Mike Golic

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Golic's journey to the NFL began at St. Joseph High School in Cleveland, Ohio, leading to his graduation from Notre Dame in 1985. Selected by the Houston Oilers in the 10th round as the 255th overall pick of the 1985 NFL draft, he played defensive tackle for three teams: the Oilers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Miami Dolphins. During his tenure with the Eagles, he was part of a formidable defensive unit, though the source notes he admitted to taking corticosteroids briefly while recovering from an injury. His on-field presence extended beyond statistics; as a captain during his senior season at Notre Dame, he also wrestled for the Fighting Irish, showcasing a versatility that would later translate to his broadcasting career. Golic played 115 games total in his NFL career, starting 49, and recorded 11.5 sacks alongside three interceptions. His time in Philadelphia was part of an eight-year span that defined his athletic legacy before he transitioned fully into media.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Mike Golic's life is anchored by a seamless transition from the gridiron to the microphone. After his NFL career concluded, Golic moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1995 to become the lead talkshow host at KGME radio. There, he paired with co-host Bruce Jacobs to create the Golic-Jacobs morning show, which became the direct model for ESPN's "Mike & Mike" five years later. His broadcasting ascent included a weekly segment on the Randall Cunningham Show during his time in Philadelphia, earning him a Mid-Atlantic Region Emmy Award for his feature "Golic's Got It." He joined ESPN in 1995 as a reporter and analyst for Sunday NFL Countdown and served as an original analyst for NFL 2Night. From January 2, 2000, to November 17, 2017, he hosted "Mike & Mike" with Mike Greenberg on ESPN Radio and ESPN2. The dynamic shifted in 2017 when he began hosting "Golic and Wingo" with Trey Wingo, a show that featured his son, Mike Jr., until its cancellation in July 2020.

Reader's Guide

For those tracking Golic's post-playing career, the timeline is precise. He hosted "The Bruno-Golic Morning Show" from 1998 to 1999 before his long run with Mike Greenberg. On July 9, 2020, ESPN announced the cancellation of "Golic and Wingo," with their final program airing on July 31, 2020. By August 31, 2026, Golic was set to return to ESPN Radio to host a new show titled "The Golics" alongside his son Mike Jr., following stints at Learfield and the DraftKings/FanDuel networks where he co-hosted shows with his son from 2022 to 2025. Off the air, Golic's personal life remains deeply connected to Cleveland; he is a staunch fan of the Cleveland Guardians and Cavaliers. He resides in South Bend, Indiana, and Scottsdale, Arizona, with his wife Christine. His three children all attended Notre Dame: sons Mike Jr. and Jake played football there (Jake played the 2014–15 season with Cincinnati), while daughter Sydney was a swimmer for the Irish.

Did You Know?

• Golic admitted to taking corticosteroids briefly while recovering from an injury during his playing career.
• He was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 10th round as the 255th overall pick of the 1985 NFL draft.
• In 2015, Golic was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in the Outstanding American category for using wrestling as a stepping stone to success in other fields.
• His older brother Bob Golic also played at Notre Dame and earned multiple NFL All-Pro nose tackle honors.
• Golic co-wrote the book "Mike and Mike's Rules for Sports and Life" with co-host Mike Greenberg in 2010.