muhlbach overcame the adversity brought on by a botched snap against theMinnesota Vikings in a December 20, 2004 game.HolderNick Harris was unable to cleanly field a bounced snap on aPAT attempt with 8 seconds remaining in the game. The missed PAT and unsuccessfulonside kick resulted in the Lions falling in regulation to the Vikings 28–27. Had the PAT been successful, the game likely would have gone to overtime, giving the Lions an opportunity for a win.[6] The Lions' faith in Muhlbach since paid off as he did not botch another snap through 2012.[7]
Muhlbach played in every Lions game since 2005 outside of a single game in 2009 due to aconcussion.[8] Following the 2012 season, Muhlbach was named to the2013 Pro Bowl, the first of his career.[9] He was also the first Lions long snapper to make a Pro Bowl.[10] Since 2015, Muhlbach signed consecutive one-year contracts to stay with the Lions.[11][12][13]
Muhlbach was released by the Lions on August 17, 2021, his 40th birthday, after 17 seasons with the team.[14] Following his release, Muhlbach retired from the NFL, and joined the Lions' front office as a special assistant to the team president.[15]
Muhlbach is married to Alix Koetting. On August 24, 2012, she gave birth to their first daughter, Addison. His uncle, John Muhlbach, was a center forOhio State.[1]
Media related toDon Muhlbach at Wikimedia Commons
