Mike Singletary Biography

Michael Singletary, born October 9, 1958, earned the nickname "Samurai Mike" for his fierce playing style and leadership on the field. He played as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League. After a standout college career at Baylor, he was drafted by the Bears in 1981 and became known as "the Heart of the Defense" during the mid-1980s. Singletary later transitioned into coaching, serving as a linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens and later for the San Francisco 49ers. In 2008, the 49ers named him head coach after Mike Nolan’s dismissal, a role he held until 2010. At Baylor, he recorded 232 tackles in 1978, averaging 15 per game, and earned All-American honors in 1979 and 1980. He was selected to 10 Pro Bowls, named All-Pro eight times, and earned All-NFC honors every year from 1983 to 1991.