{{Short description|American football player (born 1962)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Use American English|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = | image = Mike Guendling 1985.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Guendling {{circa|1985}} | number = 53 | position = Linebacker | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|6|18|mf=y}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lb = 238 | high_school = St. Viator (IL) | college = Northwestern | draftyear = 1984 | draftround = 2 | draftpick = 33 | pastteams = * San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1984}}–{{NFL Year|1985}}) | highlights = | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 9 | pfr = GuenMi20 }}
'''Michael Anthony Guendling''' (born June 18, 1962) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers. He played college football for the Northwestern Wildcats.
==Early life== Guendling attended St. Viator High School, where he was a three-year starter at linebacker.<ref name="news">{{Cite web |last=Cobbs |first=Chris |date=August 1, 1985 |title=He Won't Skate Through This Camp : Charger Mike Guendling Has Task of Rehabilitating Knee |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-08-01-sp-4415-story.html |access-date=January 12, 2019 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> He also practiced hockey.
He accepted a football scholarship from Northwestern University. He was named a starter at defensive back as a freshman. As a sophomore, he was moved to outside linebacker, to play in a 3-4 defense.
As a junior, he had 20 tackles (13 solo), helping the team beat Michigan State University and end a string off 44 consecutive road loses.
As a senior, he had 7 solo tackles (3 for loss), 2 sacks and 4 pass breakups in a 10-8 win against Indiana University. He finished second in school history with 29 career tackles for loss.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-10-27-9310270181-story.html | title=Northwestern | website=Chicago Tribune | accessdate=January 12, 2019}}</ref> He also had 3 career interceptions.
He played two seasons with the school's hockey team.<ref name=news/>
==Professional career== Guendling was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round (33rd overall) of the 1984 NFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1984 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1984/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> As a rookie, he was lost for the season after suffering a broken kneecap and knee ligament damage during training camp in July, which forced him to have 3 knee surgeries.<ref name=news/>
In 1985, he returned to play in 9 games, limited mostly to special teams and had 7 tackles. In 1986, he suffered an ankle injury.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-01-sp-9005-story.html | title=Surprise: Coryell Looking to the Air : Charger Coach May Use His Running Backs as Receivers | website=Los Angeles Times | date=June 1986 | access-date=January 12, 2019}}</ref> He wasn't able to regain his previous form after his knee injury and was waived on August 20.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/71400132/ | title=Transactions | accessdate=January 12, 2019}}</ref>
==Personal life== His son Brian played college football at Texas State University.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2015/07/11/texas-state-brian-guendling-asl-uptown-funk | title=With a little 'Uptown Funk,' a college player is inspiring hearing-impaired | accessdate=January 12, 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=guendmik001 Mike Guendling Stats]
{{San Diego Chargers 1984 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guendling, Mike}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Chicago Category:American football linebackers Category:Northwestern Wildcats football players Category:San Diego Chargers players