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Mark Stepnoski
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Mark 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.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]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 consensus 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
[edit]| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Vertical jump | Broad jump |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 2+3⁄8 in (1.89 m) |
270 lb (122 kg) |
33+3⁄8 in (0.85 m) |
10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m) |
29.0 in (0.74 m) |
8 ft 5 in (2.57 m) |
| ! 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.01 s | 1.68 s | 2.89 s | 4.53 s | 29 reps |
All values from NFL Combine[2][3]
Dallas Cowboys (first stint)
[edit]Stepnoski was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 1989 NFL draft.[4] He dropped in the draft because the scouts thought he was undersized for the National Football League.[5]
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.[6] 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,[7] 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
[edit]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)
[edit]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
[edit]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.[8] 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.[9]
Cannabis advocacy
[edit]During the early 2000s, Stepnoski served as president of the Texas chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).[10][11] He became a lifetime member of NORML in 1998 when he contributed $2000 to the organization.[12] He kept private his views as an active player though, not wanting to create a distraction for his team.[10] As an active player, Stepnoski says he occasionally used cannabis for pain relief.[13][14]
Stepnoski's advocacy caused his high school alma mater, Cathedral Preparatory School, to cancel his induction into the school's athletic hall of fame.[12][15] His efforts also drew the ire of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President George W. Bush.[13] 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."[16]
Personal life
[edit]Stepnoski moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2003. He has a son.[17]
In a 2007 interview, Stepnoski expressed support for the 9/11 truth movement.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Pennsylvania Football News All-Century Teams". pafootballnews.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
- ^ "Mark Stepnoski, Combine Results, OG - Pittsburgh". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Mark Stepnoski RAS". ras.football. January 9, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "1989 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ "Countdown To Kickoff: Mark Stepnoski Takes "Center" Stage At #53". July 21, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ Eatman, Nick (July 3, 2012). "The 53: Stepnoski To Anchor The Middle". dallascowboys.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ "Cowboys Offensive Line Shaping Up as Perhaps Greatest in NFL History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b McKenna, Dave (November 21, 2003). "The Grass Is Sometimes Greener". Washington City Paper. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ^ a b 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
- ^ a b 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.
Mark Stepnoski
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Upbringing and family influences
Mark Stepnoski was born on January 20, 1967, in Erie, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Martin and Sylvia Stepnoski. Raised in Erie, a Rust Belt city with a strong blue-collar ethos, Stepnoski grew up in a family environment that emphasized discipline and physicality, though specific details on parental occupations or direct familial guidance toward athletics remain undocumented in primary biographical accounts.[5] No public records detail siblings or extended family dynamics influencing his formative years, with available sources focusing primarily on his subsequent athletic achievements rather than pre-adolescent experiences.[6]High school and collegiate athletics
Stepnoski attended Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he excelled as an offensive tackle, earning All-State honors and recognition as a Parade All-American.[5][1] His high school performance drew widespread recruitment interest, leading him to commit to the University of Pittsburgh.[5] At Pittsburgh, Stepnoski played as an offensive guard, starting all four years and serving as co-captain of the 1988 team.[2] As a sophomore, he received third-team All-America honors; in his senior year, he was named a consensus first-team All-American and finished as one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation's top interior lineman.[7] He also earned Kodak All-American status and two-time Academic All-American recognition, reflecting his 6-foot-2, 270-pound frame's combination of technique and intelligence.[3][8] These collegiate achievements positioned him for selection in the third round (57th overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.[9][1]Professional football career
Dallas Cowboys first stint (1989–1993)
