Lucci, Mike

Mr. Mike Lucci

1957 graduate

Mr. Mike Lucci was a National Football League player for the Cleveland Browns for three seasons from 1962 to 1964 and nine seasons with the Detroit Lions from 1965 to 1973. He played collegiately at the University of Tennessee and for one year at the University of Pittsburgh. He was a 6’2”, 230-pound middle linebacker known for his ability to play through injury. Mr. Lucci was voted by his teammates the Lions’ Defensive Most Valuable Player from 1969-1971. In addition, he was All-NFL in 1969, and NFC All-Conference in 1970-1971. Mr. Lucci also appeared in the film based on the George Plimpton book Paper Lion. The 1968 film starred Alan Alda, Lauren Hutton, and several Detroit Lion football players. After retiring from the NFL, Mr. Lucci was a successful business executive and entrepreneur. He is the former president of Bally Total Fitness which at the time was the largest commercial operator of fitness centers in the United States. Over the past several years, Mr. Lucci has made generous monetary donations to facilitate our football locker room.