Mickey Pruitt (born January 10, 1965) is an American former professional football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys, winning a Super Bowl ring with the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVII over the Buffalo Bills.
[1] Pruitt attended Chicago's Paul Robeson High School, where his father George was an assistant football coach.
Pruitt accepted a football scholarship from the University of Colorado, becoming a part of Bill McCartney's first recruiting class.
He was named a starter (8 starts) at strong safety as a redshirt freshman and would not relinquish the position for the rest of his college career.
In the 20–12 playoff win against the Philadelphia Eagles, popularly known as the "Fog Bowl" for the nearly unseeable conditions during the game, he made an important interception of quarterback Randall Cunningham.
[4] Pruitt also received the Brian Piccolo Award, given annually to a Bears rookie and a veteran who best exemplify courage, loyalty, teamwork and dedication.
On November 14, 1990, he broke his left hand in a fight with teammate Mark Bortz during a practice, but didn't miss any games.
[8] He appeared in 12 contests, starting at strongside linebacker in the twelfth game against the New York Giants, posting a single-game career-high 9 tackles.