View source for Mike Munchak

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1960)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name         = Mike Munchak
| image        = Mike Munchak.png
| alt          =
| caption      = Munchak with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in 2019
| number       = 63
| position     = [[Guard (gridiron football)|Guard]]
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1960|3|5}}
| birth_place  = [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date   = 
| death_place  = 
| height_ft    = 6
| height_in    = 3
| weight_lb    = 263
| high_school  = [[Scranton High School (Pennsylvania)|Scranton]]
| college      = [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] (1978–1981)
| draftyear    = 1982
| draftround   = 1
| draftpick    = 8
| pastteams    = * [[Houston Oilers]] ({{NFL Year|1982|1993}})
| pastcoaching = * Houston Oilers ({{NFL Year|1994}}) <br> Offensive assistant coach
* Houston Oilers ({{NFL Year|1995|1996}}) <br> Offensive quality control coach
* [[Tennessee Oilers]] / [[Tennessee Titans|Titans]] ({{NFL Year|1997|2010}}) <br> Offensive line coach
* Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2011|2013}}) <br> Head coach
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|2014|2018}}) <br> Offensive line coach
* [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|2019|2021}}) <br> Offensive line coach
* [[Los Angeles Rams]] ({{NFL Year|2023|2024}}) <br> Offensive consultant
| highlights   = ; As a player
* 4× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1987 All-Pro Team|1987]]–[[1989 All-Pro Team|1989]], [[1991 All-Pro Team|1991]])
* 5× Second-team All-Pro ([[1985 All-Pro Team|1985]], [[1990 All-Pro Team|1990]], [[1992 All-Pro Team|1992]], [[1993 All-Pro Team|1993]])
* 9× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1985 Pro Bowl|1984]], [[1986 Pro Bowl|1985]], [[1988 Pro Bowl|1987]]–[[1994 Pro Bowl|1993]])
* [[NFL 1980s All-Decade Team]]
* [[Tennessee Titans#Titans Ring of Honor|Titans/Oilers Ring of Honor]]
* [[Tennessee Titans#Retired numbers|Tennessee Titans No. 63]] retired
* First-team All-[[Big East Conference|East]] ([[1981 All-East football team|1981]])
* [[Texas Sports Hall of Fame]]
| statlabel1   = Games played
| statvalue1   = 159
| statlabel2   = Games started
| statvalue2   = 156
| statlabel3   = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3   = 5
| coachrecord  = {{Winning percentage|22|26|record=y}}
| pfr          = MuncMi00
| pfrcoach     = MuncMi0
| HOF          = mike-munchak 
|statlabel4=[[Touchdowns]]|statvalue4=1}}

'''Michael Anthony Munchak''' (born March 5, 1960) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player and coach. After playing [[college football]] for the [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State Nittany Lions]], he played as a [[Guard (gridiron football)|guard]] for the [[Houston Oilers]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 1982 to 1993 and was a nine-time [[Pro Bowl]] selection. Munchak was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 2001.

After his retirement, Munchak continued his association with the Houston franchise by joining the staff as an offensive assistant in 1994. Munchak was named the offensive quality control coach the following year and stayed with the franchise after it moved to Tennessee and became known as the [[Tennessee Titans]], eventually becoming the offensive line coach in 1997 and serving in that position for 14 years.

Munchak became the Titans' head coach in 2011 but was fired after the 2013 season, ending his 31-year association with the franchise. Munchak then served as offensive line coach for the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] from 2014 to 2018 before serving in the same position for the [[Denver Broncos]] from 2019 to 2021. He later served as an offensive consultant for the [[Los Angeles Rams]] in 2023 and 2024.

==College career==
Munchak was a guard for Penn State from 1978 to 1981. During this time, he was a starter for the [[1979 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|1979]] and [[1981 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|1981]] seasons. However, Munchak missed the [[1980 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|1980 season]] due to a knee injury. As a senior, he was named a second-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]].<ref>[http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2011/2/8/1981888/nittany-lion-of-the-week-mike-munchak ''Black Shoe Diaries'' Retrieved on 11-Feb-2011]</ref>

