Don Muhlbach

Muhlbach's velocity and accuracy places him among the best in the League in his specialty, and he is a critical part of the snap-hold-kick process. A deep-snapping specialist who has a crisp and consistent delivery, Muhlbach spent 2004 training camp with Baltimore before joining the Lions later that season and has been the team's long snapper ever since.

MANE FACTS

• Pronunciation: MULE-bach
• Pro Bowl: 2013

TRANSACTIONS

• Re-signed by the Lions as an unrestricted free agent on March 15, 2017.
• Re-signed by the Lions as an unrestricted free agent on March 11, 2016.
• Re-signed by the Lions as an unrestricted free agent to a one-year contract on February 27, 2015.
• Re-signed by the Detroit Lions to a one-year contract on March 14, 2013.
• Re-signed by the Detroit Lions on March 21, 2012.
• Re-signed by the Detroit Lions to a five-year deal on March 2, 2007.
• Signed by the Detroit Lions November 9, 2004.
• Released by the Baltimore Ravens August 30, 2004.
• Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Baltimore Ravens April 30, 2004.

PRO
Muhlbach's velocity and accuracy places him among the best in the League in his specialty, and he is a critical part of the snap-hold-kick process. A deep-snapping specialist who has a crisp and consistent delivery, Muhlbach spent 2004 training camp with Baltimore before joining the Lions later that season and has been the team's long snapper ever since.

• By playing in Week 1 at Indianapolis (9/11) in 2016, Muhlbach became the ninth player in franchise history to play at least 13 seasons with the Lions, tying him for fifth place among all players for career seasons played in Lions history.
• Surpassed T Jeff Backus (191) for the fourth-most games played in Detroit Lions history by playing at New Orleans in Week 13 (12/4/16). His current total stands at 196.
• When Muhlbach snapped for long-time K Jason Hanson on the field goal team in 2004, that unit's accuracy improved with the most significant increase coming on long-range field goals. Hanson's field goal accuracy with Muhlbach as the snapper increased 5.8 percent on overall attempts. That improvement is 12.7 percent for field goals of 40-49 yards, 14.2 percent for field goals 40+-yards and 19.4 percent for field goals of 50+-yards.
• With Muhlbach snapping, Hanson was 59-of-73 (80.8 pct) on field goal attempts of 40-49-yards, 81-of-107 (75.7 pct) from 40+-yards and 25-of-37 (67.6 pct) on 50+-yard field goals over his career.

2018: Appeared in his 220th career game, passing Dominic Raiola (219) for the second-most games played in Lions history. Only Jason Hanson (327) has appeared in more games for the Lions.

2017: By playing in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals (9/10), Muhlbach became the fifth player in team history to play in 14 seasons with the Lions. 

• By snapping on K Matt Prater's 56-yard field goal Week 2 at the New York Giants (9/18), he has now served as the long snapper for six of the team's eight longest field goals in team history.
• Played in his 199th career game Week 3 vs. Atlanta (9/24).
• Became the fourth player in Lions history, and tied for third on the team's all-time list, by reaching the 200 career-game milestone by snapping in the Week 4 matchup at Minnesota (10/1).
• Took sole possession of third place in Lions history with 201 career games played by snapping in the Week 5 matchup vs. Carolina (10/8).
• Snapped on a successful PAT and assisted on the 1,400th point of his career at Green Bay (11/6).
• Snapped on K Matt Prater's 13th career game-winning field goal with under two-minutes to play in the fourth quarter (or overtime) with a 52-yard field goal with 1:35 left at Chicago (11/19).
• Handled the snapping duties vs. Minnesota (11/23), appearing in his 14th career Thanksgiving Day game and becoming the fourth player in team history to appear in at least 14 Thanksgiving games. Muhlbach tied Hall of Fame CB Dick LeBeau for the third-most games on Thanksgiving by a Lions player.
• Snapped on K Matt Prater's 14th career game-winning field goal with under two-minutes to play in the fourth quarter (or overtime) with a 46-yard field goal with :25 seconds left at Tampa Bay (12/10).

2016: Became the ninth player in franchise history to play 13 seasons with the Lions by playing in Week 1 at Indianapolis (9/11), tying him for fifth place among all players for career seasons played in Lions history.

