National Football Foundation

Position: Tackle
Years: 1955-1957
Place of Birth: Swoyersville, PA
Date of Birth: Sep 28, 1935
Place of Death: Swoyersville, PA
Date of Death: Jan 19, 2016
Jersey Number: 79
Height: 6-2
Weight: 235
High School: Swoyersville, PA (Swoyersville HS)Front Royal, VA (Staunton Military Academy)

A stalwart tackle during the era of one-platoon football, Lou Michaels came to the University of Kentucky in the autumn of 1954. He made an immediate impression on the “Kittens” freshman team, earning comparisons to Wildcat legend and fellow College Football Hall of Famer Bob Gain. Playing for head coach Blanton Collier, Michaels began fulfilling those expectations when he advanced to the varsity a year later.

Competing on both the offensive and defensive lines, and also a placekicker and punter, Michaels was named Third-Team All-Southeastern Conference as a sophomore and also chosen to the Sophomore All-SEC team.

Michaels blossomed into a consensus All-American as a junior and senior in 1956 and 1957 at a time when only 11 players were recognized on the national teams. He was voted SEC Player of the Year by the league coaches as a senior and finished fourth in balloting for the Heisman Trophy. He was chosen as the Outstanding SEC Lineman by the Birmingham Touchdown Club in 1956 and the Outstanding SEC Lineman by the Atlanta Touchdown Club in 1957. He was given credit for “almost singlehandedly” defeating Tennessee in Wildcat wins over the Volunteers in his sophomore and senior seasons.

The No. 4 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, Michaels went on to a 13-year professional career, playing for the Los Angeles Rams (1958-60), Pittsburgh Steelers (1961-63), Baltimore Colts (1964-69) and Green Bay Packers (1971). He was named All-Pro in 1962 and 1963 and was a member of the Colts team that played in Super Bowl III in 1969.

Michaels’ jersey (No. 79) was retired by Kentucky in 1990. Two years later, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He also was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.

He passed away Jan. 19, 2016, in his native Swoyersville, Pa. He was 80 years old.