[4] Michaels was a two-sport athlete at the local high school, then went on to play collegiately as a fullback at Washington & Lee University.

During the 1950 season, he helped the Generals reach the Gator Bowl, but was unable to play in the contest due to an appendicitis attack he suffered one week before the New Year's Day game.

In the 1951 NFL draft, he was selected in the seventh round by the Cleveland Browns, but was traded to the Green Bay Packers during the summer training camp.

On April 29, 1952, Michaels was traded back to the Browns for three offensive linemen, and played a key role in the team's defense over the next decade at linebacker.

The Jets defeated the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, with Michaels seemingly the heir apparent to replace Weeb Ewbank, following the departure of fellow assistant Clive Rush.

However, Michaels' career fortunes changed dramatically on February 1, 1973, when Ewbank hired his son-in-law, Charley Winner, and designated him his successor after the upcoming season.

Michaels immediately resigned and within two weeks later had signed to become the defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, working under former Browns' teammate Mike McCormack.

On January 4, 1977, Michaels was officially selected as head coach of the Jets, beginning six seasons of wildly contrasting results.

Michaels dealt with a phone call at halftime that upset him to the point where he launched into a verbal attack onto who he thought did it: Raiders managing general partner Al Davis, although this was proven false.

Reportedly, owner Leon Hess pressured Michaels into resigning due to his tiring of Michaels and his temper problem, which included an outburst on the flight out of Miami with team president Jim Kensil and a shoving match at La Guardia Airport with a bus driver; a meeting with Kensil after the Pro Bowl led to the push to resign.

The Generals never played another game, however, as the 1986 season was cancelled and the league folded after winning a mere $1 verdict in its antitrust lawsuit against the NFL.