Mark Herzlich
refer to caption
Herzlich with the New York Giants
No. 44, 94
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1987-09-01) September 1, 1987
Kirkwood, Missouri, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:236 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:Conestoga (Berwyn, Pennsylvania)
College:Boston College
Undrafted:2011
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:173
Sacks:1.0
Forced fumbles:1
Player stats at NFL.com

Mark Herzlich Jr. (born September 1, 1987) is an American sports commentator and former professional football player. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL).

Herzlich played college football for the Boston College Eagles. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and played all seven seasons of his professional career with the Giants.[1]

Early life

Herzlich was born in Kirkwood, Missouri,[2] the son of Barbara Read (born Martin), a former tennis player, and Sandon Mark Herzlich.[3][4] His paternal grandfather's Ashkenazi Jewish family left Austria after the German annexation.[5] His father was raised Jewish and converted to Protestantism when Herzlich was born.[6] He has one sibling, younger brother Bradley Martin, who was a member of the football team at Brown University.[7]

High school career

Herzlich attended Conestoga High School in Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania, where he earned Associated Press Class First-team AAAA All-State honors as senior linebacker. Considered a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, Herzlich was recruited by Boston College, Duke, North Carolina, Vanderbilt and Virginia.[8] He was committed to Virginia some time before he chose to play for Boston College.[8] He recorded 142 tackles and made four interceptions as a junior and also lined up at fullback in 2003 and 2004, scoring three offensive touchdowns. As a senior, he registered a team-high 153 tackles, including 48 solo stops, in 2005, and totaled eight tackles for loss, including four sacks; he also returned a blocked field goal 86 yards for a touchdown. He led the Pioneers to back-to-back Central League titles (2004 and 2005) and became the first player in school history to win the team MVP award three times. Herzlich was also a lacrosse star at Conestoga, and received a scholarship offer from Johns Hopkins University to play lacrosse.

College career

Herzlich went on to attend Boston College and played in all 13 games as a true freshman. He earned College Football News Freshman All-American honors with a total of 42 tackles (32 solo), including 5.0 tackles for a loss and 1.0 sack, one interception and forced two fumbles. As a sophomore, he started all 14 games for the Eagles and finished the season second in total tackles with 97 (55 solos, 42 assists). He also led the team with 12 tackles-for-loss to go with 1.5 quarterback sacks and 4 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries. Herzlich entered his junior season (2008) as a preseason all-star candidate. He was named to the Lott Trophy and Butkus Award watchlists prior to the season.[9] In 2008 Herzlich was a First-team All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a finalist for the Butkus Award, and a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy. He led the team with 110 tackles and 81 stops, six interceptions, eight pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 13 tackles for a loss. In November 2008, Herzlich was a projected top-15 pick by many scouts for the 2009 NFL Draft but announced his return to Boston College for the 2009 season.

Herzlich missed the entire 2009 season due to Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, which he overcame and earned numerous honors for his courage and outreach, including the Disney Spirit Award, Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award, an honorary Lott Trophy, and the ACC Commissioner's Cup.

In 2010, Herzlich returned to the football field and won the Rudy Award and the ACC's Brian Piccolo Award after starting all 13 games and finishing third on the team with 65 tackles and 50 solo stops. He tied for first on the team with two forced fumbles, second on the team with four interceptions and four pass break ups and also had 3.5 tackles for a loss.[10]

Cancer diagnosis

On May 14, 2009, Herzlich announced that he had been diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, stating in a press release:

Obviously, I was shocked. I had been extremely focused on preparing for my senior season at Boston College and for life beyond that. Now, I must channel all that energy into facing my toughest opponent yet, and that is exactly what I will do...At this point, I do not know what this means for my football future, but I am determined to rid my body of this disease so that I can put that uniform back on. Thank you in advance for your prayers and concern. Together, we will fight this and win.[11]

On September 29, 2009, Mark Herzlich announced that he was cancer free. This was confirmed by the team doctors. He publicly announced this during the ESPN and Home Depot College Gameday Special at Boston College on October 3, 2009.[12] He sat out the remainder of the 2009 season and returned in 2010, registering five tackles (three solo) in the season-opening 38-20 win against FCS school Weber State.

