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David Molk
David Molk
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David Michael Molk (born December 15, 1988) is an American former professional football center who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers and the Philadelphia Eagles. Molk played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, where he was a consensus All-American and the Rimington Trophy winner in 2011, as the best center in college football. He was selected by the Chargers in the 2012 NFL draft.

Key Information

Molk grew up in the Chicago area and played high school football at Lemont Township High School. He was named an All-State player by the Chicago Tribune and was selected to play in the first East-West All-America Football Game in January 2007.

Molk enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2007. In 2010, Molk was the cornerstone in an offensive line that helped Denard Robinson break the Big Ten Conference single-season record with 4,189 yards of total offense. Molk was recognized as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference player at the end of the 2010 season. In 2011, Molk anchored a line that led the way for Denard Robinson and Fitzgerald Toussaint to become Michigan's first duo of 1,000-yard rushers since 1975.

Early life

[edit]

Molk was once a 5-foot-6-inch (1.68 m) 175-pound (79 kg) Lemont Township High School freshman who could only bench press 110 pounds (50 kg) and squat 250 pounds (110 kg).[1] By the end of his junior year, he was one of the most highly recruited high school football players in the Chicago metropolitan area.[2][3][4] By his senior season, he was a 6-foot-2-inch (1.88 m) 270-pound (120 kg) center who could bench press 370 pounds (170 kg), squat 550 pounds (250 kg) and power clean 320 pounds (150 kg).[1] His high school gym closed at 5:00 PM and he had to go into town for extra workout time. He chose to be a center because, although he is too short to be a major Division I college football offensive guard or offensive tackle, he had the potential to be a successful center.[1] He was actually discovered when a scout came to his school to watch a teammate.[1] During the summer prior to his senior season, he made a verbal commitment to the University of Michigan, in part due to its business school, the Ross School of Business.[5] At the end of his junior year he had received scholarship offers from ten schools, including six Big Ten Conference football programs.[1]

As a senior, Molk was selected to numerous All-area football teams by various organizations including The Star, Daily Southtown, and Prep Football Report selected by Tom Lemming.[6][7][8] In addition, he was selected to the Chicago Tribune All-State team,[9] and he was selected to play in the first East-West All-America Football Game sponsored by ESPN and MLS Sports in Orlando, Florida suburb Lake Buena Vista on January 6, 2007.[10][11] Molk was also an honors student in his senior year of high school.[12]

College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight 40 Commit date
David Molk
C
Lemont, Illinois Lemont (IL) 6 ft 1.5 in (1.87 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 5.0 Aug 3, 2006 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 4/5 stars   Rivals: 3/5 stars   (78)
Overall recruit ranking:   Scout: 3 (C)    Rivals: 5 (C), 7 (IL)    ESPN: 6 (C)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Michigan Football Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  • "2007 Michigan Football Commits". Scout. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  • "ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  • "2007 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 28, 2009.

College career

[edit]
Molk (50) lines up a block during 2009 Michigan – Notre Dame game.

Molk attended the University of Michigan, where he played for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 2007 to 2011. Entering the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, Molk was a serious contender to start in the season opener due to injuries for the 2007 Michigan Wolverines football team.[13] Upon the arrival of new head coach Rich Rodriguez in the spring prior to the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, Molk was expected to be a starter for the 2008 Michigan Wolverines football team after redshirtting the prior year.[14] He spent the summer after his redshirt season perfecting the shotgun formation snap.[15] However, he endured a serious undisclosed illness that caused him to lose 15 pounds (6.8 kg) and found himself in a battle with redshirt junior David Moosman to be the starting center.[16] As his struggles continued, it was revealed that he had mononucleosis.[17] Despite his struggles, he was awarded the Iron Wolverine Award at the spring football awards in recognition of his superior conditioning based on a series of physical tests.[18][19] As a result of injuries,[20] both Moosman and Molk were in the starting lineup for the 2008 opener.[21] Offensive line injuries continued to affect the lineup through the early part of the season with Molk (center), Moosman (right offensive guard) and Stephen Schilling (right offensive tackle) being the only players to start each of the first four games.[22] Molk injured his toe at the end Little Brown Jug game against Minnesota of the November 8, 2008, but he was fine the following week.[23] As the young offense finished the season with a 3–9 record, it expected its entire starting offensive line to return the following season.[24] In fact, considering injuries, the team returned a total of seven offensive linemen who started games.[25]