Stepnoski was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round (57th overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft out of the University of Pittsburgh, where he had played offensive guard.[1] The Cowboys converted him to center, a position he had not previously played, and he appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, starting the final four contests at the position after injuries to incumbents.[2][10] Despite concerns about his undersized frame at 6 feet 2 inches and 250 pounds, Stepnoski demonstrated quickness and intelligence that allowed him to adapt effectively.[1] Establishing himself as the full-time starter in 1990, Stepnoski started all 16 games that season and repeated the feat in 1991, anchoring the interior of an offensive line that supported quarterback Troy Aikman and running back Emmitt Smith.[1] In 1992, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press, starting 14 of 14 games played as the Cowboys achieved a 13-3 record and advanced to Super Bowl XXVII, which they won 52-17 over the Buffalo Bills; Stepnoski contributed to a dominant line that facilitated 502 total offensive yards, including 186 rushing.[1][11] Stepnoski's performance remained elite in 1993, when he started 13 games, recovered from a midseason injury, and secured another Pro Bowl nod while helping the Cowboys to a 12-4 record and victory in Super Bowl XXVIII over the Bills, 30-13, with the line again excelling in protection and run blocking for 915 rushing yards over the regular season.[1][11] His cerebral play style, emphasizing leverage and angles over brute strength, was instrumental in the Cowboys' back-to-back championships, as he snapped for Aikman without a single fumbled center-quarterback exchange during the playoff runs.[12] Following the 1993 season, Stepnoski departed Dallas as a free agent, signing with the Houston Oilers.[1]Houston/Tennessee Oilers tenure (1994–1998)
Stepnoski signed a four-year, $9.2 million contract with the Houston Oilers on March 12, 1995, becoming a free agent after the 1994 season with the Dallas Cowboys.[13] As the starting center, he anchored the offensive line during a transitional period for the franchise, which relocated to Tennessee in 1997 and rebranded as the Tennessee Oilers.[1] His blocking contributed to the development of running back Eddie George, facilitating improved ground game performance in subsequent years.[14] In his first two seasons with Houston (1995–1996), Stepnoski earned consecutive Pro Bowl selections, extending his streak from Dallas to five straight appearances and earning Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro honors in 1996.[1] The Oilers finished 7–9 in 1995 but improved to 8–8 in 1996, though they missed the playoffs both years. Stepnoski started all 16 games each season, recovering zero fumbles while committing none.[1] Following the move to Tennessee, Stepnoski started all 16 games in 1997, during which the Oilers posted a 8–8 record.[1] In 1998, he appeared in 13 games with 13 starts before the team's 8–8 finish, recovering one fumble amid two lost.[1] His tenure ended after the 1998 season, as he returned to Dallas in 1999.[1]| Year | Team | Games Played | Games Started | Fumbles Lost | Fumbles Recovered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Houston Oilers | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | Houston Oilers | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | Tennessee Oilers | 16 | 16 | 2 | 1 |
| 1998 | Tennessee Oilers | 13 | 13 | 2 | 1 |
Dallas Cowboys second stint and retirement (1999–2001)
Stepnoski returned to the Dallas Cowboys as an unrestricted free agent on April 13, 1999, signing a five-year contract valued at $14 million that included a $3.5 million signing bonus.[15] This move reunited him with the franchise where he had earned two Super Bowl rings during his initial tenure, bolstering the offensive line amid efforts to contend in the NFC East.[16] In his first season back, Stepnoski started all 15 games he appeared in, contributing to an offensive unit that supported 3,657 passing yards and 1,398 rushing yards while committing one fumble.[1] The Cowboys finished 8–8, missing the playoffs, but Stepnoski's veteran presence provided stability at center. The following year, 2000, injuries limited him to 11 starts, during which the team struggled to a 5–11 record; he recorded one fumble in those contests.[1] Stepnoski rebounded in 2001, starting all 16 regular-season games and logging one fumble as Dallas again posted a 5–11 mark.[1] He received no Pro Bowl selections or All-Pro honors during this second stint, reflecting the team's diminished contention compared to his championship years. Following the season, Stepnoski retired from the NFL at age 33 after 13 professional seasons, having appeared in 194 games overall with 182 starts.[1]Career statistics, honors, and performance analysis
Stepnoski appeared in 194 regular-season games over his 13-year NFL career from 1989 to 2001, starting 188 of them, with an Approximate Value of 103 as calculated by Pro-Football-Reference.[1] He recorded 12 fumbles lost and recovered 7, reflecting occasional ball-handling responsibilities in shotgun formations common during his era.[1] His durability was evident in starting all 16 games in eight seasons, including peak years with the Dallas Cowboys (1990–1992, 1994) and Houston/Tennessee Oilers (1995–1996), though injuries limited him to 13 starts in 1993 and 11 in 2000.[1]| Year | Team | Games | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | DAL | 16 | 4 |
| 1990 | DAL | 16 | 16 |
| 1991 | DAL | 16 | 16 |
| 1992 | DAL | 14 | 14 |
| 1993 | DAL | 13 | 13 |
| 1994 | HOU | 16 | 16 |
| 1995 | HOU | 16 | 16 |
| 1996 | HOU | 16 | 16 |
| 1997 | TEN | 16 | 16 |
| 1998 | TEN | 15 | 15 |
| 1999 | DAL | 15 | 15 |
| 2000 | DAL | 11 | 11 |
| 2001 | DAL | 16 | 16 |
| Career | - | 194 | 188 |
