Ken Mendenhall

Kenneth Ernest Mendenhall (born August 11, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a center for 10 seasons with the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Ken Mendenhall

Mendenhall in 1977
No. 57
Position:	Center
Personal information
Born:	(1948-08-11) August 11, 1948 (age 77) Enid, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	242 lb (110 kg)
Career information
High school:	Enid
College:	Oklahoma
NFL draft:	1970: 5th round, 116th pick
Career history
Atlanta Falcons (1970)* Houston Oilers (1970)* Baltimore Colts (1971–1980)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
2× Second-team All-American (1968, 1969) 2× First-team All-Big Eight (1968, 1969) Second-team All-Big Eight (1967)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Biography

Ken Mendenhall was born in Enid, Oklahoma and grew up in Pawhuska, Osage County. He later attended Enid High School and went on to play for the University of Oklahoma, where he was "described as a devastating one-on-one blocker."^[1]

As a 1969 All-American center, he was valued by his college teammates. "He's always got the path cleared for you," said tailback Steve Owens. "He's fantastic coming off the ball on a man right in front of him. I'm glad we have him up there." In fact, "he cleared the way for Owens, who is OU's all-time leading scorer" and 1969 Heisman Trophy winner.^[2]

Drafted in the fifth-round of the 1970 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, Mendenhall was traded several times (including the Houston Oilers) before landing with the Baltimore Colts where he played out his 10-season career. After the Colts' 1980 season, he retired from professional football with the distinction of having "started 118 consecutive games for the Colts, beginning in the fourth game of 1973 and continuing through the last game of 1980."^[3]