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Mel Tom

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mel Tom
Tom on the Philadelphia Eagles
No. 58, 99, 89
PositionDefensive end
Personal information
Born(1941-08-04)August 4, 1941
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
DiedApril 27, 2006(2006-04-27) (aged 64)
Kailua, Hawaii, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight249 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High schoolMaryknoll (Honolulu)
College
NFL draft1966 (6th round, 89th overall pick)
AFL draft1966 (Red Shirt 9th round, 80th overall pick)
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Fumble recoveries5
Safeties1
Sacks44.5
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Melvyn Maile Tom (August 4, 1941 – April 27, 2006) was an American professional football player who was a defensive lineman for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears.[1]

Early life

[edit]

Tom was born on August 4, 1941, in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.[2] He attended Maryknoll High School, where he did not play football.[2][3] He was considered to be one of the top basketball players in Hawaii, and was called the team's "most effective man [in 1972]" by Eagles coach Mike McCormack.[2][3]

Professional career

[edit]

Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]

Tom was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 1966 NFL Draft as a "futures pick".[4] Tom signed with the Eagles in 1967.[5] He finished his rookie season with five sacks.[6]

During the 1968 season, Tom committed a roughing the punter penalty in the final two minutes of a 7–6 Eagles loss to the Giants.[7] He finished the season with 5.5 sacks.[6]

Heading into the 1969 season, Eagles General Manager Pete Retzlaff deemed the Eagles defensive line to be the team's strong point, with Tom being among the players Retzlaff highlighted.[8] Tom finished the season with four sacks and a safety.[6]

Heading into the 1970 season, Tom was described by the New York Times as one of the Eagles "few first-rate players."[9] Tom finished the season with a career-high 7.5 sacks and a fumble recovered.[6]

In 1971, Tom was fined $1,000 for a block that knocked Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach unconscious.[10][11] After being fined, Tom claimed that "It's more or less an unwritten rule in this league that you're not supposed to hit the quarterback hard."[11] NFL executive director Jim Kensil refuted the existence of that 'unwritten rule'.[11] Later that season, when Ed Khayat was hired as head coach he instituted a no facial hair policy.[12] Tom, who had a mustache, proposed only shaving off half of his mustache, a request which was refused.[12] After the season, Tom was listed as an honorable mention to the UPI National Football Conference Team.[13] Tom ended the year with 4.5 sacks and a fumble recovered.[6]

In 1972, Tom was named the Eagles team MVP.[14] He finished the season with 6 sacks.[6] After the season, Tom requested to be traded, desiring to instead play for a west coast team.[14] However, he was persuaded by Mike McCormack to remain in Philadelphia for another season, with the promise that they would try to trade him the following season.[14]

Heading into the 1973 season, Tom was listed by the New York Times as one of the Eagles' best players.[15] During training camp, Tom was fined for being three hours late to practice.[16] Before the season began, he publicly mulled reviving his trade request and even retirement.[14] Four games into the season, Tom refused to play another game for the Eagles.[17] After an argument with defensive line coach Jerry Wampfler, Tom told Wampfler to "Trade me, fire me, or fight me."[17] He was traded to the Chicago Bears shortly afterwards for an undisclosed 1974 draft pick.[18][19] Despite only playing four games for the Eagles that season, he still was second on the team in sacks.[6]

Tom's tenure with the Eagles was marred by the team's poor regular season record, which according to sportswriter Paul Giordano, cost Tom several all-pro team appearances.[20]

Chicago Bears

[edit]

Tom ended the season with seven sacks and two fumbles recovered.[6]

Prior to the 1974 season, Tom announced his retirement.[21] However, Tom ended up playing in 1974, and had 32 solo tackles (51 total), four sacks, and one fumble recovered.[22]

In 1975, Tom was placed on waivers after the Bears signed Dan Neal.[23]

NFL career statistics

[edit]
Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Sacks Fumbles
GP GS FR Yds
1967 PHI 14 6 5.0 0 0
1968 PHI 14 14 5.5 0 0
1969 PHI 14 12 4.0 0 0
1970 PHI 14 14 7.5 1 0
1971 PHI 14 14 4.5 1 0
1972 PHI 14 14 6.0 0 0
1973 PHI 4 4 2.0 1 1
CHI 9 8 5.0 1 7
1974 CHI 14 7 4.0 1 1
1975 CHI 6 2 1.0 0 0
Career 117 95 44.5 5 9

Personal life and death

[edit]

Tom had two children, Landon Tom and Logan Tom. Logan Tom was a member of the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 American Olympic indoor volleyball teams.[24]

Tom died at age 64 of heart failure.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "1966 AFL Draft". Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Philadelphia Eagles Media Guide" (PDF). 1973. pp. 5, 38. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 18, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Former NFL player Mel Tom, 64, dies". The Honolulu Advertiser. April 28, 2006. Archived from the original on January 6, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Philly Eagles Sign San Jose's Mel Tom". Lebanon Daily News. March 16, 1967. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via NewspaperArchive.
  5. ↑ "Football Signings". The New York Times. March 16, 1967. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Mel Tom Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  7. ↑ Wallace, William N. (November 18, 1968). "Giants Win by 7–6; EAGLES DEFEATED 10TH TIME IN ROW Tarkenton Passes to Duhon for 33-Yard Score and Giants' 7th Victory". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  8. ↑ Times, William N. Wallacespecial To the New York (July 26, 1969). "Retzlaff Seeks to Arouse Fallen Eagles". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  9. ↑ Times, William N. Wallace Special to The New York (August 14, 1970). "A Large Dose of Talent Seems Apt Remedy for Ailing Eagles". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  10. ↑ "The Rivalry: Reviewing the history of the Eagles and the Cowboys". www.foxsports.com. January 30, 2017. Archived from the original on December 6, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 "Mel Tom Fined For Hitting Hard". Waxahachie Daily Light Newspaper. November 12, 1971. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via NewspaperArchive.
  12. 1 2 Berkow, Ira (November 14, 1972). "Does clean cut, short hair make a good Met or Bear?". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via NewspaperArchive.
  13. ↑ Stellino, Vito (December 22, 1971). "Minnesota Places Five Players on All-Star Squad". Nevada State Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via NewspaperArchive.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Mel Tom is Seeking to Move West". Gettysburg Times. August 21, 1973. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via NewspaperArchive.
  15. ↑ Wallace, William N. (August 26, 1973). "Pro Game Unchanged With Seats at Premium". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Duane Thomas Is Suspended". The New York Times. July 17, 1973. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  17. 1 2 Keese, Parton (October 13, 1973). "People in Sports: Sparky Ashamed". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Mel Tom Pro Football Record". www.profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Eagles Deal Mel Tom". The Daily Review. October 17, 1973. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via NewspaperArchive.
  20. ↑ Giordano, Paul (August 21, 1973). "Tom Wants to Leave East". Bucks County Courier Times. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via NewspaperArchive.
  21. ↑ Seepy, Tom (August 15, 1974). "Some Veterans Report Only To Be Turned Back". Corbin Times Tribune. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via NewspaperArchive.
  22. ↑ "1975 Chicago Bears" (PDF). Chicago Bears. 1975. p. 35. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 29, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Pro Transactions". The New York Times. November 12, 1975. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  24. ↑ Taylor, Scott; Urbani, Diane (September 30, 2000). "Ex-Utahn shines on the court". Deseret News. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
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