Michael Fanning

1953 - 2022

Michael Fanning

Michael Lavern Fanning, "Mike," of Tulsa, Oklahoma passed away on October 30, 2022, at the age of 69.

Mike was born on February 2, 1953 and attended Edison High School where he was named All-State defensive tackle and won the State Wrestling Championship. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Public Schools Sports Hall of Fame and was selected for the Oklahoma All Century All Star Team. Though heavily recruited, Mike chose the University of Notre Dame for both his collegiate football and wrestling careers. At Notre Dame, Mike was a starting defensive tackle and accounted for 164 career tackles. He was selected as a 1974 All-American, and in that same year Mike helped carry the Irish to win the National Championship with a record of 11-0.

Following his university career, Mike was a first-round pick of the 1976 NFL draft. He was drafted to the L.A. Rams and became the team's sacks leader. That same year the Rams made it to the NFC title game, and Mike was additionally named to the NFL All-Rookie team. Fanning held eight sacks for the 1979 Rams season, which won the NFC Championship. Mike started in Super Bowl XIV before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent eight seasons with the Rams, one season with the Detroit Lions, and another with the Seattle Seahawks before retiring from football.

After Mike's football career, he pursued entrepreneurial ventures in car dealerships and ranch real estate, founded the Chelsea Cattle Company, and participated in international ministry work in Russia and Mongolia. In retirement, Mike enjoyed ranching, cooking, watching westerns, fishing, and visits with his weekly Men's Breakfast Club. He created many touching memories with his family, most fondly traveling to New Mexico and Wyoming. He was best known for his fun-loving sense of humor and generosity. Mike will be remembered for the love of his family and friends, dedication to his football career, and his strength of character, honesty, and kindness.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, John and Betty, and his brother, Jack. He is survived by his son, Casey, his daughters Christy and Chelsea, his grand-daughter, Isla, his soon-to-be grandson, Wells, his brother, Jeff, and his sister, Linda.

The funeral service for Mike will be held at Holy Family Cathedral on Tuesday, November 8, at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a charitable donation be made to Camp Barnabas.

www.moorefuneral.com