#16 Denard Robinson, #86 Kevin Koger, #52 Stephen Schilling, and #50 Molk as well as #79 Perry Dorrestein, #65 Patrick Omameh, and #72 Mark Huyge
#16 Denard Robinson, #20 Michael Shaw, #52 Stephen Schilling, #50 Molk as well as #79 Perry Dorrestein, #80 Martell Webb, and #72 Mark Huyge

In Molk's second year of spring football he earned the sophomore award for toughness and work ethic during the Michigan spring football awards.[26] By the end of the spring he was among the 44 centers on the 2009 Rimington Trophy spring watch list for the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season.[27] He was also included on the watch list for the 2009 Lombardi Award.[28] Molk suffered a broken foot in the third game of the season as the 2009 Wolverines pushed their record to 3–0 and had surgery two days later. He was expected to miss 4–6 weeks.[29] After missing four games, he returned to practice.[30] However, during the subsequent game against Penn State on October 24, he tore knee ligaments and was lost for the season as well as spring football.[31]

As a redshirt junior, he was selected to the 2010 preseason Rimington Trophy watchlist for the 2010 Michigan Wolverines football team and later a finalist after the regular season had concluded.[32][33] That season Denard Robinson established numerous quarterback rushing records lining up behind and often running behind Molk. He broke Drew Brees' Big Ten single-season total offense record of 4,189 yards.[34] Robinson fell 116 yards short of Tim Biakabutuka's Michigan school record of 1,818 rushing yards. However, he led the conference in both total offense and rushing yards per game.[35] Following the Big Ten conference regular season, Molk was a first-team All-conference selection by the coaches and second-team member as selected by the media.[36][37][38] He was also recognized by Sports Illustrated as an honorable mention All-American.[39]

Molk at center in the 2011 Michigan-Ohio State rivalry game

As a fifth-year senior, he was selected to three preseason watchlists: the Outland Trophy list, which goes to the nation's top interior lineman;[40] the Lombardi Award watch list, which is awarded to the nation's top lineman;[41] and the Rimington Trophy watch list, which is awarded to the nation's top center.[42] During the season, Michigan had two 1000-yard rushers (Robinson and Fitzgerald Toussaint) for the first time since the 1975 team.[43] He earned the 2011 Big Ten Conference Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year Award (the first year it was thus named) and was a repeat first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection by the coaches and a second-team selection by the media.[44][45] The following week, he was named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy.[46] A few days later, he was declared the Rimington Trophy winner.[43] He was also first-team All-American selection by AP, Football Writers Association of America, Scout.com, Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation,[43][47][48][49][50] which resulted in him becoming a consensus All-American.[51] He was a third-team All-American selection by Yahoo! Sports and an honorable mention All-American selectee by Sports Illustrated and the Pro Football Weekly.[52][53][54] Molk was invited to participate in the January 28, 2012 Senior Bowl,[55] and he was an early invite to the February 22–28, 2012 NFL Scouting Combine.[56]

Professional career

[edit]

Pre-draft

[edit]

Molk was one of 54 offensive linemen, and the fourth-ranked center—behind Peter Konz, Garth Gerhart, and Ben Jones[57]—, that participated in the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine.[58] However, he tore the peroneal longus tendon in his foot at the 2012 Sugar Bowl,[59][60] and he had surgery on January 13.[60] As a result, he was only able to participate in one Combine event.[59] His 41 reps in the bench press ranked first among offensive linemen and second at the entire combine, behind only nose tackle Dontari Poe.[61][62] Molk's total was most by a center and ranks fourth among offensive lineman since 2000, behind only Russell Bodine, Mitch Petrus and Scott Young, who were centers and offensive guards.[63][64]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Bench press
6 ft 0+58 in
(1.84 m)
298 lb
(135 kg)
32 in
(0.81 m)
8+78 in
(0.23 m)
41 reps
All values from NFL Combine[65]

San Diego Chargers

[edit]

He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft with the 226th selection overall.[66] He was one of three Michigan Wolverines and 41 Big Ten players drafted.[67] On May 8, 2012, he signed a four-year contract.[68] He played 12 games for the 2012 San Diego Chargers, mostly on special teams and as an extra lineman in short yardage situations, before being placed on injured reserve on December 4, 2012.[69] Molk was one of 11 players released by the Chargers on August 31, 2013, during the last round of preseason roster cuts.[70]

Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]

