Larry Mialik is an American athlete, who playedtight end in theNational Football League (NFL) from 1972 through 1976. He also sailed as a member of the crew aboardAmerica³, winner of theAmerica's Cup in 1992.
Mialik was born Lawrence George Mialik on May 15, 1950, inPassaic, New Jersey.[1]
He began playing football in the tenth grade atClifton High School inClifton, New Jersey.[2]
Mialik played at the collegiate level at theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison where he was a 1st team All Big Ten selection as a tight end as well as an Associated Press honorable mention All-American.
Mialik was drafted in the twelfth round of the1972 NFL draft by theAtlanta Falcons and would be with the team for four credited seasons. He played with theSan Diego Chargers during the1976 NFL season. He is a vested NFL alumni.
Mialik initially took upsailing as a hobby but became interested in the competitive aspect of the sport when he met members of the crew ofThe Heart of America, a contender for theAmerica's Cup in 1987.[3] He would go on to participate in four America's Cup campaigns, including serving as a member of the winning crew withAmerica³ in 1992. In the victorious 1992 effort, Mialik worked as a "grinder," operating the heavy winches which control thejib andspinnaker, the two forward sails.[3]