Mike Utley: Former Detroit Lions Player (Finding A Cure For Paralysis)

The Football History Dude

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EPISODE SUMMARY

This week I talk with former Detroit Lions player, Mike Utley. Mike suffered a neck injury on November 17, 1991, during a game, resulting in paralysis. However, he did not let this define his life over the past 30 years. Mike has lived his best life, aiming towards the goal of getting out of his chair and walking out of Ford's Field in the future.

We talk about this and much more. Below are some of the topics:

• Remembering what his teammates meant to him (and the Lomas Brown "Thumbs Up" speech the Thanksgiving after his injury
• We go back to relive some of his earliest memories of playing football (and other sports), including sharing his true role models - Mike's parents
• What the process was like for him transitioning from High School to College (Washington State University), and then being drafted #3 in the 3rd round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions
• His memories of Thanksgiving at the Pontiac Silverdome
• How it's pretty cool to have a football card, something he got after he was injured
• We reminisce the first time he walked on national television and the story behind it
• Mike shares why he started the Mike Utley Foundation, the purpose, and how you can get involved
• His advice to anyone going through this type of injury, as well as the friends and family members of an injured person
• Much more.....take a listen

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THE FOOTBALL HISTORY DUDE BACKGROUND

The Football History Dude is a show dedicated to teaching NFL fans about the rich history of the game we all know and love. I’m your host, Arnie Chapman, and I’m just a regular dude that loves football and is a nerd when it comes to learning about history. I created this show to share the gridiron knowledge nuggets I gain from researching various topics about the history of the National Football League. Each episode I welcome you to climb aboard my DeLorean to travel back in time to explore the yesteryear of the gridiron, and yes, that’s a reference to the Back to the Future Movies.

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