On January 9, 2014, he signed a futures contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.[71] He was placed on injured reserve with a torn bicep after the second game of the 2015 NFL season by the Eagles on September 14, 2015.[72] Molk announced his retirement from the NFL on March 4, 2016.[73]

Personal life

[edit]

David Molk lives outside Chicago in Lemont, Illinois, with his widowed father, his mother having died from breast cancer when he was 12.[74][75] After the controversial semi-autobiographical book NFL Confidential: True Confessions from the Gutter of Football was released in 2016, multiple Redditors guessed the unknown author, nicknamed "Johnny Anonymous" in the book, was actually Molk due to the similarities between the narrator's experiences and the 2014 Philadelphia Eagles season, when Molk had been a backup center with the team.[76] Additionally, other online sleuths noted in media interviews his name had accidentally been given as "David Anonymous".[77] As of 2021, Molk is the co-owner and VP of Thomas Sales and Marketing in Chicago alongside his father, Thomas Molk. Their company website contains a note that he did indeed author NFL Confidential.[78][79]

Notes

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
David Molk (born December 15, 1988) is a former center who played in the (NFL). A standout at the , he was a four-year starter at center, earning the 2011 as the nation's top collegiate center, along with All-Big Ten honors and a spot on the first team. Selected in the seventh round (226th overall) of the by the , Molk appeared in 20 regular-season games in his professional career, primarily as a reserve. Born in , Molk attended Lemont Township High School, where he excelled as a three-year starter on the offensive line from 2004 to 2006. During his high school tenure, he helped lead Lemont to a composite 27-7 record and three appearances in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) , serving as team captain in his senior year. He also lettered in wrestling and was recognized as a All-State honorable mention selection. At Michigan, Molk redshirted in 2007 before emerging as a key contributor on the offensive line, starting all 13 games in 2008 and continuing as the Wolverines' through the 2011 season for a total of 41 career starts. As a senior in 2011, he anchored an offensive line that supported a 10-2 regular-season record, two 1,000-yard rushers ( and Fitzgerald Toussaint), and limited opposing defenses to just 15 sacks while averaging 235.7 rushing yards and 423.1 total yards per game. That year, Molk was named the inaugural Big Ten Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year, earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches, and received the University of 's Hugh R. Rader Memorial Award as the top offensive lineman; he also started in the against . Molk's NFL journey began with the Chargers, where he appeared in 12 games as a in 2012 before being waived prior to the 2013 season. He signed with the Eagles in 2014, appearing in 7 games (four starts) that season and 1 game in 2015, primarily providing depth on the interior line. Molk retired from the in March 2016.

Early years

Family background

David Molk was born on December 15, 1988, in , a suburb southwest of . Growing up in nearby Lemont, a working-class community, Molk was immersed in the local Chicago sports culture that fueled his early passion for football. Molk's family played a pivotal role in shaping his resilience and drive. His mother, Gail Molk, battled for 12 years before passing away on December 12, 2001, just three days before her son's 13th birthday. The profound loss at age 12 left a lasting emotional impact, motivating Molk to channel his grief into football as a way to honor her memory and appreciate life's fragility; he later reflected, "She showed me just how precious life is," emphasizing how her toughness inspired him to make the most of his opportunities. Following his wife's death, Molk's father, Tom—a towering 6-foot-5 figure—raised him and his older brother, , who stands at 6-foot-4, in a close-knit household marked by physical strength and unwavering support. Tom encouraged his sons' aggressive play style on the field, fostering Molk's early interest in the sport through youth leagues in the area, where family backing provided the foundation for his dedication.

High school career

David Molk attended Lemont Township High School in , where he developed into a standout offensive lineman during his high school career. As a three-year starter on the offensive line from 2004 to 2006, primarily at , he anchored the unit and contributed to a strong team performance, helping the Indians compile a 27-7 record over that span. In 2004, the team finished 9-2 and made an IHSA playoff appearance; the following year, they went 10-2, won the Suburban Prairie Conference-East Division title, and advanced to the IHSA quarterfinals for the first time in school history; and in 2006, achieved an 8-3 record, secured the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division championship, and earned another playoff berth. Molk's leadership was evident as he served as team captain during his senior year in 2006, earning recognition as team MVP in both his junior and senior seasons. He received two-time all-conference honors and was named an all-area and all-state selection by the as a senior. Additionally, Molk participated in the 2007 East-West All-American Game, showcasing his skills against top national talent. He also lettered in wrestling. His dedication was fueled in part by family support following the early loss of his mother to when he was 12, which motivated his athletic pursuits. As a highly regarded prospect in the class of 2007, Molk attracted attention from multiple college programs after gaining notice at recruiting camps, including one at Northwestern during his junior year. Rated as the No. 3 nationally and a four-star recruit by , as well as a three-star prospect, the No. 5 , and the No. 7 player in by , he ultimately committed to the .

