Gerry Mullins

Gerry Blaine Mullins (born August 14, 1949) is an American former professional football player who was a guard for nine seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans.

High school and college
Gerry Blaine Mullins was raised in Anaheim, California where he began his football career at Fremont Junior High School, and was mentored at Anaheim High School by head football coach Clare Van Hoorebeke (1950–1972). Playing tight end, defensive end, and fullback, Mullins was a senior captain for the Colonists, who went 12-1 and finished as CIF-Southern Section 4-A Division finalists. At Anaheim, Mullins was a teammate and classmate of Jim Fassel, one of the team's quarterbacks. After graduating from AHS in 1967, Mullins played for head coach John McKay at the University of Southern California. After spending his first varsity season as a backup offensive tackle, Mullins shifted to tight end and earned the starting role that season, catching nine passes for 122 yards. His career best game came against Stanford, when he recorded five receptions for 84 yards, including a 19-yard TD pass from quarterback Jimmy Jones to help the Trojans beat the Indians 26-24. Mullins started in USC's 10-3 win over Michigan in the 1970 Rose Bowl as the Trojans finished a 10-0-1 season. As a senior in 1970, Mullins caught six passes for 89 yards as USC fell to a record of 6-4-1.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Mullins mostly played right offensive guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers for his entire professional career (1971–1979), next to centers Ray Mansfield (1971–1975) and Mike Webster (1976–1979). Known as "Moon," Mullins was drafted in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL Draft and went on to win four Super Bowls with the Steelers (Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, and XIV). He can be remembered for a play in Super Bowl IX when he pulled on a sweep leaving an uncontested path for Franco Harris to trot in the end zone. Mullins also recovered an onside kick in Super Bowl X and recovered a fumble for a touchdown during the 1972 AFC Championship Game against the Miami Dolphins. Mullins retired after Super Bowl XIV.

Along with other players for the Steelers, Mullins also had a brief film career with a cameo appearance in The Rocky Bleier Story for MTM Enterprises.

Post-football
Mullins currently resides in Pittsburgh and is in the recycling business.