The Lions released veteran kicker Don Muhlbach from their roster on Wednesday, bringing the team’s total number of players on injured reserve to five.
Don Muhlbach, a veteran snapper with the Lions, during a game in 2023.
Don Muhlbach is one of the NFL’s oldest players, and he just celebrated another significant birthday. Unfortunately, on his particular day, the Detroit Lions brought some bad news, informing him that he will be dismissed.
Dan Campbell announced on Tuesday, August 17 that Muhlbach, the Lions’ long snapper, will be released. There wasn’t anything Muhlbach hadn’t seen or done in Detroit by the time he reached 40, but he’ll be leaving the club soon.
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Dan Campbell, the Lions’ head coach, confirmed the news during a press conference, spoke solemnly about Muhlbach, a player with whom he played.
Watch live coverage from Detroit Lions Training Camp presented by Rocket Mortgage on Tuesday, August 17, 2023, which includes: Dan Campbell’s pre-practice press conference; Dannie Rogers, Tim Twentyman, and Lomas Brown; a live look at practice drills; an exclusive interview with Team President and CEO Rod Wood; Dan Campbell and Anthony Pittman mic’d up…2021
“I had the greatest regard for Don (Muhlbach) since I had the opportunity to play with him. There were 17 seasons and 260 games in his career. This league’s all-time games played ranking is 37th. He’s a seasoned pro. He’s a better person than I am. He has always meant a lot to our company. He was always a good ambassador for it. Exceptional teammate. Always tethered. He is a man who keeps his promise. I despise it, dude. “Especially with a player like him, this is the most difficult time,” Campbell added.
When asked why he made the choice, Campbell replied it was because it was time.
“To put it simply, it was past time. “It was past time,” Campbell said to the press. “As I told the men out there, this doesn’t imply he was beaten out, as strange as it may seem. (Scott) Daly is here, and he understands he still needs to fight for a position, as does everyone else on the roster. But the moment had come. I wish him and his family the best, and he’s a stud. And I’m sorry we had to be the ones that had to do it.”
The Lions also paid their respects to Muhlbach with a short social media post:
Detroit will now have to break in a new snapper, and Scott Daly, a relative unknown, will get the first shot at replacing Muhlbach in the Motor City. Daly, who graduated from Notre Dame in 2017, spent 2018 in training camp with the Dallas Cowboys and then spent time in the AAF and XFL before being signed by the Lions in May.
Don Muhlbach was re-signed by the Lions this offseason.
Given that the Lions re-signed their experienced long-snapper this past summer, this news is sure to come as a shock to supporters. Muhlbach was a free agent this summer, and it was unclear if he would snap again. Fans were most likely concerned about the veteran’s departure. In March, the two parties reached an agreement on a one-year deal.
For Lions supporters, it looked like another year of being able to rely on death, taxes, and Muhlbach, as the phrase goes. Despite the fact that he had re-upped, it was obvious that the Lions intended to take a different approach on the field at a critical position on their special teams.
Biography of Muhlbach’s Career
In 2004, the former Texas A&M product entered the league as an undrafted free agent. Though he began his career with the Baltimore Ravens, he has spent the most of his time with the Detroit Lions and has experienced a lot of good and bad along the road. He was there when the Lions went 0-16 in 2008, then returned to the playoffs in 2011, 2014, and 2017. While he has never won a championship or an NFC North division, Muhlbach’s rally cry for the club may become a winning one in the coming years if he continues to play for the squad.
Muhlbach has been in two Pro Bowls in his career, in 2012 and 2018. Muhlbach has also been the team’s candidate for the Art Rooney Award in the past, demonstrating his on-field class and the league’s appreciation for what he accomplishes.
Muhlbach is undeniably a fan favorite and a player that gets a lot of support. While it may seem strange to consider a long snapper a significant loss, the club will have a difficult task in replacing him, both in terms of performance and in terms of character.
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