==Professional playing career==
During the [[1982 NFL draft]], Munchak was chosen as the [[1982 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers']] first round draft pick (eighth overall), making him the first guard drafted that year. As a rookie, Munchak quickly earned a starting position at the left guard position. He remained in that position for 12 seasons. During that time, Munchak garnered nine [[Pro Bowl]] nominations, twice first-team [[All-Pro]], seven All-AFC, and six second-team All-Pro selections. He was also selected for the [[National Football League 1980s All-Decade Team|1980s All-Decade Team]]. Munchak's 12-year tenure tied for the second most seasons played with the Oilers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PlayerId=157&tab=Highlights |title=Hall of Famers » MIKE MUNCHAK |publisher=Profootballhof.com |access-date=February 11, 2011}} Named 16th head coach at Penn State.</ref>

==Coaching career==
===Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans===
In 1994, only a year after retiring as a player, Munchak joined the Oilers staff as an offensive assistant/quality control coach. Three years later, Munchak was named offensive line coach of the newly relocated Tennessee Oilers, a position he held for the next 14 seasons.

Following [[Jeff Fisher]]'s departure as head coach, Munchak was named head coach of the Titans on February 7, 2011. The 2011 season marked his 30th season with the organization. The 2013 season, Munchak's third as head coach, yielded a 7–9 record. That offseason, franchise CEO Tommy Smith and general manager [[Ruston Webster]] requested Munchak to replace at least six assistant coaches. Munchak disagreed with some of these requests and refused to fully enact those changes in his staff.<ref>{{cite web | last=Patra | first=Kevin | title=Mike Munchak: Firing assistants wasn't right move | website=NFL.com | date=2014-01-06 | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/mike-munchak-firing-assistants-wasn-t-right-move-0ap2000000309849 | access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref> As a result, Munchak was relieved of his position on January 4, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|first=Paul |last=Kuharsky |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/10242606/mike-munchak-fired-tennessee-titans |title=Titans fire coach Mike Munchak |work=ESPN.com |date=January 4, 2014 |access-date=January 4, 2014}}</ref>

===Pittsburgh Steelers===
Munchak was eventually hired as the offensive line coach for the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] on January 23, 2014, marking his first season since 1982 that Munchak had no involvement (as a player or coach) with the Oilers/Titans franchise.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Jimmy |date=2014-01-23 |title=Mike Munchak hired as Steelers offensive line coach |url=https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/2014/1/23/5339188/mike-munchak-hired-steelers-offensive-line-coach |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Music City Miracles |language=en-US}}</ref>

During a [[2015 NFL playoffs|2015 NFL playoff]] game against the [[Cincinnati Bengals]], Munchak yanked Bengals player [[Reggie Nelson]]'s hair, drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Munchak was subsequently issued a $10,000 fine by the NFL for the incident that was later rescinded after it was determined that the incident was inadvertent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fowler |first=Jeremy |date=2016-03-14 |title=Steelers' Munchak says NFL rescinds $10K fine |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14969629/mike-munchak-pittsburgh-steelers-says-nfl-rescinds-10k-fine |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Denver Broncos===
After being a finalist for the [[Denver Broncos]]' head coach position, Munchak was hired to be their offensive line coach on January 14, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|first=Aric |last=DiLalla |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-agree-to-terms-with-mike-munchak-as-offensive-line-coach |title=Broncos agree to terms with Mike Munchak as offensive line coach |publisher=denverbroncos.com |date=January 14, 2019 |access-date=January 14, 2019}}</ref> He missed the team's Week 8 matchup in 2020 against the [[2020 Los Angeles Chargers season|Los Angeles Chargers]] due to [[COVID-19]] protocols.<ref>{{cite news |author=Alper, Josh |title=Mike Munchak away from Broncos due to COVID-19 protocols |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/10/28/mike-munchak-away-from-broncos-due-to-covid-19-protocols/ |website=NBCSports.com |date=October 28, 2020 |access-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Newman, Kyle |title=Broncos offensive line looks to improve in second half of 2020 despite injuries, COVID issues: "There are no excuses." |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2020/11/10/broncos-offensive-line-second-half-improvement-raiders/ |website=DenverPost.com |date=November 10, 2020 |access-date=December 23, 2020}}</ref>

On February 2, 2022, it was announced that the Broncos would be parting ways with Munchak.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Sam |date=2023-11-13 |title=O-line coach Mike Munchak, Broncos likely to part ways |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/o_line_coach_mike_munchak_broncos_likely_to_part_ways/s1_14819_37144871 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=Yardbarker |language=en}}</ref>