• Played in his 182nd game as a Lion in Week 2 vs. Tennessee (9/18). Contributed to K Matt Prater successfully kicking two field goals and converting an extra point, as well as P Sam Martin punting five times for 217 yards.
• Successfully snapped for K Matt Prater as he kicked two field goals, including his 30th career 50-yarder in Week 3 at Green Bay (9/25).
• Snapped for K Matt Prater as he nailed two field goals, including his 31st career 50-yarder in Week 4 at Chicago (10/2). Also contributed to P Sam Martin punting five times for 245 yards.
• By playing in his 185th game as a Lion in Week 5 vs. Philadelphia (10/9), he tied Hall of Fame CB Dick LeBeau for the sixth-most games played in Detroit Lions history.
• Played in his 186th game as a Lion in Week 6 vs. Los Angeles (10/16) and moved past Hall of Fame CB Dick LeBeau (185) for the sixth-most games played in Detroit Lions history.
• By playing in his 187th game as a Lion in Week 7 vs. Washington (10/23), he tied DE Robert Porcher for the fifth-most games played in Detroit Lions history.
• By playing in his 188th game as a Lion in Week 8 at Houston (10/30), he surpassed DE Robert Porcher (187) for the fifth-most games played in Detroit Lions history.
• Tied T Jeff Backus (191) for the fourth-most games played in Detroit Lions history by playing on Thanksgiving in Week 12 vs. Minnesota (11/24).
• Surpassed T Jeff Backus (191) for the fourth-most games played in Detroit Lions history by playing at New Orleans in Week 13 (12/4).
• Successfully snapped for K Matt Prater as he notched two 50+-yard field goals (51, 53) in the NFC Wild Card Game at Seattle (1/7).

2015: Became the 17th player in franchise history to play 12 seasons with the Lions by playing in Week 1 at San Diego (9/13).

• By playing on Thanksgiving against the Eagles (11/26), Muhlbach appeared in his 175th career game in the NFL. With 175 career games, he became the 10th player in Lions history to play in 175 career games.
• Successfully snapped for P Sam Martin as he punted seven times and K Matt Prater as he converted on both extra point attempts in Week 14 at St. Louis (12/13). By playing at St. Louis, Muhlbach appeared in his 177th career game in the NFL and tied C Kevin Glover (177) for eighth on the Lions all-time career games played list.
• By playing at Chicago in the 2015 season finale, played in his 180th career game and became the eighth player in team history to appear in 180+ career games.
• Snapped for P Sam Martin in Week 17 at Chicago (1/3) and was a part of a punt team that allowed 6.1 yards per punt return this season (sixth in the NFL), the club's lowest average since 2002 (4.5 yds). Combined with just 3 touchbacks, the lowest since 2012 (1), and a punting average of 46.0, the Lions' 42.0 net punting average set a team single-season record. It marks the first time since net punting became an official statistic in 1976 that the team has finished with a 40.0+ net punting average in three-straight seasons.

2014: Concluded his 11th NFL season as the elder statesmen in the Lions special teams room, and provided leadership for second-year P Sam Martin.

• By playing in Week 2 at Carolina (9/14), Muhlbach played in his 150th-career game and became only the 20th player in franchise history to play 150 career games with the club.
• Contributed to K Matt Prater successfully kicking a 52-yard field and P Sam Martin punting seven times for 341 yards in Week 6 at Minnesota (10/12).
• Successfully snapped for P Sam Martin as he had a career-high four punts land inside the 20-yard line in Week 7 vs. New Orleans (10/19).
• Snapped for K Matt Prater as he went 3-of-3 including a 48-yard game-winning field goal in Week 8 at Atlanta (10/26).
• Contributed to P Sam Martin successfully punting three times in Week 10 vs. Miami (11/9) and helped block for two fake punts.
• Snapped for K Matt Prater as he went 2-of-2 on field goals in Week 11 at Arizona (11/16).
• Snapped for K Matt Prater as he went 2-of-2 on field goals in Week 13 vs. Chicago (11/27).
• Snapped for K Matt Prater as he converted 3-of-3 field goals, including the game-winner in Week 15 vs. Minnesota (12/14).
• Snapped for K Matt Prater as he went 2-of-2 on field goals in the NFC Wild Card game at Dallas (1/4).

2013: Snapped for K David Akers as he has made 18-of-24 field goals and 42-of-43 extra point attempts in 2013.

2012: Named to his first-ever Pro Bowl following the 2012 season.

• Snapped for K Jason Hanson as he connected on 4-of-5 field goals in the Lions' 27-19 loss at San Francisco (9/16) in Week 2.
• Snapped for K Jason Hanson as he went 4-for-4 on field goals in Week 3 at Tennessee. The four field goal performance was the first time in Hanson's career he kicked four field goals in back-to-back games.

COLLEGE
Served as Texas A&M's snapper in 2003.

• Filled in as punter during his sophomore season with the Aggies.

PERSONAL
Don Lynn Muhlbach, Jr., is the son of Sally and Don Muhlbach of Lufkin, Texas.

• Born Aug. 17, 1981 in Newark, Ohio.