Mike Purcell Explained

Mike Purcell
Current Team:New England Patriots
Number:58
Position:Defensive tackle
Birth Date:April 20, 1991
Birth Place:Highlands Ranch, Colorado, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lbs:328
High School:Highlands Ranch
College:Wyoming
Undraftedyear:2013
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
  • First-team All-Mountain West (2012)
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:208
Statlabel2:Sacks
Statvalue2:3.5
Statlabel3:Forced fumbles
Statvalue3:1
Statlabel4:Fumble recoveries
Statvalue4:3
Statlabel5:Pass deflections
Statvalue5:4
Pfr:P/PurcMi00

Michael Purcell (born April 20, 1991) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wyoming, and was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2013.

College career

Purcell was born in Highlands Ranch, Colorado to a Samoan father and Hawaiian mother.[1] He played 42 games (36 starts) at the University of Wyoming and totaled 197 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his four-year career. He earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a senior after recording 83 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.[2]

Professional career

San Francisco 49ers

Purcell was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent on May 7, 2013. He was signed to the team's practice squad on September 2, 2013. On January 22, 2014, Purcell signed a reserve/future contract with San Francisco, before being signed to the team's practice squad on August 31, 2014. On December 19, 2014, Purcell was promoted to the active roster after Ray McDonald's release on December 17, 2014.

In 2015, Purcell played in eight games (3 starts) with and recorded 15 tackles (11 solo) and one sack. In 2016, he played in a 15 games (5 starts) with and totaled 26 tackles (17 solo) and one forced fumble.

On February 27, 2017, Purcell signed a one-year tender with the 49ers.[3] On May 2, 2017, Purcell was released by the 49ers.[4]

Los Angeles Rams

On May 3, 2017, Purcell was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams.[5] He was released on September 2, 2017.[6]

Chicago Bears

On September 19, 2017, Purcell was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad.[7] He was released on October 6, 2017.[8]

Carolina Panthers

On October 10, 2017, Purcell was signed to the Carolina Panthers' practice squad. He was released on October 16, 2017.

New England Patriots

On October 25, 2017, Purcell was signed to the New England Patriots' practice squad, but was released the next day.[9] [10] He was re-signed to the practice squad on November 7, 2017.[11] He was released on November 22, 2017.[12]

Kansas City Chiefs

On November 28, 2017, Purcell was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad.[13] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Chiefs on January 10, 2018.[14] He was released on May 1, 2018.[15] He was re-signed by the Chiefs on July 27, 2018.[16] He was released again on September 1, 2018.[17]

Salt Lake Stallions

In 2019, Purcell joined the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football.[18]

Denver Broncos

On April 22, 2019, Purcell signed with the Denver Broncos.[19]

Purcell signed a one-year restricted free agent tender with the Broncos on April 18, 2020.[20] In Week 2 of the 2020 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Purcell recorded his first sack in five years on Ben Roethlisberger during the 26–21 loss.[21] On October 6, 2020, he signed a three-year, $14.8 million contract extension with the Broncos.[22] [23] Purcell was placed on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending foot injury in week 7 on October 27, 2020.[24]

Purcell was released by the Broncos during final roster cuts on August 30, 2022.[25] On August 31, he re-signed with the Broncos.[26]

New England Patriots (second stint)

On August 1, 2024, Purcell signed with the New England Patriots.[27]

NFL career statistics

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
SFO2 0 1 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SFO8 3 15 11 4 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SFO15 5 26 17 9 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
DEN13 7 48 28 20 0.0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DEN6 6 15 10 5 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DEN13 10 33 17 16 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
DEN17 4 45 21 24 1.5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
DEN16 10 25 11 14 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 -1 0
90 45 208 116 92 3.5 15 0 0 0 0 4 1 3 -1 0

