Sellers became the youngest athlete to sign a professional football contract in 1995, when he joined the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos.
He was 19 years old and had recently graduated from Walla Walla Community College in Washington.
Essentially, he needed a job.
Sellers caught the attention of Redskins scouts while in Canada, and he joined the team in 1998. He would have a solid nine-year NFL career, spending all but one of those seasons (2001) with the Redskins.
There were some hard spots in Cleveland in 2001, and he returned to the CFL in the middle of his career. But from, the 6-3, 284-pound fullback. However, from 2004 until 2011, the main physical force found a long-term career with the Washington Commanders.
While Mike Sellers was never recognized as a flamboyant, glamorous player, he excelled as a blocker, ball carrier, and receiver at critical moments.
Portis said he thought Sellers was one of the best players in the league when the 33-year-old earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2010, just one season before retiring.
“He deserves it,” Portis explained. “You’re talking about a guy who comes to work every day, he never misses practice, gives it all he has, and bangs his body all day to protect me.”
Mike Sellers did not take the honour lightly, as he became the first Redskins fullback to make the Pro Bowl since Rob Goode in 1954. He and Portis became the first fullback/running back combination to be selected to the Pro Bowl in Washington Commanders history.
“This has been a long time coming. This was one of my longtime goals. I am grateful to everyone for their contributions to my success.”
“Because of the ride it took, from going to high school, not going to [a four-year] college, then going to the NFL,” he went on to say. “Then, after getting released in Cleveland and fearing I might never play again, I returned to the Redskins and revived my career. It’s the route I took. It’s a great sensation.”
Mike Sellers is no stranger to adversity, and he recently opened up about losing his son during an interview to promote the Washington Commanders’ renewed vigour after Dan Snyder agreed to sell the team.
Sellers had not returned since 2017, claiming that alumni were not recognized as much as they could have been, which is why many have chosen to stay away.
“Nobody wanted to be around that hostility and type of climate – but one of the primary reasons I came back was because things changed,” Sellers added, before tearing down on air: “I sacrificed a lot. I played through my child’s death because I owed it to the team, but you never received the same reciprocation from ownership. Although we had a job, we never felt valued. Now that the tide has changed and he’s gone, I feel like a burden has been lifted.”
Former Washington Commanders/Redskins FB Mike Sellers is fighting for his life and needs help.
Here is a post from the wife of the former Washington Commanders/Redskins fan favourite.
Hello, I’m the wife of the greatest fullback to ever play in the National Football League. Washington Redskins fans know him as The Caveman, but I know him as my husband, the father of our three lovely humans (ages 13, 14, and a young adult). My spouse is currently the Running Backs Coach at one of the top high schools in the country. Mike has spent the last six months in and out of one of the greatest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital.
Mike was able to help guide the football team to another National Championship in 2023. We have learnt that my husband has a long path to recovery. Mike has had nine cardiac procedures along this trip, and he is no longer able to provide for our family due to his health.
Mike still needs a few more treatments to achieve a stable, healthy lifestyle. The purpose of this fundraising is to provide financial support for our family for the remainder of 2024. Reaching our target will cover our monthly and medical expenditures. As his wife, I have chosen to care for and nurse him back to being the fun-loving, caring father, husband, brother, son, friend, and coach that he once was. I will commit my life to ensuring that my family remains healthy. That being said, I will need to take a leave of absence from my employment as a Para Professional at our local high school in Riverview, Florida.
I’d like to thank the family and friends that have been there for us thus far. Thank you for your contribution to assisting our family in overcoming this difficult time.
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