Don Muhlbach transitioned to the Detroit Lions football administration department in 2021 as Special Assistant Football Operations after a storied 17-year playing career with the Lions at long snapper. In his role, he supports the front office and assists with various projects across the team's football, coaching and business operations.
Muhlbach retired from football in 2021 as the second-longest tenured player in Lions history (17 seasons, 260 career games) behind only K Jason Hanson. His 260 career games played tie for 40th in all-time career games played in NFL history, and also rank as the eighth-most a player has played with a single club in NFL history. Muhlbach appeared in every game from the 2010s decade (2010-19), becoming the first player in franchise history to appear in all 160 games in any given decade.
A two-time Pro Bowler (2012, 2018), Muhlbach became the first long snapper in Lions history to earn the recognition. He was named to the Detroit Lions All-Time Team in 2019.
He originally entered the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Texas A&M in 2004 before signing with the Lions midway through the 2004 season.
A native of Lufkin, Texas, Muhlbach played long snapper collegiately for the Aggies in 2003 and earned his BBA in Finance. He and his wife, Alix, have three children, Addison, Jackson and Avery.