Mike Patterson is a former American football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for several years. He was born on September 1, 1983, in Sacramento, California, and attended Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos, California, where he played football as a defensive tackle and offensive guard.
After high school, Patterson attended the University of Southern California (USC) and played for the USC Trojans football team from 2002 to 2004. During his college career, he was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection and helped lead the Trojans to two national championships.
In 2005, Patterson was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the NFL Draft. He played for the Eagles for eight seasons, from 2005 to 2012, and was a key member of their defensive line. During his time with the Eagles, he played in 115 games and recorded 551 tackles, 16.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
In 2013, Patterson signed with the New York Giants but was released before the start of the regular season due to health concerns. He then signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and played for them in 2013 and 2014. He played in 15 games for the Chiefs and recorded 28 tackles and one sack.
Patterson's NFL career was cut short due to health issues. In 2011, he was diagnosed with a brain condition called arteriovenous malformation (AVM), which required surgery to remove a tangle of blood vessels in his brain. He missed the final seven games of the 2011 season but returned to play in 2012. However, he was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list in 2013 due to ongoing issues related to his AVM.
Despite his health issues, Patterson was a respected and productive player during his NFL career. He was known for his toughness, work ethic, and leadership on and off the field. He was also active in the community and was a two-time nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, which recognizes players for their excellence on and off the field.
After retiring from football, Patterson returned to USC to complete his degree in sociology. He also became a high school football coach and worked as a defensive line coach at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California.
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