Enid Icon: The Storied Career of NFL Ironman Ken Mendenhall

ENID ICONS: KEN MENDENHALL – THE ENID PLAINSMAN WHO BECAME AN NFL IRONMAN

Some football players make headlines by scoring touchdowns. Others make their living making sure somebody else gets into the end zone. Ken Mendenhall was one of those guys, and his remarkable journey from Enid High School to a decade in the National Football League is one of the great football stories to come out of northwest Oklahoma.

Born in 1948, Mendenhall grew up in Pawhuska before moving to Enid ahead of his sophomore year of high school. It didn't take long for him to become part of something special. During his junior and senior seasons, the Enid Plainsmen won back-to-back Oklahoma state football championships. By the time he graduated, Mendenhall had earned Oklahoma Lineman of the Year honors and recognition as a high school All-American. In a town that has always taken its football seriously, he was already making a name for himself.

His next stop was the University of Oklahoma, where he became one of the most respected offensive linemen in the country. Mendenhall started for three seasons, playing guard, center, and tackle, demonstrating the kind of versatility that coaches dream about. During his college career, the Sooners won two Big Eight Conference championships and captured the 1968 Orange Bowl, finishing second nationally. He earned All-Big Eight and All-American recognition, establishing himself as one of the premier linemen in college football.

And here's something that makes his story even better. One of the players benefiting from Mendenhall's blocking was Steve Owens, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1969. While Owens was making spectacular runs and collecting national headlines, Mendenhall was helping clear the path. Football fans know that great running backs need great offensive lines, and Ken was exactly the kind of player who made everyone around him better.

In 1970, the Atlanta Falcons selected Mendenhall in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. But his professional career almost ended before it really began. He was released by multiple teams during his first year, experiencing the harsh reality of professional football. For a player who had been a high school champion and college All-American, suddenly finding himself fighting just to stay on a roster had to be a humbling experience.

But Mendenhall wasn't finished.

In 1971, the Baltimore Colts claimed him off waivers, giving him another opportunity. What followed was an extraordinary 10-year career with the franchise. By 1973, he had earned the starting center position, and once he took control of that job, he wasn't about to give it up.

Mendenhall went on to start 118 consecutive games at center from 1973 through 1980, establishing a Colts franchise record that stood for 25 years. Think about that for a moment. In one of the most physically demanding positions in professional sports, where massive defensive linemen are trying to knock you backward on every play, this kid from Enid became one of the most dependable players in the NFL.

Over his career, Mendenhall appeared in 143 regular-season games, including 117 officially credited starts. In 1980, he received the Baltimore Colts' Ed Block Courage Award, recognizing the character and determination that had defined his career.

But perhaps the most interesting part of Ken Mendenhall's story is what happened after football. Rather than allowing his NFL career to become the only thing that defined him, Mendenhall turned his attention toward Christian ministry. He became involved with Search Ministries in the Oklahoma City area, dedicating decades to helping others explore questions of faith and purpose.

In 2018, Mendenhall received one of Oklahoma athletics' highest honors when he was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. It was recognition of a career that had included state championships, college football glory, a Heisman-winning teammate, and a decade of professional football.

There's something special about a football player whose greatest strength was making sure the people around him succeeded. Offensive linemen rarely get the glory. Their names aren't usually the ones children shout while pretending to score the winning touchdown in the backyard. But ask any quarterback or running back, and they'll tell you that the guys up front are often the difference between winning and losing.

Ken Mendenhall was one of those guys.

From two state championships at Enid High School to All-American honors at Oklahoma, from the uncertainty of being released by NFL teams to becoming a record-setting starter for the Baltimore Colts, his story is one of perseverance, toughness, and refusing to quit when things don't go according to plan.

And for those of us who love the history of Enid, Oklahoma, there's something pretty remarkable about knowing that one of the toughest and most dependable offensive linemen of his era once wore a Plainsmen uniform.

Ken Mendenhall, you are an ENID ICON.

Who remembers Ken Mendenhall playing for the Enid Plainsmen, Oklahoma Sooners, or Baltimore Colts? We'd love to hear your memories! #goodenidicons