Michael Floyd
A record-setting Notre Dame receiver whose NFL career was derailed by off-field struggles, leaving a legacy of unfulfilled potential.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American football player·Birthday: November 27·Millennials
Biography
Michael Floyd emerged from Saint Paul, Minnesota, as a high school phenomenon, his path seemingly destined for stardom. At Notre Dame, he rewrote the school's record books, his powerful frame and reliable hands making him a nightmare for defenders. The Arizona Cardinals made him a first-round pick in 2012, banking on him to be a cornerstone. For a few seasons, he delivered flashes of that promise, including a 1,000-yard year in 2013. However, his trajectory changed abruptly in 2016 following a DUI arrest, leading to his release. He caught on with the New England Patriots, earning a Super Bowl ring, but his role diminished as he bounced through several more teams. His story is a classic sports narrative of physical gifts challenged by personal missteps, ending with a quiet retirement after the 2019 season.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Michael was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Michael Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Michael's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Set Notre Dame's all-time records for receptions (271), receiving yards (3,686), and receiving touchdowns (37).
- Selected 13th overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
- Recorded a career-high 1,041 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns for the Cardinals in the 2013 season.
- Won Super Bowl LI as a member of the New England Patriots in the 2016 season.
Did You Know?
He was a standout multi-sport athlete in high school, also playing basketball and baseball.
His 2016 DUI arrest occurred when he was found unconscious at the wheel at a traffic light.
He caught a 14-yard pass from Tom Brady in the Patriots' historic Super Bowl LI comeback victory.
“You can't outrun a mistake; you have to face it down.”
