Mike Rose Bio
Michael Rose Jr. (born May 25, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker who plays for the St. Louis BattleHawks of the United Football League (UFL). Standing 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall and weighing around 250 lb (113 kg), Rose built his reputation as a tackling leader at Iowa State before pursuing a professional career across multiple leagues. Known for his instincts at the second level of the defense, he has spent parts of his career with NFL teams while returning repeatedly to the BattleHawks, where he has become a familiar presence.
Early Life and Background
Mike Rose was born and raised in Brecksville, Ohio, where he attended Brecksville–Broadview Heights High School. A two-sport athlete, he played both basketball and football during his prep career and steadily developed the size and physical profile that would later define his linebacker play. As a junior, he recorded 82 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, and two interceptions, earning second-team All-Suburban League recognition.
During his senior season, Rose was limited to seven games but still produced 53 tackles and 10 tackles for a loss, which earned him first-team all-conference honors. Although he had previously been committed to Ball State, a late scholarship offer from Iowa State changed his path, and he finished his recruitment as a Cyclone signee. His high school production and frame made him an intriguing developmental prospect at the college level.
Path to American Football
Rose arrived at Iowa State and immediately stepped into the starting lineup at linebacker as a true freshman, an unusual feat for a young defender. He closed that debut season with 75 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery, performances that drew Freshman All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America and honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition.
His sophomore season brought 77 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, three passes broken up, and an interception, paired with another honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. Rose saved his strongest college campaign for his junior year, when his production earned him first-team All-Big 12 honors and the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year award.
Mike Rose Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Rose’s early career centered on his Iowa State tenure, where he played from 2018 through 2021. The early years established him as a tackling machine, with back-to-back seasons of more than 75 stops and growing playmaking in the backfield. By the end of his junior season, he was widely regarded as one of the top linebackers in the Big 12 Conference.
He did not hear his name called in the 2022 NFL Draft, leaving him to enter the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent. Despite the snub, his resume, including a conference Defensive Player of the Year award, gave him multiple professional options heading into the spring of 2022.
Kansas City Chiefs (2022)
Rose signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on May 7, 2022, beginning his first NFL chapter. He worked through the Chiefs’ offseason program and into training camp in an effort to earn a roster spot. The Chiefs waived Rose on August 27, 2022, ending his first NFL stint before the regular season began.
St. Louis BattleHawks (2023)
On November 17, 2022, Rose was drafted by the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL, opening his spring-league career. He competed for a linebacker role with the franchise as it prepared for the 2023 spring season. His time with the team during that period ended when his contract was released on August 2, 2023.
Miami Dolphins (2023)
Rose quickly found another NFL opportunity, signing with the Miami Dolphins on August 3, 2023, one day after his BattleHawks release. He joined a deep linebacker room in Miami and attempted to push for a roster position. The Dolphins waived Rose on August 24, 2023, closing a brief Dolphins chapter.
St. Louis BattleHawks Return (2024)
On December 20, 2023, Rose re-signed with the St. Louis BattleHawks, returning to the familiar spring-football setting. He reprised his role as a linebacker for the team during the 2024 UFL spring season. The BattleHawks terminated his contract on August 6, 2024, sending him back into the NFL market.
New Orleans Saints (2024)
Rose signed with the New Orleans Saints on August 6, 2024, the same day his BattleHawks contract ended. He entered Saints training camp aiming to compete for depth at the linebacker position. New Orleans waived him on August 27, 2024, concluding a short preseason stay.
St. Louis BattleHawks Era (2025–Present)
On January 7, 2025, Rose re-signed with the St. Louis BattleHawks of the United Football League, marking his third stint with the franchise. The move placed him back in a familiar defensive scheme alongside familiar coaches and teammates. He continues to serve as a veteran presence in the BattleHawks linebacker group.
Notable Events and Milestones
The signature milestones in Mike Rose’s career so far have come on the college stage, where he was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in both 2020 and 2021. Professionally, the most consistent theme has been his repeated returns to the St. Louis BattleHawks, a franchise that has now signed him across three separate offseasons. His path, undrafted in 2022 yet still active across multiple leagues in 2025, reflects a journeyman resilience that has defined his early professional years.
Mike Rose Career Wins
Mike Rose’s verified accolades center on his college career at Iowa State, where he earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and first-team All-Big 12 honors in both 2020 and 2021. Professional individual win totals and statistical championships are not verifiable from the supplied sources, so detailed series totals are not listed here.
College Awards Highlights
Rose was a Freshman All-American by the FWAA in his first college season and added honorable mention All-Big 12 nods in his first two years. His ascent to first-team All-Big 12 and Defensive Player of the Year as a junior cemented him as one of the premier linebackers in the conference during that span.
Mike Rose Family
Personal Life
Public details about Mike Rose’s personal and family life are limited. He is the son referenced in his full name, Michael Rose Jr., which establishes a clear family lineage. Verified information about his parents, spouse, children, or residence is not available in the supplied sources, and only confirmed public details should be cited.
2025 Season Performance
Mike Rose enters the 2025 season as a veteran linebacker on the St. Louis BattleHawks roster after re-signing with the UFL franchise on January 7, 2025. His third stint with the organization gives him continuity in the locker room and a clear understanding of the defensive scheme. With offseason NFL stints behind him, Rose is positioned as a stabilizing force on the BattleHawks defense.
The 2025 campaign is expected to showcase Rose in a featured linebacker role, leaning on the tackling consistency that defined his Iowa State career. His prior experience bouncing between NFL and spring-football environments should help him set the tone for younger defenders on the roster. Performance details from in-season games will further shape his long-term professional outlook.
