Mike Ford (cornerback) explained

Mike Ford
Current Team:Houston Texans
Number:4
Position:Cornerback
Birth Date:August 4, 1995
Birth Place:St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lbs:194
High School:Marquette Catholic
(Alton, Illinois)
College:Southeast Missouri State (2013–2017)
Undraftedyear:2018
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
  • Second-team All-OVC (2015)
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:70
Statlabel2:Forced fumbles
Statlabel3:Fumble recoveries
Statlabel4:Pass deflections
Statvalue4:4
Statlabel5:Interceptions
Statvalue5:1
Pfr:F/FordMi01

Michael Ford (born August 4, 1995) is an American professional football cornerback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Southeast Missouri State.

Early years

Ford was born and grew up in Alton, Illinois and attended Marquette Catholic High School, where he played both running back and defensive back for the Explorers football team. As a senior, Ford was named first-team all-conference on both offense and defense and All-State at running back after rushing for 1,614 yards and 28 touchdowns, scoring an additional five touchdowns on returns, and recording 69 tackles with two fumble recoveries and three interceptions on defense.[1] [2]

College career

Ford spent five seasons at Southeast Missouri State University, redshirting his freshman season and playing wide receiver as a redshirt freshman. He was moved to defensive back at the beginning of his redshirt freshman season.[3] As a redshirt sophomore, his first season as a starter, Ford made 44 tackles and had five interceptions and seven pass breakups and was named second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference.[4] As a redshirt senior, Ford made 32 tackles with two sacks, an interception and 14 passes broken up.[5]

Professional career

Detroit Lions

Ford signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2018.[6] He failed to make the active roster out of training camp and was subsequently re-signed by the Lions to the team's practice squad on September 2.[7] Ford was promoted to the Lions' active roster on November 14 after offensive guard T. J. Lang was placed on injured reserve.[8] Ford made his NFL debut on November 18 when he started at cornerback and played on special teams in a 20–19 win over the Carolina Panthers, recording two tackles.[9] In his rookie season, Ford played in seven games (four starts) with 25 tackles.[10]

Ford played in 15 games with two starts during the 2019 season, recording 12 tackles and two passes defended. He was assigned a one-year tender with the Lions as an exclusive rights free agent on March 18, 2020.[11] He signed the tender on April 21.[12] He was placed on injured reserve on September 6.[13] He was activated on October 24.[14]

Ford signed a contract extension with the Lions on March 8, 2021.[15] On August 30, Ford was waived by the Lions.[16]

Denver Broncos

On September 1, 2021, Ford was claimed off waivers by the Denver Broncos.[17] He was placed on injured reserve on October 16.[18] He was activated on November 6.[19]

Atlanta Falcons

On April 8, 2022, Ford signed with the Atlanta Falcons.[20]

Cleveland Browns

On March 21, 2023, Ford signed with the Cleveland Browns.[21]

Houston Texans

On March 15, 2024, Ford signed a two-year contract with the Houston Texans.[22]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FOOTBALL: Motown-bound. Bill. Roseberry. AdVantageNews.com. May 1, 2018. July 10, 2019.
  2. Web site: SE Missouri State draws large recruiting class for 2013. Bill. Pollock. MissouriNet.com. February 7, 2013. July 10, 2019.
  3. Web site: Detroit Lions sign SEMO Alumnus Mike Ford to active roster. Zach. Tate. The Arrow. November 15, 2018. November 16, 2018.
  4. Web site: Southeast Missouri State CB Mike Ford named to preseason All-America team. Southeast Missourian. August 18, 2016. May 21, 2019.
  5. Web site: NFL DRAFT HIGHLIGHTS: Mike Ford, CB -- Southeast Missouri State. Jim. Oxley. HEROSports.com. April 17, 2018. May 21, 2019.
  6. Web site: UDFA tracker: Lions sign wave of defensive backs after draft. Kyle. Meinke. MLive.com. April 28, 2018. November 16, 2018.
  7. Web site: Detroit Lions sign Jake Rudock, 6 others to practice squad. David. Birkett. Detroit Free Press. USA Today. September 2, 2018. November 16, 2018.
  8. Web site: Lions sign CB Mike Ford to active roster and place G T.J. Lang on Reserve-Injured. DetroitLions.com. November 14, 2018. November 16, 2018.
  9. Web site: Lions CB Mike Ford makes most of promotion from practice squad. Nolan. Bianchi. DetroitNews.com. The Detroit News. November 18, 2018. November 18, 2018.
  10. Web site: In a bad season, Lions' rookies offer glimpse of real hope. Michael. Rothstein. ESPN.com. January 14, 2019. February 11, 2019.
  11. Web site: Lions tender exclusive rights free agents Dee Virgin, Mike Ford. Charean. Williams. ProFootballTalk.com. NBC Sports. March 18, 2020. March 26, 2020.
  12. News: Lions re-sign exclusive rights free agents CB Mike Ford and CB Dee Virgin . DetroitLions.com . April 21, 2020 . April 21, 2020.
  13. Web site: September 6, 2020 . Lions sign free agent OL Oday Aboushi . December 27, 2023 . DetroitLions.com.
  14. News: Schlitt, Erik . Detroit Lions activate Bo Scarbrough and Mike Ford from IR, release Chris Jones and Kenny Wiggins . USAToday.com . October 24, 2020 . November 8, 2020.
  15. News: Lions announce roster moves . DetroitLions.com . March 8, 2021 . March 8, 2021.
  16. Web site: Raven . Benjamin . August 30, 2021 . Detroit Lions reportedly releasing cornerback Mike Ford . December 27, 2023 . MLive.com.
  17. Web site: DiLalla . Aric . September 1, 2021 . Broncos awarded DB Mike Ford, RB Nate McCrary off waivers . December 27, 2023 . DenverBroncos.com.
  18. Web site: DiLalla . Aric . October 16, 2021 . Broncos activate RB Mike Boone to 53-man roster, elevate WRs John Brown and Tyrie Cleveland for #LVvsDEN . December 27, 2023 . DenverBroncos.com . October 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211016203924/https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-activate-rb-mike-boone-to-53-man-roster-elevate-wrs-john-brown-and-tyrie . dead .
  19. Web site: Swanson . Ben . November 6, 2021 . Broncos activate Mike Ford from IR, elevate Jonathan Harris, Austin Schlottmann and Wade Barrington for #DENvsDAL . December 27, 2023 . DenverBroncos.com.
  20. Web site: Urben . Matt . April 8, 2022 . Falcons sign free-agent CB Mike Ford to one-year deal . December 27, 2023 . Falcons Wire. USA Today . en-US.
  21. Web site: Poisal . Anthony . March 21, 2023 . Browns sign CB Mike Ford . March 21, 2023 . ClevelandBrowns.com.
  22. Web site: Houston Texans Transactions (03-15-2024) . March 15, 2024. HoustonTexans.com . en-US.