Mike Adamle

American football player and sports broadcaster (born 1949)

Michael David Adamle (born October 4, 1949) is an American former football player and sports broadcaster. He played professionally as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Adamle was a sports anchor at other Chicago television stations, including WLS TV from 1982 to 1989 before hosting American Gladiators, a first stint at WMAQ TV from 1998 to 2001, and then at WBBM TV from 2001 to 2004 before returning to WMAQ TV until 2017, when he was diagnosed with CTE induced dementia which eventually forced his retirement. For much of 2008, Adamle worked for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in a variety of roles, including interviewer, play by play commentator, and General Manager of Raw.

Born in Moline, Illinois, Adamle grew up in Kent, Ohio and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1967. His father, Tony Adamle, also found some success with the Cleveland Browns in the 1940s and 1950s, then became a physician.

Adamle played college football at Northwestern University in the Big Ten Conference. He was a team captain, an All American fullback, and the Big Ten MVP in 1970. Adamle's 316 rushing yards against Wisconsin in 1969 set the school record (by 98 yards) which still stands. He also set the record for kick return yards in a year, and graduated in 1971.

Adamle played six years in the National Football League, two seasons each with three teams. He was a fifth round pick (120th overall) of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1971 NFL Draft and later played for the New York Jets and Chicago Bears. His playing career ended when the Bears waived him prior to the 1977 season to make room on the roster for wide receiver John Gilliam.