Mike McCullough (Canadian football)

Mike McCullough (born March 17, 1980, in Kingston, Ontario) is a Canadian football linebacker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. McCullough was drafted by the Roughriders in the third round of the 2003 CFL Draft, after playing his college football at St. Francis Xavier University.

University football
McCullough played four seasons for the St. Francis Xavier University X-Men in the Atlantic University Sport Conference. In his senior season, McCullough was named to the conference's defensive all-star team as well as being named an academic all-star.

Professional football
After his university career, McCullough was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2003 CFL Draft. He has been a key contributor on special teams, leading the Roughriders in special teams tackles during his rookie season. While with the Roughriders, McCullough has been the recipient of numerous awards for community service, including the club's Mosaic Community Service Award in 2008 and 2009. McCullough was the team's nominee for the Tom Pate Memorial Award in 2009 and 2010, presented by the CFL Player's Association for community service. After the 2010 CFL season, McCullough was awarded the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Trophy, for being judged as the CFL Player who "best demonstrates the attributes of Canada's veterans in times of war, peace and military conflict."

McCullough would have been a free agent in February 2011 after the 2010 season, but signed a new contract with the team on December 22, 2010.

Personal life
McCullough is married, and lives in Regina year round with his wife and family. He devotes a considerable amount of time to charities, with much of time directed to Jesse's Journey, a foundation that funds research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). His son Cole, who suffered from DMD and epilepsy, died in February 2009 after suffering a seizure in his sleep. McCullough has also devoted time to the Chris Knox Foundation in Regina, after befriending Knox, a young man battling cancer, in the leadup to the Roughriders win in the 2007 Grey Cup. McCullough was featured on pennants sold by the charity during the 2010 season as a fundraiser.