He was also a member of the Carolina Panthers, where he was a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro.

[2] Tolbert had a four-year career at Coastal Carolina University under head coach David Bennett.

[6] He was named a second-team FCS All-American after leading the Chanticleers in rushing with 748 yards on 111 carries and nine touchdowns.

At Coastal Carolina, Tolbert also was teammates with quarterback Tyler Thigpen and wide receiver Jerome Simpson, who would both also go on to play in the NFL.

[8] Tolbert was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers on April 28, 2008.

[28] The Panthers made the playoffs and faced off against the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card Round.

[37] On March 9, 2016, Tolbert signed a two-year deal with the worth $3.3 million with $700,000 guaranteed to stay with the Panthers.

Head coach Sean McDermott named him the backup to LeSean McCoy to start the regular season.

[43] On September 10, in the season opening 21–12 victory over the New York Jets, Tolbert had a one-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter for his first score with the Buffalo Bills.

[45] In the third season of the FXX comedy series The League, the character Andre goes on a rant about Mike Tolbert and what he calls "Touchdown Vultures," or players who enter the game in goal line situations and score touchdowns, "stealing" fantasy points from the player whom they replaced.