Mike Tolbert

Did You Know?

• Tolbert power cleaned 600+ pounds in high school with teammate Matthew Land and was tackled regularly in practice by Land.
• In the third season of the FXX comedy series The League, the character Andre goes on a rant about Mike Tolbert and 'Touchdown Vultures.'
• Tolbert has worked as a correspondent for the Carolina Panthers since 2018.

College career

Tolbert played four seasons at Coastal Carolina University under head coach David Bennett. As a freshman he recorded 281 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown; as a sophomore he had 202 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns; as a junior he totaled 439 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He was named a second-team FCS All-American after leading the Chanticleers in rushing with 748 yards on 111 carries and nine touchdowns. Over his college career he had 303 touches without any fumbles. He followed Quinton Teal, who became the first Coastal Carolina player to appear in an NFL game. Tolbert was teammates with quarterback Tyler Thigpen and wide receiver Jerome Simpson, both of whom also played in the NFL.

Professional career

Mike Tolbert entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, signing with the San Diego Chargers on April 28, 2008. He notched his first professional touchdown on September 22 in a 48-29 win over the New York Jets. That season, he appeared in 13 games, starting seven at fullback, and ran for 37 yards on 13 carries. In 2009, he rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown, adding 17 catches for 192 yards and three receiving scores, including a 66-yarder against the Cleveland Browns.

The next year, he shared starting duties with Ryan Mathews. He posted 82 rushing yards and two touchdowns versus the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2, 100 yards and a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals on October 3, and 111 yards and a touchdown versus the Denver Broncos on November 22. He finished 2010 with 182 carries for 735 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2011, he opened with 35 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, nine receptions, 58 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns in a 24-17 victory, ending the season with 490 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 54 catches, 433 receiving yards, and two receiving scores.

On March 19, 2012, Tolbert signed a four-year, $10 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, earning the nickname "The Toldozer." In the regular-season finale against the New Orleans Saints, he scored three rushing touchdowns in a 44-38 win, finishing 2012 with 183 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 27 receptions, and 268 receiving yards. Playing fullback, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2013, ending that season with 361 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 27 catches, 184 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns, and was also named to the All-Pro Team.

In 2014, he had 37 carries for 78 rushing yards and 12 receptions for 93 yards in eight regular-season games. In the playoffs, he recorded seven rushing yards and a one-yard touchdown catch in a 27-16 Wild Card win over the Arizona Cardinals, then had ten rushing yards and a 14-yard reception in a 31-17 Divisional Round loss to the Seattle Seahawks.