Mike
Tomczak
Dublin 1997
Something
my friends arranged.
Many thanks!
Mikee
at practice 1997.
PRO: Has provided steady veteran leadership on and off the field in Pittsburgh... has served as backup to the Steelers' starting quarterbacks three of the past four seasons, the exception was in 1996 when he started 15 games... has made 68 career starts posting a 41-27 record in regular season, including two wins in 1994 and 1995 and 10 wins in 1996 for Pittsburgh... came to the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent from Cleveland Browns April 6, 1993... began his NFL career as an undrafted rookie with Chicago Bears in 1985... spent the first six NFL seasons with Bears followed by one each with Green Bay Packers and Browns before joining Pittsburgh... started 31 of 77 games played in Chicago, building a 21-10 record as starter including 10-0 in his first 10 starts. Started seven games for Green Bay, eight for Cleveland, and 22 for Pittsburgh (14-8 record).
2000: Signed by the Detroit Lions as backup for injury prone Charlie Batch, Tomczak sat out the year after breaking his leg in the preseason.
1999: Backed Kordell Stewart before starting against Jacksonville(2/12)... coming on against Cleveland (12/9) Tomczak hit Huntley and Ward with scoring passes of 21 and one yard, respectively in the fourth quarter... gave Troy Edwards his first touchdown pass in the 29-10 defeat against Seattle (26/9)... replaced Kordell Stewart again in the loss against Cincinnati (28/10) and threw two touchdown passes... first on a six play 71 yards drive ending with a 15 yards TD pass for Bobby Shaw's first NFL touchdown... then a 34 yard TD pass to Hines Ward... started the 20-6 loss at Jacksonville (2/12)... tied the Baltimore game (12/12) at 17-17 with a six yard TD pass to Troy Edwards and completed a 11 yard TD pass to Kordell Stewart before the Steelers lost 24-31... against Kansas (18/12), Tomczak led the Steelers on the opening drive to a 7-0 lead taking 7 plays to go 63 yards, finishing with his 12 yards pass to Troy Edwards... unfortunately, 4 interceptions saw the Chiefs win the game despite Tomczak connecting with Bobby Shaw for an 11 yard touchdown... broke a Steelers six game losing streak against Carolina (26/12) with a 30-20 win that included his 9 yard TD pass to Hines Ward... threw for 309 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 36-47 loss to Tennessee (2/1.)
1998: Served as the placemen holder... did not take any snaps at quarterback... held for placekicks against Chicago (13/9)... played in the final series at Miami (20/9) and held for placekicks.... replaced starting quarterback Kordell Stewart midway through the fourth quarter versus Tennessee (1/11) and performed magnificently... completed 15-of-17 passes for 117 yards and two TDs in a little more than 10 minutes of action... did not have an interception... was involved in one offensive play against Green Bay (9/11), one that utilise Kordell Stewart as a wide receiver and resulted in an 88-yard fumble return for a TD for the Packers... saw his first action from scrimmage since the Nov. 9 Green Bay game at Tampa Bay (13/12)... replaced Kordell Stewart for two offensive series in the second half... completed one of two passes for 10 yards... also was sacked once and had one interception... his fumble in the third quarter at the Steelers' 17-yard led to a Tampa Bay TD... replaced Kordell Stewart in the second half of the Cincinnati contest (20/12) for the second straight game and finished the contest... completed 5-of-11 passes for 77 yards... connected with Charles Johnson on a 42-yard pass play that set up the Steelers' first offensive TD in eleven quarters and an overtime period... suffered his only interception of the game in the final second; when the team was driving for what could have been a game-winning field goal.
1997: Played in all 16 games as the backup quarterback to Kordell Stewart and starting holder for placekicks... completed 16 of 24 pass attempts (66.7 percent) for 185 yards and one TD with two interceptions... also rushed seven times for 13 yards, including a long of 17 yards... accumulated his most significant playing time, completing eight of 11 pass attempts for a season-high 89 yards at Tennessee (21/12)... also passed for 70 yards and a touchdown, while completing six of 11 passes versus Indianapolis (12/10)... played in three games at quarterback (the other versus Tennessee, 28/9).
