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Ryan Mundy
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Ryan Gregory Mundy (born February 11, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL draft. He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers and Michigan Wolverines. He won Super Bowl XLIII with the Steelers.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Mundy played wide receiver and defensive back in high school at Woodland Hills High in suburban Pittsburgh, where his quarterback was fellow future Wolverine Steve Breaston. During his tenure there, he set a school career record of 54 receiving touchdowns and earned USA Today All-American prep honors. He also earned all-state honors and had a pair of interceptions in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Mundy was also a three-year track letterman. Mundy is also a former Pennsylvania Big 33 all-star. Ryan is one of the many successful players to reach the NFL from coach George Novak's football program at Woodland Hills.
College career
[edit]Michigan
[edit]Mundy enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2003 and played in 11 games as a true freshman. As a sophomore in 2004, Mundy started in 12 games at free safety. In 2005, Mundy sat out with a medical redshirt after an injury in the beginning of the season. In 2006, Mundy returned and saw some action. Against Michigan State, Mundy set his career-high of eight tackles.
West Virginia
[edit]Mundy graduated from Michigan in 2007 with a year of eligibility remaining. Instead of finishing his college football career at Michigan, Mundy decided to enroll at West Virginia University and join the Mountaineers football team for the 2007 season. He took advantage of an NCAA rule that allowed seniors to transfer to another school and participate in athletics without having to sit out a season (as is normally required) if they wish to pursue a field of study that was unavailable at their previous school. Mundy enrolled at West Virginia and began work on a master's degree in sports administration.
Mundy excelled at practice during the 2007 preseason training. In his first game vs Western Michigan, Mundy had five total tackles. In the second game of the season, Mundy pounced on a Marshall fumble to recover the ball for the Mountaineers, along with his six tackles, in their 48–23 win.[1] In the 21–13 loss to USF, Mundy recorded four tackles and his first interception as a Mountaineer. Against Syracuse in the 55–14 win at the Carrier Dome, Mundy had an interception on Syracuse's first drive off of a tipped pass. In the victory against Mississippi State for homecoming, Mundy recorded two pass deflections and five tackles. Against Rutgers, Mundy recorded an interception that he returned for 32 yards, his third interception of the season, and also had a hit on receiver Tiquan Underwood that knocked the ball out of his hands to save a touchdown along with 5 total tackles. In the victories over Louisville and Cincinnati, Mundy had a total of 4 tackles, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery against Cincinnati. In the 66–21 victory over #20 UConn to clinch the Big East title, Mundy had only one tackle, but did recover a fumble. At the end of the regular season, Mundy earned the team's Coaches Contribution Award. In Mundy's final collegiate game, the 48–28 victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, he recorded a career-high 11 tackles.
Mundy finished his collegiate career in the 2007 season with 45 tackles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. After the season, Mundy was selected by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame's Hampshire Honor Society as a scholar-athlete.
Ironically, following Mundy's only season as a Mountaineer, West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez left to become head coach of Michigan, where Mundy had started his college career.
Professional career
[edit]Pre-draft
[edit]Mundy graduated from West Virginia University, but he was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. However, Mundy did work out at the West Virginia's Pro Day on March 13, 2008.
| Height | Weight | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
215 lb (98 kg) |
4.55 s | 1.59 s | 2.62 s | 4.33 s | 6.81 s | 36 in (0.91 m) |
10 ft 10 in (3.30 m) |
21 reps | |||
| All values from Pro Day.[2] | ||||||||||||
Pittsburgh Steelers
[edit]Mundy was selected in the sixth round (194th overall) of the 2008 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mundy was the third player drafted from West Virginia in the 2008 Draft, preceded by Steve Slaton and Owen Schmitt.[3] On June 14, Mundy signed a contract with the Steelers. In his first preseason game as a Steeler, Mundy recorded 3 tackles against the Philadelphia Eagles. In the game, he suffered a high ankle sprain and did not play in the remainder of the preseason.[4] Mundy was released by the Steelers during final cuts. On November 11, Mundy was re-signed to the Steelers' practice squad. On February 6, 2009, Mundy was re-signed by the Steelers to a future contract. At the end of the 2010 season, Mundy and the Steelers appeared in Super Bowl XLV against the Green Bay Packers. He had one total tackle in the 31–25 loss.[5] Mundy recorded a 33-yard reception on a fake punt vs. TEN (10/9/11).[6] On September 26, 2012, Mundy was fined $21,000 for an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit against Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.[7]
New York Giants
[edit]Mundy signed with the New York Giants on March 14, 2013.[8] His 91-yard interception return was the 3rd longest in Giants history since 1941.[9]
Chicago Bears
