In the 2nd round of the 1996 NFL Draft the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted a young man from Purdue University.
That young man was drafted to be a fullback. What he became is a legend. Not just a Buccaneer’s legend, but a football legend.
Mike Alstott turned what was typically a role playing position into a key part of the Buccaneers offense.
Every Sunday night football fans, not just Buccaneer fans would tune in to watch Alstott’s ground pounding defensive player crushing highlights. These highlights were typically narrated by ESPN’s Chris Berman with his famous nickname he bestowed upon the Buccaneers FB “You’re in good hands with Alstott”
The human bowling ball of a player that was #40 transformed the position of fullback and while doing so helped transform a franchise.
The 6’1 240 lb Fullback put up stats that would make a running back jealous.
Alstotts accolades are impressive to say the least.
- Super Bowl champion (XXXVII)
- 6× Pro Bowl (1997–2002)
- 3× First-team All-Pro (1997–1999)
- Second-Team All-Pro (1996)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor
If you were lucky enough to watch Alstott play then you’ve seen these highlights. If you haven’t, then you’re missing out on some of the purest, most violent runs in the history of football.
