Mike Compton

American football center for the Detroit Lions and the New England Patriots.[9]

What is Mike Compton known for?

Mike Compton is a distinguished alumnus of Richlands High School in Richlands, Virginia, USA. Born in Richlands on September 18, 1970, he has made his mark both as an American football player and as a coach. Notably, Compton played in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons as a guard, playing for teams such as the Detroit Lions (1993-2000), the New England Patriots (2001-2003), and the Jacksonville Jaguars (2004). He even started in Super Bowl XXXVI for the Patriots, contributing to their victory.

His notable career achievements include two Super Bowl Championships (XXXVI, XXXVIII), and being recognized as a Consensus All-American in 1992. In his NFL career, he played in 151 games, starting 119 of them, and recovered two fumbles. His impressive performance earned him a place in the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame.

After his playing career, Compton moved on to coaching, working at various schools including Tazewell High School, Patrick Henry High School, Fairmont State, and others. His most recent position, starting in 2024, is as the Interim head coach for Virginia–Wise.

Before his professional career, Compton sparked his love for the sport while playing high school football. He also participated in baseball and wrestling during his time at Richlands High School. He then attended West Virginia University, where he played for the West Virginia Mountaineers football team from 1989 to 1992. In his senior season, he earned consensus All-American honors, capping off an impressive college career.

Check his NFL career stats here and his career summary at Pro-Football-Reference here.

Take a trip down memory lane and visit Richlands, Virginia by clicking here.