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Mike Pagel
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Mike John Pagel (born September 13, 1960) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils and was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the fourth round of the 1982 NFL draft.
Key Information
Professional career
[edit]Baltimore Colts
[edit]Drafted the same year as Art Schlichter, Pagel was drafted to be groomed as a backup. Generally, however, he out-played Schlichter. Pagel bounced in and out of the starting quarterback job for the Colts in his four seasons with the team, alternating with Schlichter, Matt Kofler, and Mark Herrmann. He was the last Colt to wear #18 before Peyton Manning.
Cleveland Browns
[edit]He was traded to Cleveland for the 1986 season and served for the next five years there strictly as a backup. In 1988, he took over for an injured Bernie Kosar and Don Strock and played well in a playoff loss to the Houston Oilers.
Los Angeles Rams
[edit]Pagel finished up the last three years with the Los Angeles Rams, never garnering more than mop-up duties.
Life after football
[edit]Pagel now resides in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, and is a project manager for AT&T. He also serves as analyst for the pregame, halftime and postgame shows on WTAM and WMMS during Browns games and offers television color commentary on college games on Fox Sports Network. Pagel also provides video commentary on his own site Pagel On Point. In addition, he presently is the quarterback coach at Normandy High School in Parma, Ohio.
Personal life
[edit]NFL career statistics
[edit]| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | ||
| 1982 | BAL | 9 | 9 | 0−8−1 | 111 | 221 | 50.2 | 1,281 | 5.8 | 53 | 5 | 7 | 62.4 | 19 | 82 | 4.3 | 32 | 1 | 16 | 129 |
| 1983 | BAL | 15 | 15 | 7−8 | 163 | 328 | 49.7 | 2,353 | 7.2 | 72 | 12 | 17 | 64.0 | 54 | 441 | 8.2 | 33 | 0 | 40 | 278 |
| 1984 | IND | 11 | 9 | 3−6 | 114 | 212 | 53.8 | 1,426 | 6.7 | 54 | 8 | 8 | 71.8 | 26 | 149 | 5.7 | 23 | 1 | 28 | 201 |
| 1985 | IND | 16 | 14 | 5−9 | 199 | 393 | 50.6 | 2,414 | 6.1 | 80 | 14 | 15 | 65.8 | 25 | 160 | 6.4 | 29 | 2 | 25 | 180 |
| 1986 | CLE | 1 | 0 | − | 2 | 3 | 66.7 | 53 | 17.7 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 109.7 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | CLE | 4 | 0 | − | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | CLE | 5 | 4 | 2−2 | 71 | 134 | 53.0 | 736 | 5.5 | 28 | 3 | 4 | 64.1 | 4 | 1 | 0.3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 1989 | CLE | 16 | 0 | − | 5 | 14 | 35.7 | 60 | 4.3 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 43.7 | 2 | -1 | -0.5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | CLE | 16 | 3 | 0−3 | 69 | 148 | 46.6 | 819 | 5.5 | 32 | 3 | 8 | 48.2 | 3 | -1 | -0.5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 40 |
| 1991 | RAM | 16 | 0 | − | 11 | 27 | 40.7 | 150 | 5.6 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 83.9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | RAM | 16 | 0 | − | 8 | 20 | 40.0 | 99 | 5.0 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 33.1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | RAM | 7 | 0 | − | 3 | 9 | 33.3 | 23 | 2.6 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 2.8 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 132 | 54 | 17−36−1 | 756 | 1,509 | 50.1 | 9,414 | 6.2 | 80 | 49 | 63 | 63.3 | 136 | 831 | 6.1 | 33 | 4 | 115 | 837 | |
References
[edit]Mike Pagel
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
Early years
Mike Pagel was born on September 13, 1960, in Douglas, Arizona.[1][4] Raised in Arizona, Pagel grew up in an environment centered on sports, influenced heavily by his father, who served as a high school coach for football and baseball well into his later years, continuing until age 85.[5] This familial involvement provided early exposure to athletic activities through local high school and community programs, where Pagel spent much of his childhood immersed in sports.[5] His initial interest in football emerged during these formative years, shaped by the constant presence of the sport in his daily life and his father's coaching role.[5]High school career
