In 1984, Spielman graduated from Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio, where he was awarded the Dial Award for the national high-school scholar-athlete of the year in 1983. He was the first high school athlete to have his picture on a box of Wheaties. For college, Spielman initially wanted to attend the University of Michigan, but his father, a lifelong fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes (Michigan's arch-rival), strongly opposed the idea. Spielman recounted the story in the HBO Documentary "Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry":
My dad said, "Okay, where are you going to go?" I said, "Dad, I want to go to Michigan." And he said, "You traitor. I'll tell you where you're going. You're going right down 71 South and you're going to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes... Better not go there [Michigan]. Don't ever come home if you do."[1]
Spielman was a three-time All-American at Ohio State,[2] intercepted 11 passes, and won the Lombardi Award as the best college football lineman or linebacker. He was the Ohio State football team MVP his senior year and won the Touchdown Club of Columbus's Chic Harley Award. He graduated from Ohio State with a degree in recreation education.
In the 1988 NFL draft, Spielman was drafted in the second round with the 29th overall pick by the Detroit Lions.[4] Spielman played eight seasons with the Lions (1988–95), where he was a defensive stalwart during the team's run to four playoff appearances, two NFC Central titles, and a berth in the 1991 NFC Championship Game. He captained the Lions' defense that was one of the best statistically in the NFL in the mid-1990s.[citation needed] Spielman is the franchise's all-time leader in career tackles with 1,138[5] (since the team began recording tackles statistically in 1973.) He also recorded 10 sacks, four interceptions, 30 pass defenses, 13 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries during his Lions' career. He was the first Lion to lead the team in tackles seven consecutive seasons since 1973, including the team's highest single-season tally 195 tackles in 1994.[6]
Spielman represented the Lions in four Pro Bowls (1990–92, 1995) and was named the team's defensive MVP in 1993 and 1994. He played for the Buffalo Bills in 1996 and 1997. His 1997 season was limited because of a neck injury that required spinal surgery.
He chose to miss the 1998 season to assist his wife battling cancer.
He returned to the NFL in the 1999 season, with the Cleveland Browns. He retired before the regular season began, after suffering another neck injury. Spielman is also notable for being one of the players notable NFL Draft "guru" Mel Kiper, Jr. has "missed" on, Kiper admitting in a 2001 post that he had underrated the linebacker.[7] In April 2009 Spielman was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame. His induction came in July 2010. In 2012, he appeared in an episode of the NFL Network show A Football Life. The episode celebrated his prowess on the field as well as his dedication to his family.[8]
On October 21, 2021, the Detroit Lions announced they were inducting Spielman into their "Pride of the Lions" club, which honors the greatest players in their history.[9]
Broadcasting career
Spielman (left) with play-by-play announcer Thom Brennaman during the 2018 NFL season.
Spielman's broadcasting career started in 1999, as an NFL studio-show analyst for Fox Sports Net.[citation needed] After two years with FSN, Spielman joined ESPN in 2001.[citation needed] He served primarily as a color analyst for college football broadcasts, as well as studio analyst for college football. Spielman is also a contributor to the Columbus-based FM radio station 97.1 The Fan, an ESPN Radio affiliate. He previously hosted the show Spielman on Sports. Spielman used to appear every Tuesday afternoon on AM 1270 WXYT, a sports-talk radio station out of Detroit. Spielman has served as a color analyst for the Detroit Lions during the NFL preseason. In 2006, Spielman hosted a reality series on ESPNU called Summer House.[citation needed]
Spielman in 2008
In 2016, Fox Sports announced that Spielman had joined Fox NFL coverage as a game analyst alongside veteran play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton and sideline reporter Kristina Pink. On select weeks, he also teamed up with Thom Brennaman and Charles Davis in a three-man booth.[10][11]
Spielman and his first wife Stefanie had four children. Stefanie survived four bouts with breast cancer, during which both she and her husband were active in raising funds for breast cancer research. While undergoing treatment, she lost her hair, prompting Spielman to shave his head in a show of solidarity.[14] Stefanie died on November 19, 2009, after the disease returned for the fifth time.[15]
His elder brother is Rick Spielman, former general manager of the Minnesota Vikings.[17] His son Noah played football for Wheaton College,[18] while his nephew J.D. currently plays football for TCU. His daughter Macy will be playing basketball in 2021-22 for Ashland University.
.jpg)
