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Herb Mul-Key

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Herb Mul-Key
refer to caption
Mul-Key in 1975
No. 28
Position:Running back
Kick returner
Personal information
Born: (1949-11-15) November 15, 1949 (age 74)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
College:Alabama State
Undrafted:1972
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:23
Starts:1
Kick return yards:1,505
Rushing yards:178
Touchdowns:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Herbert Felton Mul-Key (born November 15, 1949) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for three seasons with the Washington Redskins in the National Football League (NFL). He was a member of their Super Bowl VII squad, and appeared in the Pro Bowl in 1973. Born Herbert Mulkey, he hyphenated his name after having it made fun of in school.

Biography

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Herb Mul-Key attended Harper High School in Atlanta, where he was an all-city player. However, his attitude was criticized by coaches, and he did not receive a college scholarship. Yet, he was able to play at Alabama State College but for only one season.[1] After that he worked a series of jobs and served in the Navy. Childhood friend Harold McLinton told Mul-Key of an open try-out for the Redskins. Mul-Key borrowed money from his parents and friends to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the tryout held by George Allen and the Redskins in 1971. Allen was impressed by his speed, running 40 yards in under 4.5 seconds on a wet field, and signed him to the rookie minimum salary of $12,000. He was the only player ever signed from these tryouts, which were more public relations stunts than an actual talent search.[2]

Mul-Key spent most of the 1972 on Washington's reserve list.[3] He was activated for the 13th game of the season against the Dallas Cowboys when NFC rushing leader Larry Brown was injured.[3][4] In that game he rushed for 60 yards on 8 attempts and returned 6 kickoffs for 173 yards.[4][5] He started the next game, the final game of the 1972 regular season, against the Buffalo Bills and rushed for 95 yards on 25 carries.[6][7] In the 1972 playoffs he served as a kick returner, returning 2 kickoffs for 60 yards in the divisional round game against the Green Bay Packers and returning 1 kickoff for 15 yards in Super Bowl VII against the Miami Dolphins.[8]

In pre-season in 1973 Mul-Key ran the first kickoff at Rich Stadium back 102 yards for a touchdown.[9] In a game against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 23, 1973, Mul-Key scored on a 97 yard kickoff return on the play after Don Shy had scored a kickoff return touchdown; the 2nd time in NFL history kickoff return touchdowns were scored on consecutive plays.[10][11] He went to the Pro Bowl after the 1973 season as a kick returner.[12] In 1974 Mul-Key separated his shoulder in Washington's 5th game against Miami and he required surgery to repair it and was placed on injured reserve.[13][14][15]

Mul-Key was traded to the Baltimore Colts before the 1975 season in exchange for a 1977 4th round draft pick.[16][17] The Colts cut Mul-Key before the 1975 season and he was signed by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.[18][19] Mul-Key was cut by the Alouettes before the 1976 season.[20]

References

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  1. ^ Nix, JW (May 20, 2009). "Herb Mul-Key : BETTER Than Invincible". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  2. ^ Stewart, Larry (August 25, 2006). "'In-Herb-ible' Sounded Bad". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "He's a Pro Now, Not a Semi-". New York Times. December 31, 1972. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Thomy, Al (December 29, 1972). "Merriwell with a hyphen". Atlanta Constitution. p. 2-D. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys - December 9th, 1972". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  6. ^ "Buffalo Bills at Washington Redskins - December 17th, 1972". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  7. ^ Hinckley, David (January 4, 1991). "Allen: An enigma until the end". Daily News. p. 68. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Herb Mul-Key Gamelogs 1972". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Wallace, William N. (August 18, 1973). "102-Yard Redskins Return Opens Bills' New Stadium". New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  10. ^ Soltau, Mark (December 21, 1987). "A happy return for Joe Cribbs". San Francisco Examiner. p. F-3. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Washington Redskins at St. Louis Cardinals - September 23rd, 1973". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  12. ^ "Herb Mul-Key". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  13. ^ "Herb Mul-Key has surgery". South Idaho Press. October 25, 1974. p. 7. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Surgery for Herb Mul-Key". The Times. October 25, 1974. p. 24. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Brady, Dave (April 16, 1975). "Rumors of Injuries, Trades Keeping Mul-Key Guessing". Washington Post. ProQuest 146387736.
  16. ^ "Baltimore Colts get 'Skins Herb Mul-Key". Intelligencer Journal. June 10, 1975. p. 20. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Pro Probe". Salt Lake City Tribune. January 4, 1976. p. 2F. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Colts Waive Steve Joachim". Lancaster New Era. September 10, 1975. p. 27. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Bacon, Dick (September 16, 1975). "Alouettes counting on Mul-Key to unlock a more potent offence". The Gazette. p. 38. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Roberts, Fred (May 18, 1976). "Alouettes count on recovery of Sherrer". Montreal Star. p. B-7. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
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