WVU Sports Hall of Fame
Mike Fox was an outstanding defensive tackle from 1986-89 at WVU and had a nine-year career in the NFL.
A native of Akron, Ohio, Fox was a two-year starter at tackle, earning 1989 Gator Bowl Most Valuable Player honors with seven tackles. In his final season, he led the team in quarterback sacks with 10 and posted 78 tackles. Fox was named an honorable mention All-American by The Sporting News, First Team Associated Press All-East and All-ECAC.
Fox had nine tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss versus Ball State, had eight tackles, including two sacks and two TFLs, against South Carolina, had nine tackles, including eight solo stops and a sack against Virginia Tech, posted seven tackles and a sack at Penn State and had nine tackles, including a pair of sacks and two tackles for a loss, in the Syracuse game.
As a junior, he started every game and was named AP All-East in 1988. His big play that season was a blocked punt at Pitt. The WVU defense helped pave the way to the 1989 Fiesta Bowl for college football’s national championship against Notre Dame. He also started four games in 1987, helping the Mountaineers to the 1987 Sun Bowl.
Fox finished his WVU career with 142 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, two forced fumbles and four pass breakups.
He was selected in the second round (51st overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, and was part of the Super Bowl XXV-winning team. Fox finished his career with the Carolina Panthers from 1995-98.
In the NFL, he played in 133 games, starting 84, while recording 17 sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He finished his career with 233 tackles, including 122 solo stops. Fox started every game he played from 1993 through 1996.
Fox earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from WVU in 1990.
