Ken E. Mendenhall (born August 11, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a center for 10 seasons with the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL).

Ken Mendenhall was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma and grew up in Pawhuska, Osage County.

He later attended Enid High School and went on to play for the University of Oklahoma, where he was "described as a devastating one-on-one blocker.

In fact, "he cleared the way for Owens, who is OU's all-time leading scorer" and 1969 Heisman Trophy winner.

[2] Drafted in the fifth-round of the 1970 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, Mendenhall was traded several times (including the Houston Oilers) before landing with the Baltimore Colts where he played out his 10-season career.