Herb Mul-Key
| No. 28 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Running back Kick returner | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | November 15, 1949 Atlanta, Georgia | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Alabama State | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1972 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Herbert Felton Mul-Key (born November 15, 1949) is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played three seasons for the Washington Redskins, including an appearance in the 1973 Super Bowl, and appeared in the Pro Bowl the same year. Born Herbert Mulkey, he hyphenated his name after having it made fun of in school.
Mul-Key attended Harper High School in Atlanta, where he was an all-city player. However, his attitude was criticized by coaches, and he did not receive a college scholarship. Yet, he was able to play at Alabama State College but for only one season.[1] After that he worked a series of jobs and served in the Navy. Childhood friend Harold McLinton told Mul-Key of an open try-out for the Redskins. Mul-Key borrowed money from his parents and friends to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the tryout held by George Allen and the Redskins in 1971. Allen was impressed by his speed, running 40 yards in under 4.5 seconds on a wet field, and signed him to the rookie minimum salary of $12,000. He was the only player ever signed from these tryouts, which were more public relations stunts than an actual talent search.[2]
Mul-Key got his only start in 1972, rushing for almost 100 yards against the Dallas Cowboys. For most of the time on the team, he served as a kick returner.[3] In pre-season in 1973 Mul-Key ran the first kickoff at Rich Stadium back 102 yards for a touchdown.[4] He went to the Pro Bowl after the 1973 season as a kick returner. Mul-Key injured his shoulder in his first season and had surgery in the off-season after the 1974 season.[5] He was cut before the 1975 season.[6]
References
- ^ Nix, JW (May 20, 2009). "Herb Mul-Key : BETTER Than Invincible". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- ^ Stewart, Larry (August 25, 2006). "'In-Herb-ible' Sounded Bad". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "He's a Pro Now, Not a Semi-". New York Times. December 31, 1972. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Wallace, William N. (August 18, 1973). "102-Yard Redskins Return Opens Bills' New Stadium". New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Brady, Dave (April 16, 1975). "Rumors of Injuries, Trades Keeping Mul-Key Guessing". Washington Post.
- ^ Richman, Michael (2009). The Redskins Encyclopedia. Temple University Press. pp. 318–319. ISBN 978-1592135424.
External links
- 1949 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Atlanta
- American football running backs
- American football return specialists
- Washington Redskins players
- National Conference Pro Bowl players
- Montreal Alouettes players
- Canadian football running backs
- African-American players of American football
- African-American players of Canadian football
- Alabama State Hornets football players