Former Packers and Browns Player Walt Michaels Passes Away at 89

The football world lost a former star of the game on Thursday.

Former Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns linebacker Walt Michaels has passed away at the age of 89.

Former NFL player, head coach Walt Michaels dead at 89 https://t.co/KklN6T3EzR
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 11, 2019

Michaels had humble beginnings in the NFL, but he ended up carving out a nice career for himself both as a player and as a coach. Drafted in the seventh round back in 1951 by the Browns, Michaels was traded and played his rookie season with the Packers before he was dealt back to Cleveland.

It was there where he thrived. Over the next 10 seasons, he would appear in 120 games, recovering eight fumbles while logging 11 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

He won two NFL championships and was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls with the Browns from 1955 to 1959. He played one final season with the Jets in and also served as defensive coordinator, ultimately winning the Super Bowl.

Former Jets coach Walt Michaels has died, according to The Times Leader in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Michaels was 89 years old. #nyj
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) July 11, 2019

Michaels went on to become a head coach for the Jets later in his career, amassing a 39-47-1 record across six seasons with the team. He took the Jets to the AFC Championship Game in 1982, but resigned in the offseason.

The football world mourns his loss.