2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

48 - DON MUHLBACH
Long Snapper Texas A&M Lufkin, Texas
Year: 12 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 258 Born: 8/17/81
Draft: FA-Bal ‘04 Acquired: FA ’04
Complete biographical information available on Detroitlions.com.
MANE FACTS
‣ ¾ Pronunciation: MULE-bach
‣ ¾ Pro Bowl: 2013
TRANSACTIONS
‣ ¾ Re-signed by the Lions as an unrestricted free agent to a one-year contract on February 27, 2015.
‣ ¾ Re-signed by the Lions to a one-year contract on March 14, 2013.
‣ ¾ Re-signed by the Lions on March 21, 2012.
‣ ¾ Re-signed by the Lions to a five-year deal on March 2, 2007.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Detroit Lions on November 9, 2004.
‣ ¾ Released by the Ravens on August 30, 2004.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie free agent on April 30, 2004.
PRO
Muhlbach’s velocity and accuracy places him among the best in the League in his specialty, and he is a critical part of the
snap-hold-kick process. A deep-snapping specialist who has a crisp and consistent delivery, Muhlbach spent 2004 training
camp with Baltimore before joining the Lions later that season and has been the team’s long snapper ever since.
‣ ¾ Has played in 164 career games and recorded 22 special teams tackles.
‣ ¾ When Muhlbach snapped for K Jason Hanson on the field goal team in 2004, that unit’s accuracy improved with the
most significant increase coming on long-range field goals. Hanson’s field goal accuracy with Muhlbach as the snapper
increased 5.8 percent on overall attempts. That improvement is 12.7 percent for field goals of 40-49 yards, 14.2 percent
for field goals 40+-yards and 19.4 percent for field goals of 50+-yards.
‣ ¾ With Muhlbach snapping, Hanson was 59-of-73 (80.8 pct) on field goal attempts of 40-49-yards, 81-of-107 (75.7 pct)
from 40+-yards and 25-of-37 (67.6 pct) on 50+-yard field goals over his career.
2014: Concluded his 11th NFL season as the elder statesmen in the Lions special teams room, and provided leadership
for second-year P Sam Martin.
‣ ¾ By playing in Week 2 at Carolina (9/14), Muhlbach played in his 150th-career game and became only the 20th player in
franchise history to play 150 career games with the club.
‣ ¾ Contributed to K Matt Prater successfully kicking a 52-yard field and P Sam Martin punting seven times for 341 yards
in Week 6 at Minnesota (10/12).
‣ ¾ Successfully snapped for P Sam Martin as he had a career-high four punts land inside the 20-yard line in Week 7 vs.
New Orleans (10/19).
‣ ¾ Snapped for K Matt Prater as he went 3-of-3 including a 48-yard game-winning field goal in Week 8 at Atlanta (10/26).
‣ ¾ Contributed to P Sam Martin successfully punting three times in Week 10 vs. Miami (11/9) and helped block for two
fake punts.
‣ ¾ Snapped for K Matt Prater as he went 2-of-2 on field goals in Week 11 at Arizona (11/16).
‣ ¾ Snapped for K Matt Prater as he went 2-of-2 on field goals in Week 13 vs. Chicago (11/27).
‣ ¾ Snapped for K Matt Prater as he converted 3-of-3 field goals, including the game-winner in Week 15 vs. Minnesota (12/14).
‣ ¾ Snapped for K Matt Prater as he went 2-of-2 on field goals in the NFC Wild Card game at Dallas (1/4).
2013: Snapped for K David Akers as he has made 18-of-24 field goals and 42-of-43 extra point attempts in 2013.
COLLEGE
Served as Texas A&M’s snapper in 2003.
‣ ¾ Filled in as punter during his sophomore season with the Aggies.
PERSONAL
Don Lynn Muhlbach, Jr., is the son of Sally and Don Muhlbach of Lufkin, Texas.
‣ ¾ Born Aug. 17, 1981 in Newark, Ohio.
DETROIT LIONS
PLAYER PROFILES