[edit]Mundy signed with the Chicago Bears on March 11, 2014.[10] During Monday Night Football against the New York Jets on September 22, 2014, Mundy intercepted Geno Smith and returned his pass for a touchdown. This moment was better known as "Mundy Night Football".[11] Mundy was fined $22,000 for a hit against Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White on October 12. A penalty flag was thrown on the play, but game officials decided that the hit was not made with the head and did not constitute a penalty. NFL officials subsequently decided that the hit was illegal and levied the fine. Mundy announced his intention to appeal the fine.[12] During the 2014 season, Mundy started all 16 games and set career highs in tackles (108), interceptions (4), and passes broken up (4).[13]
On August 30, 2015, the Bears placed Mundy on injured reserve due to a hip injury just before a pre-season finale against the Cleveland Browns.[14]
NFL career statistics
[edit]| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2009 | PIT | 16 | 0 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | PIT | 16 | 2 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | PIT | 16 | 0 | 38 | 21 | 17 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | PIT | 16 | 3 | 39 | 31 | 8 | 0.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | NYG | 16 | 9 | 77 | 50 | 27 | 1.0 | 4 | 1 | 91 | 0 | 91 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | CHI | 16 | 16 | 103 | 75 | 28 | 1.0 | 1 | 4 | 52 | 1 | 45 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 96 | 30 | 311 | 217 | 94 | 2.0 | 9 | 6 | 148 | 1 | 91 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
Playoffs
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2010 | PIT | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | PIT | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "MSNsportsNET.Com - West Virginia University Mountaineers". Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2007.
- ^ "Ryan Mundy, DS #12 FS, West Virginia". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "2008 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "Ryan Mundy latest news and rumors". December 4, 2014. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers - February 6th, 2011". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
- ^ "WK5 Can't-Miss Play: Fake punt leads to big gain". NFL.com. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- ^ "Source: Mundy fined $21K for Heyward-Bey hit". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 26, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
- ^ "Giants sign free agent safety Ryan Mundy". Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
- ^ "Chicago Bears: Ryan Mundy". www.chicagobears.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (March 11, 2014). "Bears agree to deal with Ryan Mundy". Chicago Bears. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
- ^ "Wk 3 Can't-Miss Play: Mundy Night Football". NFL.com. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- ^ Mullin, John (October 15, 2014). "Ryan Mundy will appeal fine for unpenalized hit vs. Falcons". Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
- ^ "Ryan Mundy 2014 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (August 30, 2015). "Bears cut Jennings, Mundy to IR". ChicagoBears.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
External links
[edit]- West Virginia Mountaineers bio Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- Chicago Bears bio Archived March 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
Ryan Mundy
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background
Ryan Mundy was born on February 11, 1985, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to parents Gregory Mundy and Nancy Mundy.[1][7] The Mundy family has deep roots in Pittsburgh, where they resided in the West End neighborhood during Ryan's early years, reflecting the city's working-class heritage and community-oriented environment.[8] Gregory Mundy, who worked in sales, emphasized the importance of preparation and resilience from a young age, often imparting life lessons that shaped his son's approach to challenges beyond sports.[8] Nancy Mundy played a key role in fostering independence, encouraging Ryan to step outside his familiar surroundings to build maturity and broaden his perspectives.[9] Mundy's early years were influenced by this supportive family dynamic in Pittsburgh's urban setting, which instilled values of perseverance and community involvement; he has a sister, Dana, who was part of the close-knit household.[10] While specific non-athletic interests from his pre-high school period are not widely documented, the family's emphasis on personal growth laid the groundwork for his later pursuits in education and leadership. This foundation naturally progressed into high school activities supported by his parents' guidance.[8][9]High school career
Ryan Mundy attended Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he developed into a standout athlete in football.[11] As a wide receiver and defensive back, Mundy demonstrated exceptional versatility on both sides of the ball, ultimately setting a school career record with 54 receiving touchdowns under coach George Novak.[11][7][12] In his senior year, he earned USA Today All-American honors, recognizing his dominance as one of the nation's top prep players, and was named the Quad-A Player of the Year by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.[11][7][13] Mundy's dual-threat abilities, combining offensive production with defensive prowess, attracted recruitment interest from numerous top college programs, solidifying his status as a premier high school prospect.[14][15]College career
University of Michigan
