{{Short description|American football player and executive (born 1949)}} {{about|the American football player|the American rock music guitarist|Letters from the Fire|other people}} {{Use American English|date=November 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Mike Keller | image = Michael F. Keller.png | alt = | caption = Keller from 1972 ''Michiganensian'' | number = 57 | position = Linebacker | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|12|13|mf=y}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | high_school = Catholic Central {{nowrap|(Grand Rapids, Michigan)}} | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lbs = 221 | college = Michigan | draftyear = 1972 | draftround = 3 | draftpick = 64 | pastteams = * Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1972}}–{{NFL Year|1973}}) | highlights = * Third-team All-American (1971) * First-team All-Big Ten (1971) * Second-team All-Big Ten (1970) | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 5 | pfr = KellMi20 }} '''Michael F. Keller''' (born December 13, 1949) is an American former professional football executive and former player. He played as a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines.
==Early life== A native of Chicago, Illinois, he attended Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
==College career== Keller played college football at the University of Michigan and became a three-year starter at defensive end from 1969 to 1971.<ref>{{cite web|title=University of Michigan All-time Rosters Search Page |publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library |url=http://141.211.39.65/allroster/fbsearch.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928200732/http://141.211.39.65/allroster/fbsearch.htm |archive-date=2007-09-28 }}(Enter Keller as the last name and Michael as the first name on the search page, and press enter)</ref> As a senior, he started all 11 games and the 1972 Rose Bowl for a team that finished the season with an 11–1 record and ranked No. 6 in the final AP Poll.<ref name=t71>{{cite web|title=1971 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1971fbt.htm| access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref>
He was selected as an All-Big Ten player in 1971 as well as Associated Press third-team All-American.<ref name=t71/> In July 1972, Keller was selected to play against the Dallas Cowboys in the annual Chicago College All-Star Game, along with Michigan teammates Thom Darden, Reggie McKenzie and Mike Taylor.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dave Goldberg|title=Dallas Beats All-Stars as Morton, Sullivan Shine|newspaper=Waycross Journal-Herald (AP story)|date=July 29, 1972|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IR9aAAAAIBAJ&pg=7193,3020106&dq=keller+michigan|access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref>
==Professional career== Keller was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round (64th overall pick) of the 1972 NFL draft, with the intention of converting him into a linebacker.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19720725&id=sGg0AAAAIBAJ&pg=783,5832082 | title=Coach wishes all-stars with team | access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> As a rookie, he was a backup outside linebacker and appeared in five games, before being sent to the taxi squad to make room to activate Roger Staubach.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19721022&id=kAUkAAAAIBAJ&pg=6646,4866279 | title=Sports Notebook | access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref>
He underwent shoulder surgery in 1973 and was placed on the injured reserve list on September 10. <ref>{{cite news|title=Dallas Cuts Winfrey|publisher=Palm Beach Post|date=September 11, 1973}}</ref> He worked in the team's scouting department, while he was recovering from surgery.
He was sidelined again the next year after suffering a pulled stomach muscle.<ref name=GRP/> Keller later recalled: "I got hurt in training camp in my second year. I had beaten out another player for the strong-side linebacker position, but I had to have shoulder surgery. That put me out for the season. It also led to a different career".<ref name=GRP>{{cite news|author=Brian VanOchten|newspaper=The Grand Rapids Press|title=Mike Keller's short stint with Cowboys on the field led to long career in sports marketing|date=October 4, 2009|url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/2009/10/mike_kellers_time_with_cowboys.html| access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> He was waived on September 10, 1974.<ref>{{cite news|title=NFL Transactions|publisher=The Miami News|date=September 11, 1974}}</ref>
==Business career== After retiring as a football player in 1974, Keller had a career in sports management and consulting. He began his management work as an employee of the Dallas Cowboys' personnel department.<ref name=GRP/> In 1975 Keller left the Cowboys to join the newly formed Seattle Seahawks as a scout and Assistant Personnel Director. He was promoted in 1978 to Assistant General Manager for the Seahawks.
