Mike Ruether – 1980-1983 football

Longhorn all SWC player and Denver Super Bowl Champion Mike Ruether has passed away.

Michael Alan Ruether
Born: September 20, 1962
Inglewood, CA USA
Position: G-C
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 279
College: Texas
High School: Bishop Miege (Roeland Park, KS)
Career: 1984-1993

Billy Dale,

Ruether and I were freshman together in 1980, One of the best freshman classes at Texas.

We called him Poppy because of the way his elbows bowed out and his enormous strength in the weight room. My dear friend who allowed me to run the ball freely knowing he was going to make his block. Between he, Doug Dawson and my man Terry Tausch, I would not have accomplished my Blessings running the ball. God has called him home and I am so proud to have known such an amazing Spirit!

Thank you God for this wonderful blessing!

Johnny (Sky) Walker

President: NFL Alumni

Austin Chapter

 The 1981 Longhorn roster (not team) which included Mike Ruether is listed as the second-best roster in the history of Longhorn sports. Thirty-seven players played at least one season in the NFL. 

In 1983 Mike made the All SWC team with many of his teammates: 

  Fred Acorn DB

 Mossy Cade DB

 Doug Dawson OG

 Tony Degrate DT

 Jerry Gray DB

 Eric Holle DE

 Jeff Leiding LB

 Mike Ruether C

 Jeff Ward K

17 Longhorns were taken in the 1984 NFL draft.   

. 

Professor Larry Carlson has Mike Ruether listed as the best Horn lineman in his article titled “The Outsiders”. A Longhorn super team composed of Longhorns recruited from outside the state of Texas.  

See this link for “The Outsider” article. https://www.texaslsn.org/theoutsiders-by-larry-carlson

Offense

QB: Major Applewhite ’01 Baton Rouge, LA (Catholic HS Bears)

RB: Ricky Williams ’98 San Diego, CA (Patrick Henry Patriots)

Jim Bertelsen ’71 Hudson, WI (Hudson Raiders)

WR: Collin Johnson ’19 San Jose, CA (Valley Christian Warriors)

Bob Moses: ’61 Deerfield, MA (Deerfield Academy Big Green)

TE: Pat Fitzgerald ’96 Agoura Hills, CA (Agoura Chargers)

OL: Mike Ruether ’83 Shawnee Mission, KS (Bishop Miege Stags)

Lyle Sendlein ’06 Scottsdale, AZ (Chaparral Firebirds)

Kasey Studdard ’06 Lone Tree, CO (Highlands Ranch Golden Eagles)

Bobby Mitchell ’70 Wheat Ridge, CO (WRHS Farmers)

Tillman Holloway ’03 Basalt, CO (Faith Christian Eagles)

RETURN MAN: Eric Metcalf ’88 Arlington, VA (Bishop O’Connell Knights

Mike’s professional Football career. 

Michael Ruether (born September 20, 1962) is a former National Football League offensive lineman from 1986 through 1993. He was drafted in the first round of the special 1984 Supplemental NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He played for the Los Angeles Express of the USFL in 1984 and 1985 before entering the NFL with the Cardinals in 1986. Ruether also played two seasons for the Denver Broncos and four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He has two children – son Reece and daughter Ramsey. His parents are Connie and Bob Ruether.

1984 Los Angeles Express games played 17

1985 Los Angeles Express games played 16

1986 St. Louis Cardinals games played 10

1987 St. Louis Cardinals games played 12

1988 Denver Broncos games played 14

1989 Denver Broncos games played 3

1990 Atlanta Falcons games played 16

1991 Atlanta Falcons games played 16

1992 Atlanta Falcons games played 16

1993 Atlanta Falcons games played 16