Ryan Mundy enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2003 as a highly touted defensive back from Woodland Hills High School. As a true freshman that year, he appeared in 11 games, primarily contributing on special teams units and recording 10 tackles.[11] During his sophomore season in 2004, Mundy earned a starting position at safety, appearing in all 12 games with 12 starts, finished fifth on the team with 51 tackles, and notching two interceptions for 38 yards. He sat out the entire 2005 campaign due to a season-ending shoulder injury. Returning as a senior in 2006, Mundy started six of the 11 games he played, registering 25 tackles (17 solo), two tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception. Over his four years at Michigan, Mundy accumulated 86 tackles and three interceptions across 34 games, with 18 starts; his defensive snaps gradually increased from limited special teams duties as a freshman to full-time starting roles, though opportunities were constrained by the depth and talent in the Wolverines' secondary.[16][17] Mundy graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007 with a bachelor's degree, retaining one year of eligibility. Seeking greater playing opportunities amid ongoing competition for snaps, he opted to transfer as a postgraduate student to West Virginia University rather than remain with the Wolverines.[18][16]West Virginia University
In 2007, Ryan Mundy transferred to West Virginia University as a graduate student for his final year of eligibility, allowing him to pursue a master's degree in sports administration—a program not offered at his previous school—while continuing his football career.[19][11] This move enabled him to transition to the safety position, leveraging his prior defensive experience in a new role within the Mountaineers' secondary.[17] During the 2007 season, Mundy started all 13 games at safety for West Virginia, contributing significantly to the team's defense as the fourth-leading tackler. He recorded 62 tackles (30 solo, 32 assisted), including 0.5 tackles for loss, along with 3 interceptions for 75 yards and 7 pass breakups, helping the Mountaineers secure a Big East Conference championship and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl.[11] At the conclusion of the regular season, Mundy was one of several recipients of the West Virginia football team's Coaches Contribution Award, recognizing his leadership and on-field performance.[20] He completed his master's degree in sports administration during this period, marking a key academic milestone alongside his athletic achievements.[15][11]Professional career
NFL draft
Mundy was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round, 194th overall, of the 2008 NFL Draft.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation">Pittsburgh Steelers
Ryan Mundy joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as a sixth-round draft pick in 2008, beginning his rookie season on the team's practice squad after being released during final cuts.[11] He remained on the practice squad throughout the regular season but was part of the roster that advanced to Super Bowl XLIII, where the Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23, earning Mundy his first championship ring despite not playing in the game.[22] This early experience solidified his place within the organization, transitioning him into a developmental role on special teams and defense. From 2009 to 2012, Mundy served primarily as a backup safety, appearing in 64 games with five starts while contributing on special teams and providing depth behind starters like Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark.[1] Over these seasons, he recorded 131 total tackles, including 92 solo stops, along with one interception in 2011 against the Cleveland Browns.[23] His contributions extended to the postseason, where he played in four games, notably forcing two fumbles in the 2011 wild-card playoff game against the Denver Broncos.[24] During the 2012 season, Mundy faced a $21,000 fine from the NFL for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey in Week 3, which left Heyward-Bey unconscious and sidelined with a concussion and neck strain.[25] Despite this incident, Mundy finished the year with 39 tackles and one fumble recovery, maintaining his role in the secondary and on coverage units. Following the 2012 season, the Steelers did not re-sign Mundy as an unrestricted free agent, effectively releasing him from the team after five years of consistent depth contributions on defense and special teams.[26]New York Giants
Following his release from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ryan Mundy signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants on March 14, 2013, valued at $715,000.[27][28] The deal brought veteran depth to the Giants' secondary, leveraging Mundy's experience as a rotational safety and special teams contributor from his prior tenure in Pittsburgh.[26] In the 2013 season, Mundy played in all 16 games for the Giants, starting eight, and established himself as a key part of the secondary rotation alongside starters Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown.[1] He recorded 77 combined tackles (50 solo, 27 assisted), one sack, two passes defended, and one fumble recovery.[1] A highlight came in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on September 8, when Mundy intercepted a pass from Tony Romo and returned it 91 yards to the Cowboys' 1-yard line, setting up a field goal in a 36-31 loss; the return marked the third-longest interception return in Giants history since 1941.[29][30] The Giants did not re-sign Mundy after the expiration of his one-year contract following the 2013 season.[31]Chicago Bears
