sport.wikisort.org - AthleteMark Matthew Stepnoski (born January 20, 1967) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL). He attended Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania, and went on to star at the University of Pittsburgh. He played 13 seasons in the NFL, with the Dallas Cowboys from 1989 to 1994, with the Houston / Tennessee Oilers from 1995 to 1998, and back to the Cowboys for three more seasons. Stepnoski won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys and was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1992 to 1996.
American football player (born 1967)
American football player
Mark Stepnoski|
Position: | Center |
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Born: | (1967-01-20) January 20, 1967 (age 55) Erie, Pennsylvania |
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Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
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Weight: | 265 lb (120 kg) |
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High school: | Erie (PA) Cathedral |
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College: | Pittsburgh |
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NFL Draft: | 1989 / Round: 3 / Pick: 57 |
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- Dallas Cowboys (1989–1994)
- Houston / Tennessee Oilers (1995–1998)
- Dallas Cowboys (1999–2001)
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- 2× Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII)
- First-team All-Pro (1992)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (1994, 1996)
- 5× Pro Bowl (1992–1996)
- NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
- Consensus All-American (1988)
- Pennsylvania All-Century Team[1]
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Games Played: | 194 |
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Games Started: | 162 |
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
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Early years
Stepnoski, was a highly recruited All-State and Parade All-American offensive tackle from Erie Cathedral Preparatory School. He graduated from the school in 1985.
He signed with the University of Pittsburgh and became a four-year starter at offensive guard, helping clear the way for Craig Heyward and Curvin Richards to become two of the leading rushers in the nation.
Stepnoski was a third-team All-American as a sophomore, a first-team All-American in 1988 and a finalist for the Outland Trophy as a senior. He was a two-time Academic All-American (1986 and 1988). He also played in the East–West Shrine Game.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys (first stint)
Stepnoski was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 1989 NFL Draft. He dropped in the draft because the scouts thought he was undersized for the National Football League.[citation needed]
The Cowboys switched him to center, although he had never played that position. During his rookie year he was tutored by Tom Rafferty, who was playing his last season in the NFL. He became a starter for the last four games of the season. Stepnoski used his athletic ability, leverage and balance to outmaneuver bigger defensive players and become one of the league's best centers of his era. By the end of the 1991 season he was selected to the first of five straight Pro Bowls.[2] From 1992 to 1994, together with Erik Williams, Mark Tuinei, Nate Newton and Kevin Gogan, he was part of some of the best offensive lines to play in NFL history,[citation needed] that also helped pave the way for Emmitt Smith to become the NFL's all-time leading rusher. In 1993, he suffered a knee injury that required surgery while playing against the Minnesota Vikings in the 13th game of the season. He was replaced by John Gesek and couldn't play during the playoffs and Super Bowl XXVIII. He became a free agent at the end of the season, but the Cowboys could only sign him to a one-year contract ($1.2 million and a $500,000 signing bonus).
Stepnoski was one of the team's first big-name players to leave the Cowboys following the 1994 season via unrestricted free agency, leaving with three Pro Bowls and back-to-back Super Bowl victories.
Houston / Tennessee Oilers
Stepnoski signed with the Houston Oilers in 1995. During his first two seasons with the Oilers he increased his streak of Pro Bowl selections to five. Stepnoski played two more seasons with the team upon their relocation to Nashville.
Dallas Cowboys (second stint)
The Cowboys signed Stepnoski as a free agent in 1999, where he finished his career with three more years, retiring after the 2001 season.
