Rob Lytle

Bio

Referred to as “the greatest back I ever coached” by College Football Hall of Fame coach Bo Schembechler, Rob Lytle rewrote the Michigan record books during his standout career in Ann Arbor. A consensus First Team All-America following his senior campaign, Lytle finished third in the 1976 Heisman Trophy voting after being named the Big Ten Most Valuable Player. The First Team All-Conference selection set Wolverine records for single-season (1,469 in 1976) and career (3,317) rushing yards, with both totals still ranking in the top 10. A member of Michigan’s 1974 and 1976 Big Ten Conference championship teams, Lytle also set school records for 150-yard rushing games in a single-season with five and 100-yard rushing games in a career with 15. The 1976 captain and team MVP led the Wolverines to the 1976 Orange Bowl and the 1977 Rose Bowl. In 1974, Lytle received Michigan’s Maulbetsch Award, given on the basis of desire, character and leadership on and off the football field. A second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 1977 NFL Draft, he played seven seasons for the Broncos. He helped guide them to Super Bowl XII during his rookie season and became the first player to score a touchdown in both the Rose Bowl and the Super Bowl. After retiring, Lytle returned to his hometown of Fremont, Ohio, to raise his family, and he served as vice president at Old Fort Banking Company. He was active with the NFF Michigan Chapter, and he volunteered with many organizations, including Head Start, the March of Dimes and the Special Olympics. Tragically, Lytle passed away at the age of 56 on Nov. 20, 2010, following a heart attack. He was posthumously inducted into the University of Michigan Hall of Honor in 2012.

Career Highlights

• 1976 All-Conference
• 1976 Conference MVP
• 1976 Consensus All-Amerivca
• 1976 Heisman - Third