Wise was drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders with the 85th overall pick in the fourth round of the 1986 NFL draft.[5] Wise played four seasons as a defensive end with the Raiders from 1986 to 1990.[6] He once appeared on the cover of a 1990 issue of Sports Illustrated.[7]
However, during his time with the Raiders, Wise dealt with injuries and personal problems. In the 1991 off-season, Wise reported to training camp, but left several times without permission from the team; Wise was unhappy about his diminished role on the team, a contract dispute, and was also distraught over the declining health of his grandfather, Ray, who was rapidly losing his eyesight.[8][9][4]
In August, according to witnesses, Wise got into a fight with his Raiders teammate, defensive lineman Emanuel King, where he knocked King down with one punch; King later on tried to attack Wise with a tire iron.[4] The Raiders released Wise to free agency on October 10.[10][11][4]
Cleveland Browns
One day after being waived by the Raiders, Wise was signed by the Cleveland Browns on October 11, 1991;[10][11] Wise would play three games for the Browns during the 1991–92 season, before sitting out the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. In a mini-camp during the following off-season, Wise hurt his back while doing a squat press;[4] the Browns released him to free agency on August 4, 1992, despite his bad back.[12][4]
After being waived by the Browns, Wise became depressed as his injured back did not respond to treatment, and he was forced to sell his house in Davis, California; at that time, Wise and his attorneys were filing an injury grievance against the Browns.[4]
Personal life
During his time with the Los Angeles Raiders, Wise met his girlfriend, Mary McBride, on a blind date at a steak house in Davis.[4]
After he was waived by the Cleveland Browns, Wise called McBride to come pick him up at his home; the couple once lived together, and had planned to get married next spring. McBride was the last person to see Wise alive before his death.[4]
Death
On August 21, 1992, Wise committed suicide at his home in Davis, at the age of 28; he was found dead in his bedroom with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.[13][14][15] Wise was buried in Novato.[4]
References
^"Mike Wise". Pro-Football-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2025.