College career

University of Michigan

David Molk enrolled at the in 2007, redshirting his initial season before securing the starting center position as a true in 2008. Following a standout high school career at Lemont Township High School in , where he was heavily recruited, Molk quickly adapted to , starting all 12 games for the 5-7 and earning his first while receiving the Iron Wolverine Award for top lineman conditioning. His performance helped stabilize an inexperienced offensive line under first-year head coach . The 2009 season proved challenging due to injuries, as Molk started the first four games before fracturing a bone in his right foot during a win over Eastern Michigan, which sidelined him for four to six weeks. He returned prematurely against Penn State, starting the game but suffering a torn ACL in his right knee just four plays in, necessitating surgery and ending his year with only four starts overall. The injuries disrupted Michigan's offensive rhythm, contributing to a 6-7 record, though Molk's brief contributions highlighted his resilience. Fully recovered by 2010, Molk anchored the offensive line as a junior, starting all 13 games—including the loss to Mississippi State—and playing a key role in protecting Denard while facilitating a balanced rushing attack. His consistency earned him recognition as a foundational leader on the line, helping the improve to 7-6. In 2011, Molk served as one of three team captains during his redshirt senior year, starting all 12 regular-season games and guiding to an 11-2 record with a potent offense. A pivotal moment came in the victory over , where he severed a in his right foot during pre-game warmups but returned after the opening series, playing through pain to support the line in the 23-20 overtime win that capped the season. Over four years, Molk amassed 41 career starts at center, providing reliability despite recurrent lower-body injuries that tested his durability.

Awards and accomplishments

During his senior year in 2011, David Molk was recognized as one of the premier centers in , culminating in his selection as the winner of the , awarded annually to the nation's outstanding center. This honor, presented by the Foundation, highlighted Molk's leadership and performance on an offensive line that anchored Michigan's 10-2 regular season record. He also received the inaugural Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year Award from the , underscoring his dominance within the league. Molk earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the conference coaches in 2011, marking his second consecutive year receiving such recognition, while also securing second-team honors from the media. In 2010, as a junior starter, he was named to the All-Big Ten first team by coaches and second team by media, reflecting his consistent excellence. His contributions were further acknowledged with co-recipient status for the University of Michigan's Hugh R. Rader Memorial Award, given to the top offensive lineman. On the national stage, Molk was a consensus All-American in 2011, earning first-team selections from the , Football Foundation, and . These accolades positioned him as a of 's resurgent offense, which paved the way for quarterback Denard Robinson's record-breaking season. Molk's recognition extended to roles, including serving as a team captain, emphasizing his impact beyond the field.

Professional career

2012 NFL Draft

David Molk entered the as a highly regarded prospect out of the , measured at 6 feet 1 inch and 298 pounds during the scouting process. His pre-draft evaluations highlighted his exceptional strength, demonstrated by a combine-leading 41 repetitions on the , which showcased his upper-body power despite a recent foot that limited his participation in other drills. At Michigan's pro day, Molk opted not to run the or perform additional workouts due to the ongoing injury recovery, focusing instead on interviews and film review with teams. Scouts ranked him among the top centers in his class, often placing him in the top three alongside Wisconsin's Peter Konz and State's Michael Brewster, crediting his quick first step and ability to dominate at the point of attack in college. Despite the positive attributes from his college dominance and Rimington Trophy win boosting his draft stock, Molk faced criticisms from analysts regarding his undersized frame for the level, which could hinder his ability to anchor against larger defensive linemen. Draft experts like ESPN's and noted concerns about his agility in pass protection and susceptibility to being pushed back or bull-rushed, projecting him as a mid-to-late round pick who might thrive in a zone-blocking scheme but struggle in power-run environments. On the praise side, NFL Network's highlighted Molk's toughness and leverage as assets that allowed him to excel against Big Ten competition, positioning him as a potential steal for teams needing interior line depth. The selected Molk in the seventh round, 226th overall, on April 28, 2012, viewing him as a value addition to their offensive line despite the late selection. Following the draft, he signed a four-year on May 8, 2012, worth approximately $2.16 million, including a that aligned with the slotted scale for his draft position.