===Los Angeles Rams===
Munchak served as a consultant for the [[Los Angeles Rams]] in 2023 and 2024.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rodrigue|first=Jourdan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5525610/2024/05/29/los-angeles-rams-practice-offensive-line/|title=Rams OTAs observations: Reserve OL and ILBs get snaps, coaching updates, active D-line|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 29, 2024|access-date=January 22, 2025|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Head coach [[Sean McVay]] expressed interest in adding him to the permanent coaching staff at the end of the 2023 season, but Munchak remained in his consulting role the following year.<ref>{{cite news|last=Carlin|first=Skyler|url=https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2023/09/20/rams-sean-mcvay-mike-munchak-coaching-staff/|title=Sean McVay won't rule out bringing Mike Munchak onto Rams' coaching staff|publisher=Rams Wire|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=September 20, 2023|access-date=January 22, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Wyatt|url=https://www.therams.com/news/the-rams-offensive-line-has-been-a-driving-force-during-their-post-bye-turnaround-despite-injuries-at-the-position|title=The Rams' offensive line has been a driving force during their post-bye turnaround despite injuries at the position|publisher=[[Los Angeles Rams]]|date=October 31, 2024|access-date=January 22, 2025}}</ref>

===Head coaching record===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Post season
|-
! Won !! Lost !! Ties !! Win % !! Finish !! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
! [[2011 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]] || [[2011 NFL season|2011]]
||9 || 7 || 0 || {{winpct|9|7|0}} ||2nd in AFC South || – || – || – || –
|-
! [[2012 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]] || [[2012 NFL season|2012]]
||6 || 10|| 0 || {{winpct|6|10|0}} || 3rd in AFC South || – || – || – || –
|-
! [[2013 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]] || [[2013 NFL season|2013]]
||7 || 9|| 0 || {{winpct|7|9|0}} || 2nd in AFC South || – || – || – || –
|-
! colspan="2"| TEN Total || 22 || 26 || 0 || {{winpct|22|26|0}} |||| – || – || – || – 
|-
! colspan="2"| Total || 22 || 26 || 0 || {{winpct|22|26|0}} |||| – || – || – || – 
|}

==Honors==
Munchak was elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 2001, along with [[Nick Buoniconti]], [[Marv Levy]], [[Jackie Slater]], [[Lynn Swann]], [[Ron Yary]], and [[Jack Youngblood]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/years.aspx |title=Hall of Famers by Year of Enshrinement |publisher=Profootballhof.com |access-date=February 11, 2011}}</ref> In June 2003, Munchak was inducted into the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://polishsportshof.com/inductees/football/mike-munchak/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021092024/http://polishsportshof.com/inductees/football/mike-munchak/|archive-date=October 21, 2013|title=Mike Munchak – NPASHF}}</ref>

The street in front of [[Scranton High School (Pennsylvania)|Scranton High School]] is named for Munchak.

The [[United Way of America|United Way]] of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike has a charity golf tournament named after Munchak. Each year, the tournament is held the last week of June at The Country Club of Scranton in [[Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania]].

==Personal life==
Munchak and his wife, Marci, have two daughters, Alexandria and Julie.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|American football|Biography}}
* [http://www.steelers.com/team/coaches/mike-munchak/c2acf324-513c-4ba0-b1a2-b29c8328a4a1 Pittsburgh Steelers bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723010005/http://www.steelers.com/team/coaches/mike-munchak/c2acf324-513c-4ba0-b1a2-b29c8328a4a1 |date=July 23, 2015 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111104011155/http://www.titansonline.com/team/coaches/Munchak_Mike/4b982c77-f21c-4d91-bb67-3cdecf6f7f66 Tennessee Titans bio]
* {{Profootballhof|id=157|name=Mike Munchak}}
*{{commons category-inline}}

{{navboxes|title=Mike Munchak – Awards and honors|list1=
{{Tennessee Titans coach navbox}}
{{1982 NFL Draft}}
{{TitansFirstPick}}
{{Houston Oilers 1982 draft navbox}}
{{Tennessee Titans Ring of Honor}}
{{NFL1980s}}
{{2001 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Munchak, Mike}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football offensive guards]]
[[Category:Houston Oilers coaches]]
[[Category:Houston Oilers players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans coaches]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans head coaches]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers coaches]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos coaches]]
[[Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Scranton, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:NFL players with retired numbers]]