Tag Archives: amyloidosis

NFL

Millen, Matt

Cards: ProSet 1989, Topps 1990, Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Home
Sent: 8/3/18 Received: 1/17/19 (167 days)
Failure: TTM 2015, C/o Home

Matt Millen comes from a long pedigree of great linebackers to come out of Penn State- and was an All-American in 1978. He was selected in the second round of the 1980 draft by the then Oakland Raiders. He’d go on to be the Raiders leading tackler in 1981, 1982, and 1988- earning a ProBowl nomination in the latter, and All-Pro Nominations in 1984 and 1985. Over this period Matt also won SuperBowls XV and XVIII. A vicious hitter, player, and run stopper, Matt was unceremoniously cut by the Raiders right before the 1989 season began. He’d be snatched up by the San Fransisco 49ers and go on to win another Super Bowl. Two seasons later he’d round out his career with a final Super Bowl win with the Washington Redskins.

Matt moved into the broadcast booth where he honed his skills and then later joined the Detroit Lions as their General Manager. While Matt’s tenure there was rightfully much maligned- he was also placed into a difficult rebuilding situation. A tireless worker, it is said that he essentially lived at the team’s complex working non-stop for the franchise. After being dismissed from his time with the Lions, Matt was offered a job with the Oakland Raiders but he declined, and has returned to broadcasting.

A few years ago I had shot a few cards out to Matt who was a very reliable and consistent signer. At about the same time another greedy collector sent out a request- that included 23 cards. Viewing the successes on sportscollectors.net it was incredibly frustrating to see this other person get their request completely filled- while mine never was.

When I heard that he was diagnosed with Amyloidosis- the same disease as Lions LB Mike Cofer– and that he needed a heart transplant, I thought I should send Matt another letter. I didn’t really expect anything back, and I had hoped that he’d find some small comfort in what I wrote. He was really struggling and needing a heart transplant. Six months or so later I heard he had a successful heart transplant and was already recovering from the surgery. Within a few days, I got back all 3 of these cards signed.

I was genuinely shocked, but it’s quite a credit to Matt that he’d bother to send these autographed cards back out to me and I will always treasure them a bit more than I will admit.

G/GsTACSACFUM
180/166N/A11.0N/A
INTYDSAVGTDLG
913214.6060
NFL

Cofer, Michael (1960-2019)

Cards: Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990, Fleer 1990, Score 1989.
Acquired: TTM 2010, c/o home.
Sent: 6/11/2010  Received: 6/26/2010 (15 days)

I used to play Tecmo Super Bowl non stop with my friends back in the early 1990s, and the Lions back then were still playoff competitors with Barry Sanders and the Run N Shoot offense. On defense the Lions had some great contributors and among them was Michael Cofer, a speedy blitzing linebacker. While Spielman would grab all the tackles, and Crockett would get the picks, Cofer would get the sacks. When I’d play against friends and I suspected that they were bootlegging I’d select Cofer every time and blitz from the outside before they even finished rolling out.

Michael Lynn Cofer was drafted in the 3rd round by the Detroit Lions in the infamous 1983 draft (and was technically the 9th linebacker taken.  Cofer was also taken by the New Jersey Generals in the USFL territorial draft but opted to sign with Detroit.) Playing defensive end his first two seasons, Cofer was then converted to the linebacker position in 1986 where he remained the rest of his career. Finding his home, he’d go on to notch at least 7 sacks in each of the next 5 seasons with 12 in 1988 and 10 in 1990. Roaming the fields in his black visor shield, (one of the first in the league,) Cofer was unblockable when his game was on and was compared to such greats as Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White by opposing players. He’d be named to the Pro Bowl in 1988, was named second team All NFL both of those seasons and led the team in sacks in four of those seasons.  Cofer would be bitten by the injury bug on occasion which impacted his statistics if looked at over a 10 season career, playing in 123 games.   In 1991 he suffered a knee injury in a victory at the Silverdome over the visiting Dolphins, that ended his season, and his career was never the same, retiring soon there after in 1992.

Mike, a former Vol,  has been battling with Amyloidosis and appreciates the letters of encouragement he receives from fans.

If you are a fan who has benefited from his generosity in person or through the mail or considering writing him through the mail, please donate to his gofundme effort. 5, 10, 20 – It all helps and Mike needs our help now.

G  123       Tac   N/a      Sac 62.5     Fum 10
Int  1     Yds 0       Avg 0.0      TD 0

3/21/19 UPDATE: Mike Cofer passed away today after a lengthy battle with Amyloidosis. Over the last two years I tried to do what I could and gave his GoFundMe about 50 bucks. It was the least I could do. From all accounts that I had read, he was a good man. Mike was just 58.