The NFL is full of players who share the same last name, but are not necessarily related. One such case is Devin Singletary, the running back for the Buffalo Bills, and Mike Singletary, the former linebacker for the Chicago Bears and Hall of Famer. Are they related by blood or just by coincidence? Here is what we know about the two Singletaries and their connection.
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Devin Singletary: The Rising Star
Devin Singletary was born on September 3, 1997, in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He played high school football at American Heritage School, where he rushed for over 4,000 yards and 66 touchdowns in his career. He then attended Florida Atlantic University, where he played under head coach Lane Kiffin. He was a prolific runner for the Owls, breaking several school and conference records. He finished his college career with 4,287 rushing yards and 66 rushing touchdowns, the latter being the sixth-most in NCAA Division I history.
Devin Singletary was drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the 74th overall pick in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He joined a backfield with veterans LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, and T. J. Yeldon, but earned a prominent role with the Bills after McCoy was released as part of final preseason cuts. He played in 12 games as a rookie, starting eight of them. He led the team with 775 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He also caught 29 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns.
In his second season, Devin Singletary became the lead back for the Bills, starting all 16 games. He rushed for 687 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. He also had 38 receptions for 269 yards and no touchdowns. He helped the Bills win their first AFC East title since 1995 and reach the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1993.
Devin Singletary is known for his elusive running style, his ability to break tackles, and his vision. He has been compared to former NFL running backs such as LeSean McCoy, Devonta Freeman, and Maurice Jones-Drew. He wears jersey number 26 for the Bills.
Mike Singletary: The Legend
Mike Singletary was born on October 9, 1958, in Houston, Texas. He played high school football at Worthing High School, where he was a star linebacker and tight end. He then attended Baylor University, where he played under head coach Grant Teaff. He was a dominant force for the Bears, averaging 15 tackles per game and being named consensus All-American and Southwest Conference Player of the Year in both 1979 and 1980. He finished his college career with 662 tackles, which ranks third in NCAA history.
Mike Singletary was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He became a starter in his rookie season and never looked back. He played in 179 games for the Bears, starting 172 of them. He recorded 1,488 tackles, 19 sacks, seven interceptions, and 12 fumble recoveries in his career. He was selected to 10 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1983 to 1992 and was named first-team All-Pro seven times. He was also named NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice, in 1985 and 1988.
Mike Singletary was the leader and heart of the Bears’ defense that was known as the “Monsters of the Midway” in the mid-1980s. He was part of their Super Bowl XX championship team that beat the New England Patriots by a score of 46-10 in one of the most dominant performances in NFL history. The Bears’ defense allowed only 12.4 points per game in the regular season and gave up only 10 points in three playoff games.
Mike Singletary is regarded as one of the greatest middle linebackers of all time. He was known for his intensity, intelligence, toughness, and leadership. He had a trademark stare that intimidated opponents and inspired teammates. He wore jersey number 50 for the Bears.
Mike Singletary was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1995 and into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
Are They Related?
The answer is no. Devin Singletary and Mike Singletary are not related by blood or by marriage. They just happen to share a common surname that is fairly common among African Americans.
According to Wikipedia, Singletary is an English surname that derives from an Old English personal name “Sengel”, meaning “single” or “solitary”. It may also be a variant of Singleton, another English surname that means “dweller by the single farmstead”.
Devin Singletary’s father is Devonn Singletary, who played football at Norfolk State University and coached his son at American Heritage School. His mother is Sabrina Singletary, who works as a nurse. He has two brothers, Davonn and Dajuan, and a sister, Deja.
Mike Singletary’s father was Charles Singletary, who was a street preacher in Dallas. His mother was Rudell Singletary, who worked as a maid. He had nine siblings, Charles Jr., Gracie, Kenneth, Dianne, Donald, Ricky, Jackie, Sandra, and Deborah.
Devin Singletary and Mike Singletary have never met in person, but they have spoken on the phone once. According to ESPN, Mike Singletary called Devin Singletary before the 2019 NFL Draft to offer him some advice and encouragement. He told him to be himself, to work hard, and to enjoy the game. He also told him that he was proud of him and that he was rooting for him.
Devin Singletary said that he was honored and humbled by the phone call from Mike Singletary, whom he admired as a player and a person. He said that he grew up watching highlights of Mike Singletary and that he learned a lot from his style of play. He also said that he hoped to meet him someday and thank him in person.
Conclusion
Devin Singletary and Mike Singletary are two NFL players who share the same last name but are not related. They both have had successful careers in their respective positions and have earned respect and admiration from fans and peers alike. They also have a mutual appreciation for each other’s achievements and personalities. They may not be family by blood, but they are family by football.