Career achievements
Stepnoski played 13 seasons in the National Football League, which included five consecutive Pro Bowl appearances (1992–1996) and a place on the National Football League 1990s All-Decade second team.[3] He won two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys (XXVII and XXVIII) and was a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2007.[4]
Cannabis advocacy
See also: Cannabis and sports
During the early 2000s, Stepnoski served as president of the Texas chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).[5][6] He became a lifetime member of NORML in 1998 when he contributed $2000 to the organization.[7] He kept private his views as an active player though, not wanting to create a distraction for his team.[5] As an active player, Stepnoski says he occasionally used cannabis for pain relief.[8][9]
Stepnoski's advocacy caused his high school alma mater, Cathedral Preparatory School, to cancel his induction into the school's athletic hall of fame.[7][10] His efforts also drew the ire of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President George W. Bush.[8] A spokesperson stated: "It's really kind of sad that someone who could use his role as a role model for young children chooses not to use it constructively, but to use it for something that has caused devastation for families throughout this country."[11]
Personal life
Stepnoski moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2003. He has a son.[12]
In a 2007 interview, Stepnoski expressed support for the 9/11 truth movement.[10]
References
- "The Pennsylvania Football News All-Century Teams". pafootballnews.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
- Eatman, Nick (July 3, 2012). "The 53: Stepnoski To Anchor The Middle". dallascowboys.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- "Mark Stepnoski". Erie Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- "Preliminary nominees for Class of 07". profootballhof.com. October 27, 2006. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- Donald, Mark (October 31, 2002). "Steppin' Out". Dallas Observer. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- Armentano, Paul (April 10, 2003). "Lineman for Liberty". Reason. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- McKenna, Dave (November 21, 2003). "The Grass Is Sometimes Greener". Washington City Paper. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- Hruby, Patrick (January 21, 2003). "Fired up". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- Outside the Lines: Marijuana in Sports, ESPN, February 23, 2003, retrieved August 9, 2021
- Dudley, John (November 4, 2007). "Q&A; with Mark Stepnoski". Erie Times-News. Archived from the original on December 24, 2007.
- McFarland, John (February 21, 2003). "Former Cowboy Stepnoski now advocating marijuana legalization". Plainview Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- Townsend, Brad (September 22, 2016). "What the Dallas Cowboys think about marijuana". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XXVII champions |
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- 2 Lin Elliott
- 4 Mike Saxon
- 7 Steve Beuerlein
- 8 Troy Aikman (MVP)
- 17 Jason Garrett
- 20 Ray Horton
- 22 Emmitt Smith
- 23 Robert Williams
- 24 Larry Brown
- 26 Kevin Smith
- 27 Curvin Richards
- 28 Darren Woodson
- 29 Kenneth Gant
- 30 Issiac Holt
- 31 Thomas Everett
- 34 Tommie Agee
- 37 James Washington
- 39 Derrick Gainer
- 40 Bill Bates
- 47 Clayton Holmes
- 48 Daryl Johnston
- 50 Bobby Abrams
- 51 Ken Norton Jr.
- 52 Mickey Pruitt
- 53 Mark Stepnoski
- 55 Robert Jones
- 57 Vinson Smith
- 58 Dixon Edwards
- 61 Nate Newton
- 63 John Gesek
- 66 Kevin Gogan
- 67 Russell Maryland
- 68 Frank Cornish
- 69 Todd Jones
- 70 Dale Hellestrae
- 71 Mark Tuinei
- 73 Danny Noonan
- 75 Tony Casillas
- 76 Alan Veingrad
- 77 Jim Jeffcoat
- 78 Leon Lett
- 79 Erik Williams
- 80 Alvin Harper
- 81 Alexander Wright
- 82 Jimmy Smith
- 83 Kelvin Martin
- 84 Jay Novacek
- 86 Tyrone Williams
- 87 Alfredo Roberts
- 88 Michael Irvin
- 89 Derek Tennell
- 90 Tony Hill
- 92 Tony Tolbert
- 94 Charles Haley
- 95 Chad Hennings
- 97 Jimmie Jones
- 98 Godfrey Myles
- 99 Greg Briggs
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- Head coach: Jimmy Johnson
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- Coaches: Hubbard Alexander
- Joe Avezzano
- Joe Brodsky
- Dave Campo
- Butch Davis
- Robert Ford
- Steve Hoffman
- Bob Slowik
- Norv Turner
- Dave Wannstedt
- Tony Wise
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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XXVIII champions |
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- 3 Eddie Murray
- 8 Troy Aikman
- 17 Jason Garrett
- 18 Bernie Kosar
- 19 John Jett
- 22 Emmitt Smith (MVP)
- 23 Robert Williams
- 24 Larry Brown
- 25 Derrick Lassic
- 26 Kevin Smith
- 27 Thomas Everett
- 28 Darren Woodson
- 29 Kenneth Gant
- 31 Brock Marion
- 34 Tommie Agee
- 37 James Washington
- 38 Chris Hall
- 39 Derrick Gainer
- 40 Bill Bates
- 41 Dave Thomas
- 43 Elvis Patterson
- 44 Lincoln Coleman
- 46 Joe Fishback
- 48 Daryl Johnston
- 50 Bobby Abrams
- 51 Ken Norton Jr.
