Mills, Samuel D. Jr.
Football
b. June 3, 1959, Neptune, NJ
Although only 5-foot-9, which is usually considered much too short for a middle linebacker, the 225-pound Mills played in five Pro Bowls and was named to The Sporting News all-pro team in 1991 and 1992.
Mills played football at Montclair State College in New Jersey and was signed by the NFL's Cleveland Browns as a free agent in 1981 but the Browns released him during training camp.
In 1982, he went to camp with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, again failing to make the squad. He finally caught on with the Philadelphia Stars of the U. S. Football League in 1983. Mills spent three seasons with the team, which moved to Baltimore in 1985. He intercepted 9 passes, returning them for 69 yards and 1 touchdown, had 14 quarterback sacks, and recovered 10 fumbles.
The USFL went out of business in 1986 and Mills joined the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. He quickly became the team's starter at middle linebacker and held the job for nine seasons. Mills went to the Carolina Panthers in 1995 and was the starter for three years.
He retired after the 1997 season. Two years later, he became the team's linebackers coach.
In 12 NFL seasons, Mills started 173 out of 181 games, recording 1,319 tackles, 20½ sacks, 11 interceptions and four touchdowns, including a 76-yard interception return.