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 14 Broncos players to participate in the NFL’s international helmet decal initiative in Weeks 4 and 5. www.denverbroncos.com.
  2. Web site: Mike Purcell Wyoming Bio . Wyoming.com.
  3. Web site: February 27, 2017 . 49ers Tender LB Carl Bradford and NT Mike Purcell . 2023-10-20 . 49ers.com.
  4. Web site: May 2, 2017 . 49ers Announce Several Roster Moves . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171216153656/http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-Announce-Several-Roster-Moves/76eef6e9-d2d1-432c-b450-1ed362cf110f?sf75387211=1 . December 16, 2017 . 49ers.com.
  5. Web site: Alper, Josh . May 3, 2017 . Rams claim Mike Purcell off waivers from 49ers . ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  6. Web site: Han, Jamie . September 2, 2017 . Rams Announce Roster Moves . dead . TheRams.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20180208051619/http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Announce-Roster-Moves/33a04e1d-a581-47b1-a2ef-75984001a240 . February 8, 2018.
  7. Web site: Mayer, Larry . September 19, 2017 . Roster Moves: Bears elevate Houston-Carson, waive Gentry . ChicagoBears.com.
  8. Web site: October 6, 2017 . Bears add OLB Howard Jones to practice squad . USAToday.com.
  9. Web site: October 25, 2017 . Patriots sign LB Trevor Reilly to the 53-man roster; Place LB Harvey Langi on the non-football injury list; Sign DL Mike Purcell to the practice squad . Patriots.com.
  10. Web site: October 26, 2017 . Patriots sign WR Jake Kumerow to the practice squad; Release DL Mike Purcell from the practice squad . Patriots.com.
  11. Web site: November 7, 2017 . Patriots sign DL Ricky Jean Francois; Place LB Dont'a Hightower on Injured Reserve; Sign DL Mike Purcell to the Practice Squad . Patriots.com.
  12. Web site: November 22, 2017 . Patriots Sign WR Bernard Reedy to the Practice Squad; Release DL Mike Purcell from the Practice Squad . Patriots.com.
  13. Web site: November 28, 2017 . Chiefs promote TE Orson Charles to roster, sign DL to practice squad . USAToday.com.
  14. Web site: January 10, 2018 . Chiefs sign all 10 practice squad players to reserve/futures deals . USAToday.com.
  15. Web site: Alper, Josh . May 1, 2018 . Chiefs cut three players . ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  16. Web site: July 27, 2018 . Chiefs sign DL Mike Purcell . Chiefs Wire . USA Today.
  17. Web site: September 1, 2018 . Chiefs Roster Down to NFL-Mandated 53 . Chiefs.com.
  18. Web site: Ramey . Devin . January 21, 2018 . What is the AAF? A new spring football league has Hall of Famers leading it and a few Idaho ties . . February 5, 2019.
  19. Web site: DiLalla, Aric . April 22, 2019 . Broncos sign DL Billy Winn, DL Mike Purcell, OL Jake Rodgers . DenverBroncos.com.
  20. News: DiLalla, Aric . April 18, 2020 . Elijah Wilkinson, Mike Purcell highlight list of Broncos to sign tenders . DenverBroncos.com . April 21, 2020.
  21. Web site: Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers - September 20th, 2020 . September 22, 2020 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  22. News: DiLalla, Aric . October 6, 2020 . Broncos sign Mike Purcell to extension through 2023 . DenverBroncos.com . November 8, 2020.
  23. News: Jensen, Chad . October 6, 2020 . Broncos Reach Agreement With NT Mike Purcell on 3-Year Extension Worth $14.8M, per Report . SI.com . November 7, 2020.
  24. Web site: DiLalla, Aric . October 27, 2020 . Broncos place NT Mike Purcell, OLB Derrek Tuszka on IR, sign Sylvester Williams to active roster . DenverBroncos.com.
  25. Web site: DiLalla, Aric . August 30, 2022 . Broncos make series of roster moves to reach 53-player limit . DenverBroncos.com.
  26. Web site: Broncos sign NT Mike Purcell, TE Eric Tomlinson. 2023-04-29. denverbroncos.com. en.
  27. Web site: Patriots Sign DT Mike Purcell . Patriots.com . 2 August 2024.