Mundy signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Bears on March 11, 2014, bolstering the team's secondary after his stint with the New York Giants.[32] The deal, valued at $3 million with $650,000 guaranteed, positioned him as a key free safety under defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.[33] In the 2014 season, Mundy started all 16 games, recording a career-high 103 total tackles while tying for the team lead with four interceptions.[34] One highlight came on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets on September 22, when he intercepted quarterback Geno Smith on the second play from scrimmage and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown—the quickest pick-six in Monday Night Football history and the Bears' only defensive score of the year.[35] His performance established him as a reliable starter, leading the defense in tackles.[36] Mundy's 2015 season was derailed by a hip injury during training camp, leading to season-ending back surgery and placement on injured reserve on August 30.[37][15] Following the injury and recovery, Mundy announced his retirement from the NFL in July 2016.[38]Post-NFL career
Business ventures
Following his retirement from the NFL after the 2015 season, Ryan Mundy founded Techlete Ventures in 2017, an early-stage investment firm specializing in sports technology, health and leisure, and digital media sectors.[39][40] As managing director, Mundy leveraged his background as an NFL player representative to identify opportunities at the intersection of athletics and innovation, providing angel investments to startups in these areas.[41][2] In 2018, Mundy co-founded SWZLE, an eco-friendly consumer products company producing reusable stainless steel straws designed for both individual and business use, launched through a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised over $21,000.[42][43] The product emphasized sustainability amid growing concerns over single-use plastics, featuring BPA-free materials, a portable carrying case, and dishwasher-safe components.[15] SWZLE was acquired by 4Honor Brands, LLC in October 2020.[4] Mundy has served in an advisory capacity with the NFL Players Association's OneTeam Collective since 2017, contributing to initiatives focused on athlete branding, group licensing, and commercial opportunities for current and former players.[44][45] His role involves guiding the collective's accelerator program, which connects athletes with emerging brands in sports and entertainment.[46] Through Techlete Ventures and personal investments, Mundy has backed early-stage startups in cryptocurrency— including an early stake in Bitcoin as far back as 2016—wellness, and entertainment as of 2025.[2][47] Notable among these is Alkeme Health, a wellness platform he founded in 2021 targeting mental health resources for Black millennials, which secured $4.6 million in funding by 2023 to expand its culturally tailored services.[48][49] Mundy's NFL leadership as a player rep has informed his approach to these ventures, emphasizing strategic partnerships and long-term impact.[50]Public engagements and advocacy
During his NFL career, Ryan Mundy served as a player representative for the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), a role in which he earned the respect of his peers by providing guidance on union resources and supporting transitions for fellow athletes.[2] Post-retirement, Mundy has maintained active involvement with the NFLPA, including serving on advisory committees such as the NFL Players Inc. Advisory Committee and supporting initiatives like the ONE TEAM Collective and The Trust, which aid former players in health and career development.[2][46] Mundy has personally utilized NFLPA resources to prioritize his wellness, notably participating in the Brain and Body Assessment program at the Cleveland Clinic, which he completed five years ago and repeats every five years to monitor his health as a former athlete.[2][51] He has become a vocal advocate for this program, vlogging his experiences to encourage other former players to engage with it and address potential long-term impacts from their careers.[51] In his public engagements, Mundy has spoken on topics including athlete transitions and culture-building, such as his participation in a 2025 panel at the True Chicago Conference, partnered with the Obama Foundation, focused on building careers and community beyond sports.[52] Earlier, he shared insights on post-football life during events like Super Bowl wellness panels organized with the NFLPA, emphasizing resilience and repurposing athletic skills for new pursuits.[51] Mundy's advocacy extends to supporting former NFL players through NFLPA-affiliated programs like The Trust, where he promotes mental health resources and inspires transitions to fulfilling post-football careers by drawing on his own journey from athlete to entrepreneur.[51][53] This work aligns with his recognition as a scholar-athlete by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame's Hampshire Honor Society during his time at West Virginia University.[2]NFL career statistics
Regular season
Ryan Mundy appeared in 96 regular season games over six NFL seasons, recording 311 combined tackles, 6 interceptions, 2 sacks, and 1 defensive touchdown.[1] His career began as a backup safety with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he gradually earned more playing time, before transitioning to a starting role with the New York Giants and Chicago Bears, which significantly boosted his statistical output.[1] The following table summarizes Mundy's regular season defensive statistics by year:| Year | Team | G | GS | Comb | Solo | Ast | Sk | Int | Yds | Int TD | PD | FF | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | PIT | 16 | 0 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 | PIT | 16 | 2 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | PIT | 16 | 0 | 38 | 21 | 17 | 0.0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | PIT | 16 | 3 | 39 | 31 | 8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | NYG | 16 | 9 | 77 | 50 | 27 | 1.0 | 1 | 91 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | CHI | 16 | 16 | 103 | 75 | 28 | 1.0 | 4 | 52 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Career | 96 | 30 | 311 | 217 | 94 | 2.0 | 6 | 148 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 4 |
