Tom Beckman Thomas Clare Beckman ( born September 21 , 1950 , in Saginaw , Michigan ) is a former American football player . He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1971 under head coach Bo Schembechler . He played professional football for the St . Louis Cardinals in 1972 and for the Memphis Grizzlies of the World Football League from 1974 to 1975 . Early years . Beckman was born in Saginaw , Michigan , and went to H . S > Chesaning , Michigan . He starred in both football , basketball , Baseball and Track at Chesaning High School , graduating in 1968 . University of Michigan . Beckman enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1968 on a football scholarship . After his freshman year , Michigan head coach Bump Elliott retired and was replaced by Bo Schembechler . Beckman played for Schembechler during his first three years as head coach . He later recalled the transition from Elliott to Schembechler as follows : " I had no idea who the guy was . I found out in our first meeting . He was very intense with well - defined goals . My first impression was , ' We ' ll see . ' . . . He basically put us through hell during winter conditioning . I think he did that so that those without the want , ability or heart would leave . " Beckman played for Schembechler from 1969 to 1971 . During those seasons , the team finished with records of 8 - 3 ( 1969 ) , 9 - 1 ( 1970 ) , and 11 - 1 ( 1971 ) . During the 1970 and 1971 seasons , Beckman became a starter at the end , linebacker , and tackle positions . In 1971 , he accumulated 64 tackles , including 42 solo tackles . Professional football . Beckman was drafted by the St . Louis Cardinals in the third round ( 57th overall pick ) of the 1972 NFL Draft . During a 1972 pre - season game against the Buffalo Bills , Beckman tore cartilage in his knee while trying to tackle O . J . Simpson . Beckman recalled , " Back then , they didn ' t have the scope ( arthroscopic surgery ) , so they cut you open and it was major surgery . " Beckman returned from the knee surgery to play in two games for the Cardinals during the 1972 NFL season . Interviewed in 2008 , Beckman questioned the wisdom of his decision to return to action so soon after the knee surgery : " After surgery , the doctor said do what you want . I was playing seven weeks later . Looking back , that was the wrong thing to do . I ' m on tap for knee replacement because of it . " In 1973 , Beckman was released by the Cardinals after breaking his foot in an exhibition game . The New Orleans Saints acquired Beckman on waivers from the Cardinals in October 1973 , but he failed the physical . A lawsuit was filed over Beckman ' s broken foot , which he later recalled as follows : " I signed with the Saints , but I failed the physical . . . I had a broken foot . The Cardinals insisted that my foot was not broken . There was a lawsuit that was settled out court several years later . " He played for the Memphis Grizzlies in the World Football League from 1974 to 1975 . During a September 1974 game against Portland , Beckman recovered a fumble and returned it 57 yards to the one - yard line . In the 1974 season with Memphis , Beckman knocked down 21 attempted passes and intercepted one . He was selected to the All World defensive team . Signed a contract with the Washington Redskins for the 1976 season and was released during the Exhibition season . Later years . After retiring from football in 1976 , Beckman worked for General Motors Corporation . He spent more than 33 years with GM . As of 2008 , he was in charge of new vehicle launches for the company . 2011 Engineering manager for Navistar Defense building and updating war fighters for the DOD . 2012 Powertrain PMT Leader for Ford Motor Company . In 2008 , Beckman was inducted into the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame .