Rick Lyle
Encyclopedia
Rick Lyle is a former American football
defensive end
who played for four teams in a 9-year NFL career.
Lyle attended Hickman Mills High School in Kansas City, Missouri
, where he was All State in wrestling
, finishing fifth in state his senior year. He was also the two-time State Champion in the shot put
during his junior and senior years, winning by over five feet beyond his closest competitor his senior year. He won many city, metro and state honors in football
, including honorable mention USA Today
All American.
Rick Lyle was named Freshman All American at the University of Missouri
his redshirt freshman season and was honorable mention all Big Eight his junior and senior years. At his graduation, Rick held the University of Missouri career record for quarterback sack
s. Lyle was in the top five all time at MU in the five weight lifts used to judge overall strength and was the top lifter in their history at that time in the Power Clean. He was also indoor champion in the shot put and eventually became an outdoor All American in the shot put, and also held several University of Missouri records. Rick will be inducted into the University of Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame in January.
Lyle signed a free agent
contract with the Cleveland Browns
under Bill Belichick
as head coach
after graduation from Missouri. He stayed with them through two years, although he missed the second year after a training camp injury required surgery. He then moved with the team to Baltimore
, where he played as a Raven
for one year. The next five years were with the New York Jets
, under Bill Parcells
and Bill Belichick and later Herman Edwards
. During his time there, he started
67 consecutive regular season and playoff games, including the 1998 Jets versus Broncos American Conference Championship Game. Lyle's last two seasons in the NFL were with the New England Patriots
, once again with Belichick, as he was with the Browns and the Jets. His last game was Super Bowl XXXVIII
, the Patriot's win over the Carolina Panthers
.
After his retirement from the NFL, Lyle and his family moved to the St. Louis area where he worked as an assistant coach at Marquette High School, a local high school. In 2006, Eric Mangini
asked Rick to join his new staff when he became head coach
of the New York Jets. Lyle serves as an assistant strength and conditioning coach and is responsible as well to see that the team's food, both at their facilities and on the road, is prepared and served properly, and especially, safely.
Rick is married to the former Laura Horstmeyer and has two daughters, Haley and Audrey. He and his family are currently living near the Jets' facilities in New Jersey
. They will move to Ohio to work for the Browns once again in June 2009.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
who played for four teams in a 9-year NFL career.
Lyle attended Hickman Mills High School in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, where he was All State in wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, finishing fifth in state his senior year. He was also the two-time State Champion in the shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
during his junior and senior years, winning by over five feet beyond his closest competitor his senior year. He won many city, metro and state honors in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, including honorable mention USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
All American.
Rick Lyle was named Freshman All American at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
his redshirt freshman season and was honorable mention all Big Eight his junior and senior years. At his graduation, Rick held the University of Missouri career record for quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s. Lyle was in the top five all time at MU in the five weight lifts used to judge overall strength and was the top lifter in their history at that time in the Power Clean. He was also indoor champion in the shot put and eventually became an outdoor All American in the shot put, and also held several University of Missouri records. Rick will be inducted into the University of Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame in January.
Lyle signed a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
contract with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
under Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick
William Stephen "Bill" Belichick is an American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991...
as head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
after graduation from Missouri. He stayed with them through two years, although he missed the second year after a training camp injury required surgery. He then moved with the team to Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, where he played as a Raven
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
for one year. The next five years were with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, under Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
and Bill Belichick and later Herman Edwards
Herman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
. During his time there, he started
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
67 consecutive regular season and playoff games, including the 1998 Jets versus Broncos American Conference Championship Game. Lyle's last two seasons in the NFL were with the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, once again with Belichick, as he was with the Browns and the Jets. His last game was Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
, the Patriot's win over the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
.
After his retirement from the NFL, Lyle and his family moved to the St. Louis area where he worked as an assistant coach at Marquette High School, a local high school. In 2006, Eric Mangini
Eric Mangini
Eric Mangini is the former head coach of the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets of the National Football League and current NFL analyst for ESPN.-College:...
asked Rick to join his new staff when he became head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the New York Jets. Lyle serves as an assistant strength and conditioning coach and is responsible as well to see that the team's food, both at their facilities and on the road, is prepared and served properly, and especially, safely.
Rick is married to the former Laura Horstmeyer and has two daughters, Haley and Audrey. He and his family are currently living near the Jets' facilities in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. They will move to Ohio to work for the Browns once again in June 2009.