HOUGHTON – A former NFL player pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drug possession charges in 97th District Court Friday.

Chuck Klingbeil, 48, pleaded guilty to attempted possession of oxymetholone, an anabolic steroid, and codeine, both one-year misdemeanors. Two other high-court misdemeanor charges were dismissed.

Klingbeil is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13. Judge Mark Wisti talked to Klingbeil about enrolling in the county’s new drug court system, which he described as an intensive 15-month outpatient program.

“That’s what I think,” Wisti said. “I want to know what you think.”

“Well, my thinking got me here,” Klingbeil replied.

Klingbeil said he had had a narcotics dependency for about 30 years. Wisti said the drug program has a success rate of 60 to 70 percent, well above the alternatives.

Klingbeil played for the Miami Dolphins from 1991 to 1995 as a defensive lineman, and also played in the Canadian Football League.

For the past three years, Klingbeil worked with Michigan Technological University’s defensive line and helped the team’s strength and conditioning program. Klingbeil had also been an assistant coach with the team from 1999 to 2002.

Klingbeil was no longer associated with the Tech football program as of the week he was arraigned in October.

Klingbeil remains out on a personal recognizance bond.