1996: Made first start of season in second game versus Baltimore (8/9)... completed 18 of 25 passes for two TDs, one interception and 198 yards for a career-high .720 completion percentage... replaced Jim Miller who started opener... started 15 of 16 games to set career mark for starts in season, surpassing his previous best of 11 starts in 1989 when he finished 5-6... also set career season marks for attempts (401), completions (222) and yards (2,767). .. compiled quarterback rating of 105.1 and threw two touchdowns versus Houston (29/9), a 62-yarder to Charles Johnson and a 16-yarder to Kordell Stewart... completed 20 of 32 passes for 338 yards at KC (7/10), second-highest passing yardage total of his career... connected with Johnson for 70-yard TD reception at Houston (20/10)... compiled a quarterback-rating of 115.4 and a career-high .815 completion percentage (22-27) at Atlanta (27/10), the third-best single-game passing percentage in team history... suffered concussion versus Rams (3/11) after completing six straight passes... had a season-high three interceptions at Cin. (10/11)... threw two TD passes (12, 27 yards) to Yancey Thigpen versus Jacksonville (17/11)... produced his fourth two-touchdown day of the season at Baltimore (1/12)... threw three interceptions versus San Diego (8/12)... established a then career-high 43 pass attempts and a season-high 23 completions versus San Francisco (15/12)... completed six of 10 passes in four series at Carolina (22/12)... completed 13 of 21 passes and was 5-of-5 on a go ahead TD drive versus Colts (29/12) in round one of playoffs... connected on 16 of 29 passes with two interceptions at New England (5/1).1995: Played seven games and made four starts... filled in for injured Neil O'Donnell (hand fracture) in second quarter versus Detroit (3/9) and completed 15 of 24 passes for 149 yards with three interceptions... started Game 2 at Houston (10/9) and led Pittsburgh to 34-17 win... completed 13 of 22 passes for 123 yards and one TD to lead Pittsburgh on four scoring drives... hit Mark Bruener for Bruener's first career TD pass, a 15-yarder... made second start (fifth as Steeler) at Miami (18/9) and was 11 -of-24 for 104 yards with two interceptions,... replaced by Jim Miller in fourth quarter... started following week in Steelers' 44-24 loss to Minnesota (24/9)... completed 14-of-22 passes for 143 yards and a season-high .636 completion percentage (with three interceptions)... yielded to Jim Miller after three drives in third quarter... rebounded versus San Diego (1/10) to lead team to 31-16 victory... passed for a season-high 143 yards while completing 12 of 21 passes... guided Steelers on scoring drives of 75, 75 and 82 yards... played a total of 147 snaps during O'Donnell injury... played final play of game at Cincinnati (19/11) in 49-31 victory... entered Game 14 at Oakland (10/12) for final drive and directed team for six snaps... did not play during postseason.
1994: Played six games and made two starts... threw for 804 yards, completing 54 of 93 passes with four TDs and no interceptions for a career-high 100.8 quarterback rating... saw first action of season at Seattle (25/9), completing 3-of-3 passes for 39 yards... made first start since the season-opener in 1993 and led team to 16-13 OT victory over Miami (20/11)... established career highs at the time for yards (343), completions (26) and pass attempts (42) ... matched the sixth-best single-game completion total in Steelers history with his 26 completions and produced the eighth-best single-game passing yardage total with his 343 yards... started the following week at L.A. Raiders (27/11)... completed 12-of-27 passes for 131 yards and two TDs... played most of the San Diego game (24/12) and closed season by completing 10-of-16 passes for 248 yards and two TDs, including 84-yard strike to Charles Johnson, the second longest TD pass of Tomczak's career... played the final six minutes of Cleveland playoff game (7/1).