San Diego Chargers

Molk was selected by the in the seventh round of the and signed a four-year contract shortly thereafter. As a , he spent the 2012 season primarily as a backup , appearing in 12 games without any starts. His contributions were mainly on special teams, where he logged 69 snaps (21% of the team's special teams plays), and as an extra lineman in short-yardage situations, with 15 offensive snaps (2%). Molk played in the Chargers' first 12 games before being placed on injured reserve on December 11, 2012, due to a thumb injury. Following the 2012 season, Molk returned for training camp but did not appear in any regular-season games in 2013. On August 31, 2013, he was among 11 players released by the Chargers during final preseason roster cuts as the team trimmed to 53 players. Over his time with , Molk appeared in 12 games total, with zero starts, and recorded no penalties. Molk's tenure with the Chargers coincided with the era, during which the team relied on a offensive line to protect the amid a 7-9 record in 2012. His role provided depth at center behind starter Nick Hardwick, supporting the run game and pass protection in limited offensive opportunities.

Philadelphia Eagles

Following his release from the , David Molk signed a with the on January 9, 2014, joining the team as a backup center behind . In the 2014 season, Molk appeared in seven games for the Eagles, starting four consecutively from Weeks 4 through 7 after Kelce underwent for a sports . He played 403 offensive during the season, contributing to the team's rushing attack that averaged over 120 yards per game in his starts, while also logging six special teams . Molk returned in 2015 as a depth player but saw limited action in the Week 1 Monday night game against the on September 14, where he participated on special teams. During the contest, he sustained a torn right while on the field-goal block unit and was placed on injured reserve the following day, September 15, missing the remaining 15 games. Across his two seasons with (2014–2015), Molk appeared in eight games total, recording four starts, primarily in a rotational and emergency depth capacity behind Kelce, with five special teams snaps in 2015.

2016 retirement and 2025 return

On March 4, 2016, the announced that center David Molk had retired from the at age 27. Molk, who was scheduled to become a , temporarily concluded his professional career after just three active seasons. The retirement followed a torn right biceps injury Molk sustained during the Eagles' season opener in 2015 against the Atlanta Falcons, which led to him being placed on injured reserve and missing 15 games that year. This injury compounded a history of physical setbacks, including multiple leg injuries and surgeries during his time at the University of Michigan, where he underwent at least five procedures before entering the league. Prior to his retirement, across his NFL tenure with the San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles, Molk appeared in 20 games and made 4 starts. After nearly a decade away from the league, Molk came out of retirement and rejoined the in 2025, signing a contract to resume his role as a veteran center. As of November 17, 2025, he provides depth on the offensive line during the ongoing season.

Personal life

Family

Molk has maintained a close bond with his widowed father, Tom Molk, extending beyond his college years into his professional life. After retiring from the in 2016, he relocated back to the Illinois area to join his father's company, Thomas Sales and Marketing Inc., as co-owner and vice president, collaborating on engineered sales in the construction market and continuing a legacy in the industry. This partnership reflects the influential role his father played in career decisions, including the return to their home region near Lemont. He shares an older brother, Steve Molk, and the two experienced the profound loss of their mother, , to when David was 12—a tragedy that profoundly shaped his resilience and dedication to football as a young man. Public accounts offer limited details on extended family involvement during Molk's tenure, though his familial ties remained a steady source of personal grounding amid career transitions. As of 2025, no public records or reports indicate that Molk is married or has children, suggesting he maintains privacy regarding his adult personal relationships.

Post-NFL activities

Following his retirement from the NFL in 2016 due to recurring injuries, including a torn biceps in 2015, David Molk returned to the Chicago suburbs and has resided in Lemont, Illinois, since then. Molk transitioned into the business sector from 2016 to 2025, becoming co-owner of Thomas Sales & Marketing, Inc., a firm based in Bedford Park, Illinois, that represents manufacturers of HVAC and engineered products. In this role, he focused on sales representation, earning recognition such as the 2017 Sales Representative of the Year award from Marley Engineered Products and the 2022 Jim Herring Memorial Silver Fox Award for outstanding performance in the Riverside territory. In 2025, after nearly a decade away from football, Molk rejoined the . As of November 2025, he maintains a low public profile outside of his playing role, with no reported involvement in football coaching, broadcasting, or community youth programs, prioritizing a private life.

References

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