If you are a fan of American football, you might have heard of two players with the same last name: Devin Singletary and Mike Singletary. Devin is a running back for the Buffalo Bills, while Mike is a former linebacker for the Chicago Bears and a coach for several teams. But are they related? Is Devin Singletary on the Bills related to Mike Singletary, the legendary defender and coach? Here is what you need to know.
Devin Singletary’s background and career
Devin Singletary was born on September 3, 1997, in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He is the son of Sabrina Clark and Devonn Singletary Sr., who was also a football player at Norfolk State. Devin attended American Heritage School, where he played both football and track. He was a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals.
Devin chose to play college football at Florida Atlantic University, where he had a stellar career. He was named the Conference USA Most Valuable Player in 2017, after leading the nation with 32 rushing touchdowns and 2,018 rushing yards. He also helped his team win the Boca Raton Bowl that year. He finished his college career with 66 rushing touchdowns, which ranks sixth in FBS history.
Devin declared for the 2019 NFL Draft after his junior season. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round, with the 74th overall pick. He made his NFL debut on September 8, 2019, against the New York Jets, rushing for 70 yards on four carries. He finished his rookie season with 775 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
In his second season, Devin improved his numbers, rushing for 956 yards and seven touchdowns. He also had his first career playoff touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round. He helped the Bills reach the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1993.
Devin is currently in his third season with the Bills, and he has been sharing the backfield with Zack Moss and Matt Breida. He has rushed for 601 yards and four touchdowns so far, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He has also caught 25 passes for 90 yards.
Mike Singletary’s background and career
Mike Singletary was born on October 9, 1958, in Houston, Texas. He is the son of Rudell and Charles Singletary, who divorced when he was young. He grew up with nine siblings and faced many hardships in his childhood. He attended Evan E. Worthing High School, where he played football as a linebacker.
Mike received a scholarship to play college football at Baylor University, where he was a two-time All-American and a three-time All-Southwest Conference selection. He won the Davey O’Brien Memorial Trophy in 1979 and 1980 as the best player in Texas. He also set a school record with 662 career tackles.
Mike was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft, with the 38th overall pick. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Bears, becoming one of the best linebackers in NFL history. He was nicknamed “Samurai Mike” for his intensity and leadership on the field.
Mike was a key member of the legendary “Monsters of the Midway” defense that helped the Bears win Super Bowl XX in 1985. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice (1985 and 1988) and made ten Pro Bowls. He was also selected to seven All-Pro teams and two All-Decade teams (1980s and 1990s). He retired after the 1992 season with 1,488 tackles, 19 sacks, and seven interceptions.
Mike started his coaching career in 2003 as a linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens. He then joined the San Francisco 49ers as an assistant head coach and defensive coordinator in 2005. He became the interim head coach of the 49ers in 2008 after Mike Nolan was fired, and he was given the permanent job in 2009. However, he was fired himself after posting an 18-22 record in three seasons.
Mike then served as a linebackers coach for the Minnesota Vikings (2011-2013) and an assistant head coach for defense for the Los Angeles Rams (2016-2017). He also coached in other leagues, such as high school football (Trinity Christian Academy), college football (Baylor University), and professional football (Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football).
Mike is currently the head coach of the Dallas Defenders, a team in the Fan Controlled Football league. He is also a motivational speaker and an author of several books, such as “Calling the Shots” and “Daddy’s Home”.