From 1983 to 1985, Keller worked in the front office of the Michigan Panthers of the newly formed USFL as the team's Assistant General Manager and Director of Football Operations, He was the personnel director for the Oakland Invaders of the USFL in 1985.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pro Football Focus|author=Howard Balzer|newspaper=The Sporting News|date=September 9, 1985}}</ref> After the USFL dismantled, Keller worked for a time has a scout for the Dallas Cowboys.<ref>{{cite news|title=Notebook|newspaper=The Sporting News|date=April 14, 1986}}</ref>
Since 1988, Keller and his company, Keller Enterprises/RFL Llc, was engaged in sports management and consulting. His clients have included rodeo and rugby leagues, as well as a professional football league planning to play its games in the spring.<ref name=GRP/> From 1990 to 1992, he was the general manager of the Sacramento Surge in the fledgling World League of American Football.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sacramento Surge Hopes To Electrify|newspaper=Lodi News-Sentinel|date=December 5, 1990|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NYAzAAAAIBAJ&pg=4881,4031868&dq=mike-keller+sacramento+surge| access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Surge Begins WLAF Action|newspaper=Lodi News-Sentinel|date=March 14, 1992|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GbozAAAAIBAJ&pg=2094,1383076&dq=mike-keller+sacramento+surge| access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> From 1995 to 1996, he was the general manager of the Scottish Claymores in the NFL Europe.<ref>{{cite web|title=World League of American Football: WLAF History: 1995|publisher=World League of American Football|url=http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id170.html| access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Claymores looking forward to selling big game to fans|newspaper=USA Today|author=Allen F. Richardson|date=May 13, 1996|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16340113.html?dids=16340113:16340113&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+13%2C+1996&author=Allen+F.+Richardson&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Claymores+looking+forward+to+selling+big+game+to+fans&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107131603/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16340113.html?dids=16340113:16340113&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+13,+1996&author=Allen+F.+Richardson&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Claymores+looking+forward+to+selling+big+game+to+fans&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref>
In January 2000, when WWF owner Vince McMahon ventured into the professional football business to form the XFL, he hired Keller as the league's vice president of football operations.<ref>{{cite news|title=WWF STEPS FROM RING TO GRIDIRON DETROIT HAS A CHANCE FOR FRANCHISE IN XFL|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=George Sipple|date=February 5, 2000|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1808046651.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+05%2C+2000&author=GEORGE+SIPPLE&pub=Detroit+Free+Press&desc=WWF+STEPS+FROM+RING+TO+GRIDIRON+DETROIT+HAS+A+CHANCE+FOR+FRANCHISE+IN+XFL&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107130835/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1808046651.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+05,+2000&author=GEORGE+SIPPLE&pub=Detroit+Free+Press&desc=WWF+STEPS+FROM+RING+TO+GRIDIRON+DETROIT+HAS+A+CHANCE+FOR+FRANCHISE+IN+XFL&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2012}}("Grand Rapids resident Michael F Keller hired as the XFL's vice president of football operations 11 days ago ...")</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=WWF Enters New Arena with XFL, Hopes to Score a TD|author=Kenny Lucas|newspaper=Daily News|date=February 4, 2000}}</ref> In May 2000, Keller told reporters, "All the best players in the world not playing in the NFL will be playing in the XFL."<ref>{{cite news|title=Extreme football league is ready to rumble|author=Leonard Shapiro|newspaper=Seattle Times|date=May 7, 2000|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20000507&slug=4019834|access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> The XFL began its inaugural season in February 2001 and folded in May 2001.<ref>{{cite news|title=NEWS STUNS RAGE PLAYERS, COACHES THURSDAY'S DECISION TO FOLD THE XFL CAUGHT MANY WITH THE TEAM BY SURPRISE|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|author=L.C. Johnson|date=May 11, 2001|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandosentinel/access/72796890.html?dids=72796890:72796890&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+11%2C+2001&author=L.C.+Johnson%2C+Sentinel+Staff+Writer&pub=Orlando+Sentinel&desc=NEWS+STUNS+RAGE+PLAYERS%2C+COACHES+THURSDAY%27S+DECISION+TO+FOLD+THE+XFL+CAUGHT+MANY+WITH+THE+TEAM+BY+SURPRISE.&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201005216/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandosentinel/access/72796890.html?dids=72796890:72796890&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+11,+2001&author=L.C.+Johnson,+Sentinel+Staff+Writer&pub=Orlando+Sentinel&desc=NEWS+STUNS+RAGE+PLAYERS,+COACHES+THURSDAY'S+DECISION+TO+FOLD+THE+XFL+CAUGHT+MANY+WITH+THE+TEAM+BY+SURPRISE.&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=XFL too much for NFL fans, not enough for wrestling fans|newspaper=USA Today|author=Gordon Forbes|date=May 11, 2001|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/72847908.html?dids=72847908:72847908&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+11%2C+2001&author=Gordon+Forbes&pub=USA+TODAY&desc=XFL+too+much+for+NFL+fans%2C+not+enough+for+wrestling+fans&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107131625/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/72847908.html?dids=72847908:72847908&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+11,+2001&author=Gordon+Forbes&pub=USA+TODAY&desc=XFL+too+much+for+NFL+fans,+not+enough+for+wrestling+fans&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref>
Beginning in March 2003, he was the chief operating officer of the American Rugby Football League LLC. Keller noted, "I consult on start-ups. I've become sort of a start-up guru."<ref name=GRP/> From 2013 to 2014, Keller was the Chief Operating Officer of the A11FL.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/02/06/a11-professional-football-league-launches-with-team-in-san-francisco-eyes-tim-tebow/ | title=A11 Professional Football League launches with team in San Francisco, eyes Tim Tebow | access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref>
==Personal life== Keller and his wife, Kimberly, have two grown children, Jessica and Sam.<ref name=GRP/> His son Sam Keller played college football as a quarterback for Arizona State University from 2003 to 2005 and for Nebraska in 2007.<ref name=GRP/><ref name=OT>{{cite news|title=Football runs in blood of ASU freshman Keller|author=Dave Newhouse|newspaper=The Oakland Tribune|date=October 31, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pheasant On Friday, Trojan on Saturday?|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 15, 2007|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/xfl/| access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Cowboys1972DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keller, Mike}} Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Grand Rapids, Michigan Category:Michigan Wolverines football players Category:Dallas Cowboys players Category:American chief operating officers Category:Dallas Cowboys scouts Category:20th-century American sportsmen