Tag: Don Muhlbach

Don Muhlbach has been helping coach Lions special teams with Dave Fipp out

Longtime Detroit long snapper Don Muhlbach has been helping coach Lions special teams with Dave Fipp out

There could be a familiar sight on the Lions sideline when the team hosts the Philadelphia Eagles. Longtime long snapper Don Muhlbach has been helping to coach Detroit’s special teams while coordinator Dave Fipp is sidelined with a COVID-19 positive test.

“Muhlbach’s been doing a hell of a job filling in (coaching),” head coach Dan Campbell said before Friday’s practice, while also noting other coaches who have helped fill in for Fipp.

When asked if Muhlbach has caught the coaching bug with his experience this week, Campbell brought the media room to laughs.

“I think he’s willing to catch whatever bug comes his way … it certainly intrigues him. When you watch him interact with players, he’s all passion, all energy. He’d be an outstanding coach.”

Muhlbach retired this summer after spending 17 seasons as the Lions long snapper. He joined the team’s front office in an undefined capacity immediately after his retirement. Campbell indicated that Muhlbach has worked with the scouting department and community outreach as well as his coaching “toe in the water” this week.

Don Muhlbach officially retires, joins the Lions front office

Muhlbach has retired from the NFL and joins the Lions front office as a special assistant

Death, taxes and Don Muhlbach.

The longtime Lions long snapper is back with the organization where he played for 17 seasons. Muhlbach officially retired from the NFL on Friday and rejoined the Lions in a front office capacity.

Muhlbach is now a special assistant to GM Brad Holmes, head coach Dan Campbell and team president Rod Wood. He will assist the Lions leadership in both football and business operations.

Muhlbach released a statement via the team,

“It has been an honor and a privilege to wear the Honolulu Blue and Silver for the past 17 years. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to remain with this organization that has given me so much. I’m excited about this new chapter of my career and to have the ability to continue working towards the goal of bringing a winning culture to Detroit.”

The Lions released Muhlbach this summer after 17 seasons. Only Jason Hanson has played in more Lions games than Muhlbach, who ranks eighth in NFL history for games played with one team at 260.

Dan Campbell admits ‘I’m an (expletive)’ for cutting Don Muhlbach on his 40th birthday

Lions head coach Dan Campbell admits ‘I’m an (expletive)’ for cutting longtime long snapper Don Muhlbach on his 40th birthday

Don Muhlbach had just been given a rocking chair by his teammates as a 40th birthday present. His locker was decorated with balloons and lighthearted tokens, celebrating the milestone of the Lions long snapper for the last 17 seasons.

Minutes later, Muhlbach was informed by head coach Dan Campbell that his time with the Lions was over. Campbell and Muhlbach were once teammates in Detroit, and the surprise move was very hard on the new coach. Doing it on Muhlbach’s 40th birthday was not cool, and Campbell knows it.

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“No doubt. There is no way to sugarcoat that. I’m an (expletive),” Campbell said bluntly when asked about cutting the venerable veteran. “That’s about the best way to put it and I hate it. No, it is, but there was no way around it, really. Yeah, you could say there is, but ultimately, that falls on me. It’s my fault and Don’s a hell of a dude. It sucks, but it is what it is.”

The Lions released Muhlbach as part of a series of moves that was necessitated by injuries and attrition at other spots on the roster. They needed healthy bodies and fresh competition at other positions, according to Campbell.

“There were a number of moves like with Nick (Williams) that was coming down the wire to get him back from COVID/Reserve and the linebacker (Rashod Berry) and then the quarterback (Jordan Ta’amu) because of where we were at there,” Campbell continued. “Once again, it’s putting a strain and you’re looking for that spot. Unfortunately, it has to be on his birthday, and it stinks.”

Taylor Decker is now the longest-tenured Lions player

Don Muhlbach’s departure ends any Lions legacy players from before 2016

With this week’s surprising release of longtime long snapper Don Muhlbach, the Detroit Lions got decidedly less experienced. In fact, Muhlbach’s departure leaves no remaining traces of the Matt Millen or even Martin Mayhew eras.

Muhlbach had been with the Lions since 2004. Now the longest-tenured member of the team is Taylor Decker. The left tackle was Detroit’s first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft, the first-ever selection by Bob Quinn as the team’s GM. None of the free agents signed by Quinn that offseason remain in Detroit, so Decker earns the honor of being the longest-tenured Lion.

Decker is entering his sixth season in Detroit, but that gives him a full year on the next-longest Lion: linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin. Offensive tackle Dan Skipper and tight end Darren Fells were both on the 2017 Lions, but they’ve been on other rosters (including a year together in Houston) since that season.

Muhlbach’s departure ends any Lions legacy players from before 2016. Based on the team’s history, that’s probably a good thing.

