Sam Mills Samuel Davis " Sam " Mills , Jr . ( June 3 , 1959 – April 18 , 2005 ) was an American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers . Early life . Sam Mills was born in Neptune City , New Jersey . While growing up in Long Branch , New Jersey , he loved to tag along with his older brother and play pickup football games with the bigger boys . Mills attended high school at Long Branch High School , where he was a standout football player and wrestler . In 1976 and 1977 , Mills won District Championships at Long Branch as a wrestler . Long Branch High School honors him to this day by hanging his high school jersey and his NFL jersey in the school gym . Although considered a great athlete in high school , Mill ' s 5 ' 9 " frame didn ' t interest college scouts . Playing career . Montclair State University ( 1977 – 1980 ) . Mills attended college at Montclair State College ( now known as Montclair State University ) and made the football squad as a walk - on . As of today , Mills is the all - time leader in career tackles at Montclair State with 501 , tackles in a season ( 142 ) and tackles in a game ( 22 ) . Mills played for Montclair State from 1977 - 1980 . He was a three - time NJAC First Team All - Star and was named the New Jersey Collegiate Writers Defensive Player of the Year for three straight seasons ( 1978 – 1980 ) . Philadelphia / Baltimore Stars ( 1983 – 1985 ) . Fred Hill , who coached Mills at Montclair State , said that many pro scouts loved his tape , but when they heard he was only 5 ' 9 " , they lost interest . Just like after high school , Mill ' s lack of height held him back . After College , his Pop Warner Football coach Thomas Bevacqui Jr . was able to get Mills into the Cleveland Browns Training Camp after meeting with Browns Coach Sam Rutigliano . Bevacqui told Rutigliano that Mills was the best linebacker that he had ever seen play the game . Mills tried out with the Cleveland Browns but was eventually cut after Rutigliano thought he had the skills but lacked the physical size to play in the NFL . He then tried out with the Canadian Football League ' s Toronto Argonauts but did not make the team . Mills found a job teaching photography and assisting the football coach at East Orange ( N . J . ) High School . It was at this time , Mills tried out and made the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL ' s roster . Mills played for the Stars for three years . During that time ( wearing # 54 ) , he became known around the league for both his tenacity on the field and his leadership off it . His speed , surprising for a man of his size , earned him the nickname " The Field Mouse . " Sam led the Stars to two USFL championships , was named to three All - USFL teams and is a member of the USFL ’ s All - Time Team . New Orleans Saints ( 1986 – 1994 ) . After the Stars won the 1985 USFL title , their head coach Jim Mora was signed on to coach the New Orleans Saints , and Mills followed his mentor . During his tenure with the Saints , starting in 1986 , Mills was an anchor of the defense . He was a member of the vaunted " Dome Patrol , " the stellar linebacking corps that led a ferocious Saints defense in the early 1990s . Mills earned four Pro Bowl appearances with the Saints in 1987 , 1988 , 1991 , and 1992 . Mills ' coach in New Orleans , Jim Mora , who coached 15 seasons in the NFL , called Mills " The best player I ever coached . " Carolina Panthers ( 1995 – 1997 ) . Mills became a free agent at the end of the 1994 NFL season , and was signed by the expansion Carolina Panthers . Mills became a veteran leader for the young team , the only player to start every game during the Panthers ' first three seasons . An interception in a 1995 season game sealed the Panthers first ever victory in franchise history against the New York Jets . His career rebirth gave him a fifth Pro Bowl appearance in 1996 at the age of 37 . Mills holds the NFL record for the oldest player to return a fumble for a touchdown ( 37 years , 174 days ) . After football . Mills played 12 seasons in the NFL and recorded 1 , 319 tackles , 20 . 5 sacks , 11 interceptions and four touchdowns while starting 173 of 181 games . Mills was named to the NFL All - Pro team three times , in 1991 , 1992 , and 1996 . He was elected to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame ( 1991 ) , the Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey ( 1993 ) and the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame ( 1998 ) . After retiring from play , Mills was inducted into the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor . He became a Defensive Coaching Assistant for the Panthers in 1998 , before being promoted to Linebackers coach in 1999 . In August 2003 , however , Mills was diagnosed with intestinal cancer . Though he was told he had only a few months to live , he underwent chemotherapy and radiation and continued to coach . He was an inspirational force in the Panthers ’ post - season run to Super Bowl XXXVIII . His plea to " Keep Pounding " in an emotional speech before the Panthers ' victory over the Dallas Cowboys later became the name of a fund to sponsor cancer research programs . He continued to coach the team during the entire 2004 season , but after battling with cancer for almost 2 years , Mills died at his home in Charlotte , North Carolina on the morning of April 18 , 2005 . He was 45 . Mills ' number 51 was retired by the Panthers at the start of the 2005 NFL season , making it the first number the franchise has retired . Mills was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009 , with his son Sam Mills III accepting the award on his father ' s behalf . Sam Mills III currently holds the position of Quality Control - Defense coach for the Carolina Panthers . The speech inspired Nike , when awarded the contract for NFL jerseys starting in the 2012 NFL season , to feature " Keep Pounding " sewn on the inside collars of Panthers jerseys for the 2012 NFL season , in honour of the elder Mills .