- 53 Mark Stepnoski
- 55 Robert Jones
- 56 John Roper
- 58 Dixon Edwards
- 59 Darrin Smith
- 61 Nate Newton
- 62 James Parrish
- 63 John Gesek
- 65 Ron Stone
- 66 Kevin Gogan
- 67 Russell Maryland
- 68 Frank Cornish
- 70 Dale Hellestrae
- 71 Mark Tuinei
- 75 Tony Casillas
- 77 Jim Jeffcoat
- 78 Leon Lett
- 79 Erik Williams
- 80 Alvin Harper
- 81 Tim Daniel
- 82 Jimmy Smith
- 83 Joey Mickey
- 84 Jay Novacek
- 85 Kevin Williams
- 86 Tyrone Williams
- 88 Michael Irvin
- 89 Scott Galbraith
- 89 Jim Price
- 89 Kelly Blackwell
- 91 Matt Vanderbeek
- 92 Tony Tolbert
- 94 Charles Haley
- 95 Chad Hennings
- 97 Jimmie Jones
- 98 Godfrey Myles
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- Head coach: Jimmy Johnson
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- Coaches: Hubbard Alexander
- Joe Avezzano
- John Blake
- Joe Brodsky
- Dave Campo
- Butch Davis
- Jim Eddy
- Robert Ford
- Steve Hoffman
- Hudson Houck
- Norv Turner
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Offense |
- QB Steve Walsh & Troy Aikman
- RB Barry Sanders
- RB Anthony Thompson
- RB Tim Worley
- WR Jason Phillips
- WR Hart Lee Dykes
- TE Marv Cook
- OL Tony Mandarich
- OL Anthony Phillips
- OL Mike Utley
- OL Mark Stepnoski
- C Jake Young
- C John Vitale
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Defense |
- DL Mark Messner
- DL Tracy Rocker
- DL Wayne Martin
- DL Frank Stams
- DL Bill Hawkins
- LB Derrick Thomas
- LB Broderick Thomas
- LB Mike Stonebreaker
- DB Deion Sanders
- DB Donnell Woolford
- DB Louis Oliver
- DB Darryl Henley
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Special teams |
- PK Kendall Trainor
- P Keith English
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Dallas Cowboys 1989 NFL draft selections |
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- Troy Aikman
- Steve Wisniewski
- Daryl Johnston
- Mark Stepnoski
- Rhondy Weston
- Tony Tolbert
- Keith Jennings
- Willis Crockett
- Jeff Roth
- Kevin Peterson
- Charvez Foger
- Tim Jackson
- Rod Carter
- Randy Shannon
- Scott Ankrom
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NFL's 1990s All-Decade Team |
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- Brett Favre
- John Elway
- Barry Sanders
- Emmitt Smith
- Terrell Davis
- Thurman Thomas
- Cris Carter
- Jerry Rice
- Tim Brown
- Michael Irvin
- Shannon Sharpe
- Ben Coates
- Willie Roaf
- Gary Zimmerman
- Tony Boselli
- Richmond Webb
- Bruce Matthews
- Randall McDaniel
- Larry Allen
- Steve Wisniewski
- Dermontti Dawson
- Mark Stepnoski
- Bruce Smith
- Reggie White
- Chris Doleman
- Neil Smith
- Cortez Kennedy
- John Randle
- Warren Sapp
- Bryant Young
- Kevin Greene
- Junior Seau
- Derrick Thomas
- Cornelius Bennett
- Hardy Nickerson
- Levon Kirkland
- Deion Sanders
- Rod Woodson
- Darrell Green
- Aeneas Williams
- Steve Atwater
- LeRoy Butler
- Carnell Lake
- Ronnie Lott
- Darren Bennett
- Sean Landeta
- Morten Andersen
- Gary Anderson
- Mel Gray
- Michael Bates
- Bill Parcells
- Marv Levy
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