Sam Mills
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| Sam Mills | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | august 8, 1959 |
| Place of birth | Neptune, NJ |
| Date of death | April 18, 2005 |
| Position(s) | Linebacker Linebacker coach |
| College | Montclair State |
| Pro Bowls | 1996, 1992, 1991, 1988, 1987 |
| Retired #s | Carolina Panthers #51 New Orleans Saints #51 |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1983-1985 1986-1994 1995-1997 | Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars New Orleans Saints Carolina Panthers |
Mills was born in Neptune, New Jersey, and raised atleast during his highschool years in Long Branch, New Jersey and attended the highschool there. Sam was a star varsity playing on the school's team called "The Green Wave" and had a dream of not only being a successful person in life but a professional football player. For the most part up to the end of his life, he achieved that dream tremendously and was honored by his old high school by not only being listed as one of two football players of the millenium but a small plaque, his highschool varsity jersey, and his NFL jersey. Whenever any student currently enrolled at the Long Branch Highschool walks into the gymnasium to have their daily P.E. class, his two jerseys overhang the basketball hoop on the west side. He attended college at Montclair State University. Told he was too small to play in the NFL, he ended up with the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars of the USFL for three years. During that time, he became known in the league for both his tenacity on the field and his leadership off it. His speed, surprising for a man of his size, earned him the nickname "the Field Mouse". When Stars head coach Jim Mora left the team to coach the NFL's New Orleans Saints, Mills followed his mentor. During his tenure with the Saints, Mills was a key part of the team's linebacker corps, the "Dome Patrol", in the early 1990's that consistently took the Saints to the playoffs. Mills earned four Pro Bowl appearances with the Saints, in 1987, 1988, 1991, and 1992.
Mills became a free agent at the end of the 1994 NFL season, and was signed by the expansion team Carolina Panthers. Mills became a veteran leader for the young team, and anchored the Panthers defense. In fact, Mills was the only player to start every game during the Panthers' first three season. His career rebirth gave him a fifth Pro Bowl appearance in 1996, at the age of 37. His age and experience on the Panthers team gave him a new nickname: "Pops". After retiring in 1997, Mills stayed with the organization as a linebackers coach. Young players like Dan Morgan cite his leadership and experience as helpful to their careers.
Mills played 12 seasons in the NFL and recorded 1,319 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 11 interceptions and four touchdowns while starting 173 of 181 games. He is the only player in the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor. He was elected to both the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (1991) and the Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey (1993).
Mills was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in August 2003. At first, doctors told him he had only several months to live. But Mills battled the disease bravely. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation, but continued coaching. He was an inspirational force in the Panthers’ post-season run to Super Bowl XXXVIII. His phrase "Keep Pounding", in an emotional speech before the Panthers' victory over the Dallas Cowboys, later became the name of a fund to sponsor cancer research programs. Mills died at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina on the morning of April 18, 2005 at the age of 45.
Mills' number #51 was retired by the Panthers and Saints at the start of the 2005 NFL season. The home field of the Montclair State University Red Hawks was named Sam Mills Stadium in his honor.
