He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils and was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the fourth round of the 1982 NFL draft.
Pagel bounced in and out of the starting quarterback job for the Colts in his four seasons with the team, alternating with Schlichter, Matt Kofler, and Mark Herrmann.
Sports is part of the family bloodline; Mike's brother Karl Pagel played baseball for the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians.
His brother Rick was a starting defensive end for the United States Naval Academy and served over 20 years as a helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps.
Washington High School in Phoenix Arizona named their football field after Mike Pagel.