Mike Schnitker

Mike Schnitker

No. 64
Position:	Offensive lineman
Personal information
Born:	(1946-12-30) December 30, 1946 (age 78) Atchison County, Missouri, U.S.
Career information
High school:	Lakewood (Lakewood, Colorado)
College:	Colorado
NFL draft:	1969 / round: 4 / pick: 84
Career history
Denver Broncos (1969–1975)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Big Eight (1967) Second-team All-Big Eight (1968) Bluebonnet Bowl (1967)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 74 Games started: 26 Stats at Pro Football Reference

James Michael Schnitker is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes.[1]

Early career

Schnitker played football for Lakewood, he was also active as a wrestler.[2] He won in 1964 a Class AAA championship.[3] He signed in April 1965 a letter of intent for the University of Colorado Boulder.[3] He played as a defensive end for Colorado. In 1967 he won with Calorado the 1967 Bluebonnet Bowl but didn't play because of a knee-injury and went into surgery.[4] He was selected UPI All-Big Eight Second Team Defense and a AP All-Big Eight First Team Defensive.[5][6] He also got an honorable mention for the All-America Teams.[7]

He started the 1968 season playing with an "Iron Boot" after his injury last season and switched to linebacker.[8][9] He got selected Big Eight Lineman of the week in October 1968 after a game against Iowa State.[10] He was after the season selected as AP All-Big Eight Second Team Defensive.[11] In December 1968 he was selected for the California all-opponents team, together with teammate Mike Montler to play in the Hula Bowl as part of the South team.[12] He also played for the West team in the All-America football game together with Mike Montler.[13]

Professional career

In the 1969 NFL draft he was chosen as 84th in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos where he played as a guard. In November 1969 he was injured with a hamstring-injury.[14] In April 1970 he re-signed with the Broncos together with John Johnson, Al Giffin, Alan Pastrana and Wandy Williams.[15] He again suffered a knee-injury in October 1970. Also in November 1971 was he carried of the field with a knee-injury. In July 1972 he re-signed with the Denver Broncos together with Mike Current.[16] In the summer of 1975 he underwent surgery for his knee but didn't return to pro football afterwards.[17] He played 74 games in which he started 26 for the Denver Broncos.

References

1. Mike Schnitker NFL & AFL Football Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com
2. "Impalas' Lopez Takes Second in State Meet". Fort Collins Coloradoan. February 21, 1965. p. 13.
3. "Eight High School Gridders choose CU". Fort Collins Coloradoan. April 4, 1965. p. 27.
4. "Sports of the world". Tulsa World. November 26, 1967.
5. "UPI All-Big Eight Team". Omaha World-Herald. November 29, 1967.
6. "Four Huskers Selected to All-Big Eight Team". Fremont Tribune. November 30, 1967.
7. "Meylin, Liggins on All-America Teams". Garden City Telegram. December 8, 1967.
8. ""Iron Boot" Keeps Buffs' Mike Schnitker in Drills". The Salina Journal. September 4, 1968.
9. "CU's Buffs Rated as Solid First Division Contender". Lincoln Journal Star. September 4, 1968.
10. "Honor to Buff Defender". The Kansas City Times. October 8, 1968.
11. "Five Jayhawks are All-Big 8 Choices". The Parsons Sun. November 21, 1968.
12. "Cal Picks Nine From USC For Opponents' Team". The Sacramento Bee. December 18, 1968. p. 101.
13. "Pepper Arrives, Adds 3 players". The Atlanta Journal. June 15, 1969.
14. "You need the killer instinct". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. November 12, 1969.
15. "Broncos sign free agent, 4 veterans". Greeley Daily Tribune. April 2, 1970.
16. "Denver Signings". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. July 27, 1972. p. 34.
17. "Pete Duranko inks contract". South Idaho Press. July 18, 1975.