Chris Spielman

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Chris Spielman
Date of birth	October 11, 1965
Place of birth	Canton, Ohio
Position(s)	Linebacker
College	Ohio State
NFL Draft	1988 / Round 2/ Pick 29
Career Highlights
Pro Bowls	1994, 1991, 1990, 1989
Awards	1987 Lombardi Award 1987 Ohio State Buckeyes Football Season MVP
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1988-1995 1996-1997 1999	Detroit Lions Buffalo Bills Cleveland Browns

Charles Christopher Spielman (born October 11, 1965) is a former football player and is currently an analyst for ESPN's coverage of college football games.

Contents 1 Football Career 2 Broadcasting Career 3 Coaching Career 4 Personal life 5 External links

[edit] Football Career

Spielman graduated from Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio, where he was a high school All-American and was featured on the cover of a Wheaties box. Spielman is a 1988 graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in recreation education. He was a two-time All-American, and won the Lombardi Award as the best college football lineman or linebacker. Spielman was drafted 29th in the 1988 NFL Draft, by the Detroit Lions. He played eight season with the Lions where he led the team in tackles each year. Spielman was a four-time Pro Bowler during his years with the Lions. Spielman played for the Buffalo Bills in 1996 and 1997. In 1996, he set a team and personal record with 206 tackles. His 1997 season was limited because of a neck injury that required spinal surgery. Spielman did not play during the 1998 season, taking time off to be with his family during his wife's battle with breast cancer. He returned to the NFL in the 1999 season, with the Cleveland Browns. He retired during that season, after suffering another neck injury.

[edit] Broadcasting Career

Spielman's broadcasting career started in 1999, as an NFL studio-show analyst for Fox Sports Net. After two years with FSN, Spielman joined ESPN in 2001. He serves as a color analyst for college football broadcasts, as well as studio analysts for college football. Spielman has won praise from some broadcasting peers, including Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z, who wrote that "...Chris Spielman will come up with some startlingly accurate observations too."

Spielman is also a contributor to the Columbus, Ohio based AM radio station 1460 The Fan; 1460 is an ESPN Radio affiliate. When not on assignment for ESPN, Spielman is a co-host of the 12-3pm show called Spielman on Sports, along with Mike Ricordati. In various shows of Spielman on Sports, Spielman has announaced his admeration for the bull Bodacious. Spielman also appears every Tuesday afternoon on AM 1270 WXYT, a sports-talk radio station in Detroit, Michigan.

Spielman also served also a color analyst for the Detroit Lions during the preseason. In 2006, Spielman hosted a reality series on ESPNU called Summer House. Summer House is believed to be one of the best reality shows ever on ESPNU.

Spielman is also known for yelling nice, during broadcasts of games or during his radio show.

[edit] Coaching Career

Spielman was the coach of the Columbus Destroyers, an Arena Football League team, in 2005. He coached one season, compiling a 2-14 record.

[edit] Personal life

Spielman and his wife Stefanie have two children, Madison and Noah. Stefanie is a breast cancer survivor, and both she and Chris are active in raising funds for breast cancer research. While undergoing treatment Stefanie had lost her hair, at which time Chris voluntarily shaved his head in support of his wife [1].

[edit] External links

• College football career summary from the Ohio State University website
• ChrisSpielman.com An UnOfficial Website (A Fan Site)
• ESPN Biography
• Dr. Z's SI.com article, including praise for Spielman
• 1460 The Fan "Spielman on Sports" page
• Columbus Destroyers Official Website

Preceded by Cornelius Bennett	Lombardi Award 1987	Succeeded by Tracy Rocker
Preceded by Cris Carter	Ohio State Buckeyes Football Season MVP 1987	Succeeded by Jeff Uhlenhake