Despite not playing college football in 2009, he received the Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award for overcoming cancer, as well as the Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award for sportsmanship. In January 2011, he received the "Most Courageous Athlete" award from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association.[13]

Herzlich in 2016

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench pressWonderlic
6 ft 4 in
(1.93 m)		 244 lb
(111 kg)		 32+3⁄8 in
(0.82 m)		 10 in
(0.25 m)		4.91 s1.71 s2.76 s4.46 s7.32 s32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)		29 reps34
All values from NFL Combine[14]

Herzlich was not selected in the 2011 NFL Draft even though he was invited to attend the event. After going undrafted, Herzlich was selected with the 51st pick of the 10th round by the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL. Despite this, Herzlich stated that he would wait for an NFL contract rather than join the UFL.[15]

On July 26, 2011, the New York Giants signed Herzlich to a three-year, $1.41 million contract as an undrafted free agent at the recommendation of owner John Mara.[16][17] Herzlich made the New York Giants final 53 man roster. On November 20, 2011, Herzlich made his first NFL start against the Philadelphia Eagles.[18] Set to become a free agent in 2014, he re-signed with the Giants on March 7, 2014.[19]

On March 20, 2017, Herzlich re-signed with the Giants.[20] On September 2, 2017, he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a stinger in training camp.[21]

On March 12, 2018, Herzlich re-signed with the Giants.[22]

On September 1, 2018, Herzlich was released by the Giants.[23]

Post-playing career

Herzlich joined ACC Network following the end of his playing career, where he serves as a color commentator.[24]

Personal life

Herzlich is a Christian.[25] He is married to Danielle Herzlich. They have three children.[26][27]

References

  1. ↑ BC Eagles Athletics Profile - Mark Herzlich
  2. ↑ Thomas, Jim (January 28, 2011). "Linebacker who beat cancer gets shot at NFL". Stltoday. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Miss Martin Has Nuptials". The New York Times. June 26, 1983.
  4. ↑ Mark Herzlich (September 1, 1987). "Player Bio: Mark Herzlich - BCEAGLES.COM - Boston College Official Athletic Site". Bceagles.Com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ Armstrong, Kevin (February 1, 2012). "Herzlich, nun keep faith during cancer fight". Daily News. New York.
  7. ↑ Bradley Herzlich (September 9, 1991). "Brown Bears Athletics". Brownbears.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Mark Herzlich Profile - Rivals.com
  9. ↑ Profile The Butkus Award official site
  10. ↑ "Boston College's Mark Herzlich opening eyes", Boston Herald, November 13, 2008
  11. ↑ Finn, Chad (May 14, 2009). "BC's Herzlich has cancer". Boston Globe. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  12. ↑ Boston College Eagles' Mark Herzlich says cancer recovery nearly done – ESPN Boston
  13. ↑ Callahan, Kevin (February 1, 2011). "Herzlich cited as Most Courageous". CourierPostOnline.com. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  14. ↑ Dagger (April 29, 2011). "2008 NFL Combine Results". postgameheroes.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  15. ↑ Flannery, Paul. "It Is What It Is » Report: BC's Mark Herzlich will forgo UFL for shot at NFL". Itiswhatitis.weei.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  16. ↑ Smith, Michael David (July 26, 2011). "Giants sign Mark Herzlich". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Spotrac.com: Mark Herzlich contract". spotrac.com. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Eagles beat Giants again in 4th quarter, win 17-10 - NFL - Yahoo! Sports". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  19. ↑ Eisen, Michael. "Mark Herzlich signs new contract with NYG". Giants.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  20. ↑ "New York Giants re-sign LB Mark Herzlich". Giants.com. March 20, 2017. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018.
  21. ↑ Eisen, Michael (September 2, 2017). "New York Giants announce 2017 53-man roster". Giants.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017.
  22. ↑ Eisen, Michael (March 12, 2018). "Giants re-sign LB Mark Herzlich and Guard Jon Halapio". Giants.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018.
  23. ↑ Eisen, Michael (September 1, 2018). "New York Giants announce 53-man roster". Giants.com.
  24. ↑ "Mark Herzlich". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  25. ↑ "GET IN THE GAME PODCAST: Mark Herzlich - Former NFL Player". Sports Spectrum. July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  26. ↑ "NEW 'RECALIBRATED' PODCAST: Danielle Herzlich - Army Veteran & NFL Wife". Sports Spectrum. February 25, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  27. ↑ "danielleherzlich". Instagram. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
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