Mike Pagel attended Washington High School in Phoenix, Arizona, where he emerged as a standout multi-sport athlete.[1] As the quarterback for the Washington Rams football team, Pagel demonstrated exceptional leadership and skill, earning recognition as one of the top high school quarterbacks in Arizona history, ranked second in a 2017 assessment by The Arizona Republic.[6] His performance helped solidify his reputation as a generational talent in Arizona prep football, contributing to the school's legacy of producing professional athletes.[7] In addition to football, Pagel gained early exposure to baseball and basketball during his high school years, participating in all three sports and honing his athletic versatility.[8] This broad involvement, supported by his family's encouragement of athletic pursuits from an early age, prepared him for competitive environments.[8] During his senior year in 1977, Pagel received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, reflecting his academic and leadership potential alongside his athletic prowess.[8] However, he ultimately declined the appointment in favor of a full scholarship offer from Arizona State University, extended by head coach Frank Kush, who recognized Pagel's talent as a quarterback.[8] Pagel's contributions to Washington High School were later honored when the school's football field was named Pagel Field in 2011, acknowledging his family's longstanding impact on the program.[6]College career
Football at Arizona State
Mike Pagel enrolled at Arizona State University in 1978 and played quarterback for the Sun Devils football team from 1978 to 1981. During his first two seasons under head coach Frank Kush, Pagel primarily served as a backup to starter Mark Malone, appearing in 11 games as a freshman with 514 passing yards and 7 touchdowns, then in 8 games as a sophomore for 173 yards and 1 touchdown, reflecting limited playing time amid the team's transition following a national championship appearance in 1977.[2][9] After Kush's departure following the 1979 season amid controversy over his coaching style, new head coach Darryl Rogers took over and installed Pagel as the starting quarterback in 1980.[10][11] Pagel responded with a strong junior campaign, passing for 2,025 yards and 17 touchdowns over 11 games, helping Arizona State achieve a 7-4 record while showcasing improved accuracy at 55.1% completions. His development continued to shine in key matchups, including intense in-state rivalry games against the University of Arizona, where his poise under pressure contributed to the Sun Devils' competitive edge in the series.[2][5] Pagel's senior year in 1981 marked his breakout as a leader, as he threw for 2,484 yards and a Pacific-10 Conference-record 29 touchdowns with a 53.3% completion rate across 11 starts, powering Arizona State to a 9-2 record (5-2 in the Pac-10), finishing tied for second in the conference. He earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from the Associated Press and Sporting News in 1981. These performances, highlighted by record-setting games like his seven-touchdown outing against Stanford, established Pagel as one of the top quarterbacks in college football and positioned him for the NFL Draft.[2][12] His senior-season stats, including ranking third nationally in touchdown passes, directly contributed to his selection by the Baltimore Colts in the fourth round (84th overall) of the 1982 NFL Draft.[1][2][11]Baseball and academics
In addition to his football endeavors, Mike Pagel was a multi-sport athlete at Arizona State University, participating on the Sun Devils baseball team from 1978 to 1982. He demonstrated versatility by playing primarily as an outfielder while also serving as a right-handed pitcher, appearing on the 1981 roster during the program's national championship season.[8] Pagel's baseball contributions included a strong senior season in 1982, where he batted .320, tallied 44 RBIs, and scored 49 runs, showcasing his athletic range beyond the gridiron.[11] Pagel's involvement in baseball complemented his overall athletic profile, fostering skills in hand-eye coordination and endurance that enhanced his performance across sports. This dual-sport participation exemplified his versatility, as he navigated the demands of both football and baseball schedules under coach Jim Brock's program, which reached the College World Series multiple times during his tenure. In recognition of his leadership and spirit in athletics, Pagel received the Sun Angel Award in 1982, an honor given for exemplary team contributions and character.[11] Academically, Pagel maintained focus amid his athletic commitments, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University in 1982. His ability to balance rigorous training with coursework highlighted a disciplined approach, allowing him to graduate on time while excelling in extracurricular athletics. This integration of sports and studies underscored Pagel's holistic development as a student-athlete, contributing to his induction into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame in 1994 for achievements in both football and baseball.[11]Professional career
Baltimore Colts
