Mark Stepnoski
No. 53 | |||||
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Position: | Center | ||||
Personal information | |||||
Born: | Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. | January 20, 1967||||
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||
Weight: | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Cathedral (Erie) | ||||
College: | Pittsburgh | ||||
NFL draft: | 1989 / Round: 3 / Pick: 57 | ||||
Career history | |||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Mark Matthew Stepnoski (born January 20, 1967) is an American former professional
Early years
Stepnoski, was a highly recruited All-State and
He signed with the
Stepnoski was a third-team
Professional career
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)
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
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
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
Cannabis advocacy
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
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
- ^ "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. 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". 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". 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.