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Lions ownership issues statement on the release of long snapper Don Muhlbach

Owner Sheila Ford Hamp called Muhlbach “one of the Detroit Lions all-time greats”

It was stunning news to hear that the Detroit Lions were releasing longtime long snapper Don Muhlbach. It’s a testament to Muhlbach’s legacy that the Lions ownership offered up an official statement thanking Muhlbach for his 17 seasons in Detroit.

From owner Sheila Ford Hamp in a press release,

Don Muhlbach will go down as one of the all-time Detroit Lions greats. Since joining our team as a free agent in 2004, to earning the respect of his teammates as a team captain, he has represented our organization with class, consistency and true sportsmanship. His 260 career games played, the second-most in team history behind only Jason Hanson, illustrate the dedication to his craft he has displayed over the course of his 17 seasons. Only 36 players in the history of the National Football League have played in more games than Don, and we are proud to call him a Lion for life.

Away from the field, Don has been the consummate leader. Often assisting behind the scenes with the planning and execution of team philanthropic initiatives, Don’s passion for making a difference in our city has been evident since the day he set foot in Detroit. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of his family, and we wish him, his wife, Alix, and their three children, Addison, Jack and Avery, the very best in the future. We are so thankful for everything Don has given to our organization.

“Death, taxes and Don Muhlbach” is no longer the mantra for the Lions. Thanks for the outstanding career in Detroit, Don, you were truly a great one.

Lions cut longtime long snapper Don Muhlbach

The Detroit Lions are releasing long snapper Don Muhlbach, who has been with the team since 2004

The Detroit Lions are releasing the longest-tenured member of the Detroit Lions. In a surprising move, head coach Dan Campbell announced prior to Tuesday night’s practice that the team is releasing long snapper Don Muhlbach.

“We’re going to let Don Muhlbach go,” Campbell said at the start of his press conference. “It will be official tomorrow.”

Muhlbach has been with the Lions since the 2004 season. He was a teammate of Campbell’s over a decade ago and has played in 260 career games, all with Detroit. He ranks 37th all-time in NFL games played.

“I hate it, man,” a somber Campbell said. “This is the hardest time, especially with a player like him.”

The release comes on Muhlbach’s 40th birthday. It means Scott Daly has won the long snapping battle, at least temporarily.

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Don Muhlbach’s latest Lions contract includes a Super Bowl bonus clause

Longtime Lions long snapper Don Muhlbach’s latest one-year contract includes a Super Bowl incentive

Don Muhlbach is back in Detroit for an 18th season. The veteran long snapper agreed to yet another one-year deal to return to the Lions. This particular contract includes something of a cruel joke for Muhlbach.

The Lions wrote in a $37,500 Super Bowl incentive bonus into Muhlbach’s one-year, $1.175 million contract. That’s right — if the new-look, rebuilding Lions somehow make the Super Bowl this coming season, Muhlbach gets an extra $37,500.

Under NFL contract rules, the incentive is classified as “not likely to be earned” and therefore does not count against the salary cap.

Given that the Lions have played three postseason games in Muhlbach’s amazingly long tenure in Detroit, winning zero, it’s a pretty safe assumption by the NFL that the incentive won’t be earned.

Lions sign long snapper Don Muhlbach for an 18th season

Lions sign long snapper Don Muhlbach for an 18th season

Death. Taxes. Don Muhlbach snapping for the Detroit Lions.

The inevitable carries on at least one more year. The Lions announced they have re-signed Muhlbach to a one-year contract to return as the team’s long snapper for the 18th consecutive season.

Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, but Muhlbach has taken a slight raise on a one-year deal for each of the last eight seasons. The 39-year-old has played 260 games in a Lions uniform, the eighth-most of any player with one team in NFL history. He was a teammate in Detroit of new Lions head coach Dan Campbell from 2006-2008.

Lions sign long snapper Don Muhlbach for an 18th season

Lions sign long snapper Don Muhlbach for an 18th season

Death. Taxes. Don Muhlbach snapping for the Detroit Lions.

The inevitable carries on at least one more year. The Lions announced they have re-signed Muhlbach to a one-year contract to return as the team’s long snapper for the 18th consecutive season.

Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, but Muhlbach has taken a slight raise on a one-year deal for each of the last eight seasons. The 39-year-old has played 260 games in a Lions uniform, the eighth-most of any player with one team in NFL history. He was a teammate in Detroit of new Lions head coach Dan Campbell from 2006-2008.

Ranking the Detroit Lions unrestricted free agents heading into the 2021 offseason

Ranking the Detroit Lions unrestricted, restricted, and exclusive rights free agents heading into 2021 offseason.

The Detroit Lions will enter the 2021 offseason with 18 of the 53-players on the active roster unrestricted free agents. They also have one restricted free agent and three exclusive rights free agents.

In this piece, we have separated the players into six ranked tiers based on the level of importance to the team and the role they would fill if they return next season.