Pagel was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the fourth round, 84th overall, of the 1982 NFL Draft out of Arizona State University.[1] As a rookie, he competed with first-round pick Art Schlichter for the starting quarterback position during training camp, ultimately earning the role after Schlichter's struggles with injuries and off-field issues.[13] Pagel started nine games in his debut 1982 season for the Colts, completing 111 of 221 passes for 1,281 yards, five touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while contributing 82 rushing yards on 41 carries.[1] In 1983, he solidified his role as the primary starter, appearing in all 15 games and starting each one, where he passed for 2,353 yards and 12 touchdowns against 17 interceptions, and notably rushed for a career-high 441 yards on 54 carries— the most by a Colts quarterback in a single season at the time.[1] Over his first two seasons with the Baltimore Colts, Pagel started 24 of 25 games, amassing 3,634 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions, with a passer rating of 62.5, while showcasing his mobility as a scrambler in an era when quarterback rushing was uncommon.[1] The Colts' tenure in Baltimore ended abruptly when owner Robert Irsay relocated the franchise to Indianapolis in March 1984 amid financial disputes and declining attendance, marking the end of 31 years in the city.[14] Pagel remained with the team through the transition, continuing to start games in the new market during the 1984 and 1985 seasons, but his early professional years were defined by the instability of the move, which disrupted fan loyalty and team performance.[14] He was the last Colts player to wear jersey number 18 before Peyton Manning adopted it in 1998.[8]Cleveland Browns
After being traded to the Cleveland Browns from the Indianapolis Colts in 1986 for a future draft pick, Mike Pagel joined the team as a backup quarterback behind Bernie Kosar, a role he primarily filled through the 1990 season.[15][5] Pagel appeared in 42 games over five seasons with Cleveland, starting seven times, and contributed 1,668 passing yards with seven touchdowns while leveraging his prior starting experience from the Colts to provide reliable depth during an era of quarterback injuries.[1] Pagel's most notable contributions came in 1988 amid a rash of injuries to Kosar and backup Gary Danielson, forcing him into four starts during the regular season where he posted a 2-2 record, including a 23-17 victory over the Colts in which he threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns, and a 23-9 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.[15][16] In the AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Houston Oilers—a 24-23 loss played in a blinding snowstorm at Cleveland Municipal Stadium—Pagel entered in relief of an injured Don Strock and threw a crucial 14-yard touchdown pass to Webster Slaughter late in the third quarter, briefly giving the Browns a 16-14 lead despite the team's eventual defeat.[17][18] During Pagel's tenure, the Browns were perennial AFC contenders under coach Marty Schottenheimer, compiling a 44-34-1 record from 1986 to 1990 and making the playoffs four times, though they fell short of the Super Bowl each year with losses in the AFC Championship Game or earlier rounds. The team's fierce rivalry with the Pittsburgh Steelers intensified the stakes of their divisional matchups, highlighted by Cleveland's dominant 51-0 rout of Pittsburgh in the 1989 season opener—the largest margin in rivalry history—and a 17-7 loss to the Steelers later that year, contributing to the Browns' reputation as a tough, physical squad in the late 1980s AFC Central.[19]Los Angeles Rams
Pagel joined the Los Angeles Rams in May 1991 after being released by the Cleveland Browns, signing a one-year contract to provide veteran depth at quarterback amid the team's anticipation of an NFL rule change allowing a third active-roster signal-caller.[20] Initially slotted behind starter Jim Everett and backup Chuck Long, he drew on his prior experience as a reliable reserve with the Browns to offer stability during the Rams' rebuilding phase following a 3-13 season in 1990.[20] Over the next three years, Pagel remained a backup through annual re-signings, contributing to a modest uptick in team performance as the Rams reached 6-10 in 1992 under new coach Chuck Knox.[21] In his Rams tenure, Pagel appeared in 39 games without starting, focusing on mop-up duties in lopsided contests to preserve the primary quarterbacks.[1] His passing output was limited but effective in spots, such as in 1991 when he completed 11 of 27 attempts for 150 yards and two touchdowns, including a 13-yard scoring strike to Ernie Thompson against the Atlanta Falcons.[22] The following year, he added 99 yards and one touchdown in relief, while 1993 saw minimal involvement with just 23 yards in seven games as younger players like T.J. Rubley emerged.[23][24] Pagel's time with the Rams concluded after the 1993 season, when the franchise released him in a cost-cutting move that signaled the end of his NFL playing career.[25] Across 12 professional seasons, he participated in 132 games with 54 starts, primarily accumulated earlier with the Colts and Browns.[1]Career statistics