1993: Started first game as a Steeler on opening day versus San Francisco (5/9) for Neil O'Donnell, completing 4-of-11 passes for 46 yards with two interceptions in the first half... played in total of seven games, finishing with 29 completions on 54 passes (53.7 percent) for 398 yards, two TDs and five interceptions for a 51.3 rating... completed 3-of-4 passes for 66 yards and one TD versus New Orleans (17/11)... was 5-of-6 for 81 yards with TD at Denver (21/11)... completed 8-of-13 passes for 61 yards with two interceptions at Houston (28/11)... set season highs with nine completions on 20 attempts for 144 yards and one interception versus Houston (19/12).
1992: Started eight games for Browns (4-4) and had AFC-best 8.02 yards per pass attempt with career-high 80.1 passer rating... started Games 4-11 for injured Bernie Kosar... registered first win as a Brown in his second start, a 17-14 victory versus the Steelers at Cleveland (11/10), completing 10-of-17 passes for 171 yards and a 47-yard TD... threw for two TDs in win at Houston (8/11)... compiled a career-high 322 yards, while completing 18 of 32 versus San Diego (15/11)... played the second half of the season-finale versus the Steelers (27/12), completing 8-of-15 passes for 141 yards, one TD and two interceptions.
1991: Made five starts (2-3) for Packers, finishing as team leader with 128 completions on 238 pass attempts for 1,490 yards, 11 TDs and nine interceptions… threw for 317 yards, completing 23-of-38 passes, and two TDs in his first start as a Packer versus Buffalo (10/11)... was 20 for 40 including a 75-yard strike versus Minnesota (17/11)... had a career-long 48-yard run to set up TD versus Indianapolis (24/11) and tossed three TD passes against Atlanta (1/12).
1990: Started last two games in regular season plus two in playoffs in last year with Bears... helped lead to a win versus Tampa Bay (23/12) with two passing and one rushing touchdown... threw one touchdown pass each in playoff game versus New Orleans (6/1) and New York Giants (31/1).
1989: Made a career-high 11 starts... started the season with a 4-0 record... completed 156 of 306 for 2,058 yards with 16 TDs and 16 interceptions... had first 300-yard game and two TDs at Detroit (24/9), three TDs and 266 yards versus Philadelphia (2/10)... also threw three TD passes, all in a three-minute span, versus Houston (15/10), including 79-yarder, in relief versus Tampa Bay (19/11).
1988: Started five games and compiled a 75.4 passer rating... started and won "Fog Bowl" playoff game versus Philadelphia (31/12) with 64-yard TD pass.
1987: Started first four games and three others for injured Jim McMahon... completed 97 of 178 passes for 1,220 yards, five TDs and 10 interceptions.
1986: Started seven games with 7-0 mark... had a career-long 85-yard completion to Emery Moorehead at Atlanta (16/11).
1985: Made Bears roster as undrafted rookie... played in six games... played in fourth quarter in 46-10 Super Bowl XX win versus New England (26/1).
COLLEGE: Finished his career at Ohio State ranked second in school history with 1,569 yards, completing 376 of 675 passes with 32 TDs... was a three-year starter... led the Buckeyes to a 9-3 record three times... completed 145-of-244 passes for 1,952 yards and led the team to Rose Bowl in his senior season despite overcoming a fractured leg suffered the previous spring... graduated with degree in communications.
PERSONAL: Serves on board of directors of Leukaemia Society in Chicago, Blue Cross Kids Esteem Program in Pittsburgh and Catholic Charities... was the 1996 spokes person for Art Rooney 5K to raise scholarship money... serves as the team's NFLPA player representative... also is a member NFLPA executive committee.
The above information was taken from the Pittsburgh Steelers 1999 media guides.
Editor's note: I had to include Mike in this section because... it was the least he could expect in appreciation for wearing the shirt of my favourite soccer team.