Commentator John “Mr. Mizzou” Kadlec once helped recruit Howard Richards to MU to play football in the late 1970s. More than 30 years later, the legendary Missouri football broadcaster has once again sold Richards on the idea of coming to MU, this time to be his replacement as the team’s radio analyst.
Richards was a four-year letterman and starter at right tackle for the Tigers from 1977 to 1980. A standout offensive lineman, Richards won First-Team All-Big Eight and Second-Team All-American honors as a senior and was a first-round NFL Draft pick in 1981 by the Dallas Cowboys.
Richards, who earned a communications degree from MU in 1988 after retiring from football, said he is elated to be putting his degree to work for his alma mater.
“It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to have a shot to work in this industry,” Richards said. “This was the right time and definitely the right place for me.”
After seven years in the NFL, six of which were with the Dallas Cowboys, Richards served 13 years at the Central Intelligence Agency, where he was a member on the security protective staffs of four CIA directors.
He also started his own personal security firm in 2008 and is still active with the business, doing mostly international work.
Despite being away from the university for so long, Richards did his best to keep tabs on MU’s football program, and is very proud of the progress that has been made.
“The program has come a long way,” Richards said. “When I played here we started something big. Then the program saw some lean years but these last ten years while coach Pinkel has been in place the program’s shown improvements every year and now can compete on the national level every year.”
Richards has started to familiarize himself with the current Tiger squad, having attended the spring game, and has spoken to a handful of players. He said he likes what he sees on the horizon for the team.
“There’s no reason Mizzou shouldn’t be near the top every year,” Richards said. “Losing Blaine Gabbert and Aldon Smith will definitely hurt, but there’s plenty of young talent present and many of these players have a great opportunity to showcase their abilities this year.”
Richards said the opportunity to work side-by-side with commentator Mike Kelly in the booth made returning to MU as a broadcaster the “best possible scenario” for the former Tiger.
Kadlec and Richards are close and talk on a regular basis. Kadlec endorsed Richards as his successor throughout the search process, for which Richards said he will be forever grateful.
“I owe him a lot, and I’m honored to follow in his footsteps,” Richards said about his predecessor. “I can’t replace him but with the help of a great guy like Mike, I will do my best.”