NFL regular season
Mike Pagel's NFL regular season career spanned 12 seasons from 1982 to 1993, during which he appeared in 132 games, starting 54, and recorded 756 completions on 1,509 attempts for 9,414 passing yards, 49 touchdowns, 63 interceptions, and a 61.2 passer rating.[1] He also contributed 831 rushing yards on 136 carries with 4 rushing touchdowns, while committing 29 fumbles, 20 of which were lost.[1] These totals reflect his role primarily as a backup quarterback after his initial starting stint, with his most productive passing output occurring early in his career. Pagel's performance peaked in his first three full seasons as a starter with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, where he threw for over 2,000 yards in 1983 and demonstrated mobility, rushing for a career-high 441 yards that year.[1] Later years with the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams saw limited starts and lower volume, though he maintained consistency in short appearances, with occasional efficiency spikes like a 109.7 rating in his lone game of 1986.[1] Overall, his interception rate of 4.2% highlighted turnover challenges, particularly in 1983 (17 interceptions) and 1990 (8 interceptions in limited action).[1]Passing Statistics
| Year | Team | G | GS | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | BAL | 9 | 9 | 111 | 221 | 1,281 | 5 | 7 | 62.4 |
| 1983 | BAL | 15 | 15 | 163 | 328 | 2,353 | 12 | 17 | 64.0 |
| 1984 | IND | 11 | 9 | 114 | 212 | 1,426 | 8 | 8 | 71.8 |
| 1985 | IND | 16 | 14 | 199 | 393 | 2,414 | 14 | 15 | 65.8 |
| 1986 | CLE | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 109.7 |
| 1987 | CLE | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| 1988 | CLE | 5 | 4 | 71 | 134 | 736 | 3 | 4 | 64.1 |
| 1989 | CLE | 16 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 60 | 1 | 1 | 43.7 |
| 1990 | CLE | 16 | 3 | 69 | 148 | 819 | 3 | 8 | 48.2 |
| 1991 | RAM | 16 | 0 | 11 | 27 | 150 | 2 | 0 | 83.9 |
| 1992 | RAM | 16 | 0 | 8 | 20 | 99 | 1 | 2 | 33.1 |
| 1993 | RAM | 7 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 2.8 |
| Career | 132 | 54 | 756 | 1,509 | 9,414 | 49 | 63 | 61.2 |
Rushing Statistics
| Year | Team | Car | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | BAL | 19 | 82 | 1 |
| 1983 | BAL | 54 | 441 | 0 |
| 1984 | IND | 26 | 149 | 1 |
| 1985 | IND | 25 | 160 | 2 |
| 1986 | CLE | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | CLE | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | CLE | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 1990 | CLE | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| 1992 | RAM | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 136 | 831 | 4 |
Fumble Statistics
| Year | Team | Fumb | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | BAL | 9 | 6 |
| 1983 | BAL | 4 | 4 |
| 1984 | IND | 4 | 3 |
| 1985 | IND | 6 | 4 |
| 1986 | CLE | 2 | 1 |
| 1988 | CLE | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | CLE | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | CLE | 3 | 2 |
| 1992 | RAM | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 29 | 20 |
Postseason and other leagues
Pagel's only significant postseason action came during the 1988 NFL playoffs with the Cleveland Browns. In the AFC Wild Card round against the Houston Oilers on December 24, 1988, he entered the game in relief of an injured Bernie Kosar, completing 17 of 25 passes for 179 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, while rushing once for a loss of 1 yard; the Browns fell short in a 23–24 loss despite Pagel's efforts to rally the team.[26] Following his NFL career, Pagel extended his professional playing days in the Arena Football League (AFL) during the 1994 season with the Massachusetts Marauders. Serving as the starting quarterback, he demonstrated strong aerial production in the indoor format, amassing 2,713 passing yards on 205 completions out of 380 attempts (53.9% completion rate), with 46 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, earning a quarterback rating of 91.7; the Marauders finished with an 8–4 record.[27] No further professional play in other leagues is recorded for Pagel.Postseason Statistics
Passing and Rushing
| Year | Team | Game | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int | Rating | Rush Att | Rush Yds | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | CLE | vs. HOU (Wild Card) | 17 | 25 | 179 | 2 | 1 | 98.6 | 1 | -1 | L 23–24 |
Arena Football League Summary (1994)
| Team | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Marauders | 205 | 380 | 53.9 | 2,713 | 46 | 14 | 91.7 |