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Former New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers linebacker Sam Mills was one of eight former players and coaches selected for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Thursday.
Joining Mills is Dick Vermeil, LeRoy Butler, Bryant Young, Richard Seymour, Art McNally, Cliff Branch and Tony Boselli in the class of 2022.
For younger fans, you may recognize Mills’ name from Washington. His son, Sam Mills III, is Washington’s defensive line coach, following head coach Ron Rivera over from Carolina.
Mills is one of the greatest success stories in NFL history. The 5-foot-9 linebacker from Montclair State went undrafted in 1981 before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns. Mills would be released at the end of training camp.
From there, he went to the CFL, signing with the Toronto Argonauts. He was released before the season. He spent the next three seasons with the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars of the USFL. Mills made such an impression during his USFL days that the New Orleans Saints signed him ahead of the 1986 season.
#Panthers legend Sam Mills elected to Pro Football Hall of Famehttps://t.co/35WQ6CqAFE
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) February 11, 2022
In New Orleans, Mills played nine seasons before playing for the Panthers during the final three years of his career. Over a 12-year career, Mills finished 1,319 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 11 interceptions and four touchdowns.
Here are some of his accolades:
- First-team All-Pro (1996)
- Second-team All-Pro (1991, 1992)
- Five-time Pro Bowl selection
- Three-time All-USFL selection
- Two-time USFL champion
- Jersey No. 51 retired by Panthers
- Member of Panthers Hall of Honor
- Member of Saints Hall of Fame
- Member of Saints Ring of Honor
- Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
- Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey
After his playing career, Mills immediately went into coaching, spending seven seasons with Carolina, the final six as linebackers coach.
Sadly, Mills was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2003 and was only given months to live. Despite that diagnosis, he continued to coach, inspiring his Panthers and all of the NFL. He was the inspiration behind Carolina’s first Super Bowl appearance in 2003.
Before a playoff game in 2003, Mills gave a famous speech where he said he could “quit or keep pounding” after his cancer diagnosis. That “keep pounding” motto has been with the team ever since, as a select individual or group is chosen to bang the “Keep Pounding” drum before the game.
Mills sadly died in 2005. A statue of Mills is outside of Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Congratulations to the Mills family. Sam Mills was long-deserving of this honor, and perhaps it will open the door for former Washington linebacker London Fletcher in the near future.