Mark Vlasic
No. 13 | |||||||
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Position: | Quarterback | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Rochester, Pennsylvania, U.S. | October 25, 1963||||||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Center (Center Township, Pennsylvania) | ||||||
College: | Iowa | ||||||
NFL draft: | 1987 / Round: 4 / Pick: 88 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Mark Richard Vlasic (born October 25, 1963) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). During this time, he played for the San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over the course of his career, he played in 15 games, completed 75 of 142 passes for 762 yards, threw four touchdowns and five interceptions, and finished his career with a passer rating of 63.2.
Vlasic played
High school and college
Vlasic was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania. He attended Center High School and was a standout in football and basketball there. He was the starting quarterback for Center in his junior year, throwing for 777 yards in the first eight games of the season.[1] In his junior year of basketball, Vlasic was a starter, in one game scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds with a bad back.[2] He continued to play football and basketball during his senior year, with performances that included a 36-point effort against Las Vegas Western High School, making 18 of 20 shots.[3] As a result of his high school career, Vlasic was inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.[4]
After graduating from high school, Vlasic played
The following season Vlasic, now a fifth-year senior, became the starter, as Long graduated. Although he was taking over for the Heisman Trophy runner-up, his strong arm was complimented, albeit backhandedly, by coach Hayden Fry, who said, "He's got a stronger arm than Long, and he proves it every day by overthrowing his receivers."[8] In Vlasic's first game as starter, he threw for 288 yards in a 43–7 win against Iowa State University, a game that made Hayden Fry the most victorious coach in Iowa football history.[9] After two more victories, Vlasic went down with a separated shoulder, returning to the lineup after freshmen Dan McGwire and Tom Poholsky took over the starting role.[10]
In a late October game against Northwestern, Vlasic threw a 93-yard touchdown pass to Quinn Early, the longest in Iowa history, in a 27–20 victory against Northwestern University.[11] Despite his injury causing him to serve as a backup most of the season, he was given the start for the 1986 Holiday Bowl against San Diego State University. In the Holiday Bowl, Vlasic completed 15 of 28 passes 222 yards and ran for a touchdown as Iowa won, 39–38.[12]
Professional career
San Diego Chargers
Vlasic was selected by the
Before the 1988 San Diego Chargers season began, Dan Fouts chose to retire from the game after 15 seasons, leaving Vlasic as the main backup to starter Mark Herrmann, and as a result the Chargers began trying to trade for an experienced quarterback.[19] The Chargers also signed Mark Malone and Babe Laufenberg to compete for the starting job, and traded Herrmann to the Indianapolis Colts.[20] After months of training and the 1988 preseason, Vlasic began the season as the third-string quarterback behind Malone and Laufenberg, who won the starting job.[21] In November, after Laufenberg was injured, the Chargers decided to make Vlasic the starter instead of Malone due to the latter's ineffectiveness, as well as a six-game losing streak. He made his season debut against the Atlanta Falcons on November 13, and threw for 190 yards in a 10–7 victory.[22] As a result of his performance, coach Al Saunders said that Vlasic would have the starting job for the rest of the season.[23] Vlasic's second start came against the Los Angeles Rams where he threw for 80 yards and a touchdown. However, he suffered torn ligaments in his left knee late in the third quarter, and was lost for the season.[24] He finished the season with 25 of 52 passes completed and a passer rating of 54.2.[25]
Vlasic spent the 1989 off-season recovering form his injury, while the Chargers added another quarterback to the roster upon drafting
At the end of the season, coach Henning said that Tolliver was to be the starter heading into next season, and that the team would not protect Vlasic under
Kansas City Chiefs
After meeting with the Cowboys and
As the 1992 Kansas City Chiefs season began, the team's first big move was the signing of quarterback Dave Krieg to compete with DeBerg and Vlasic.[37] A couple weeks after Krieg's signing, DeBerg signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving Vlasic as the primary backup to Krieg. The Chiefs went into training camp and went through the preseason with Krieg, Vlasic, and rookie draft pick Matt Blundin. Krieg ended up playing every snap of the season, leaving both Vlasic without a year's worth of playing time as his contract expired. The trading of Joe Montana to the Chiefs put a definitive end to Vlasic's time in Kansas City.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On April 30, 1993 Vlasic signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reuniting himself with former teammate Steve DeBerg.[38] Vlasic began the preseason competing the third-string quarterback job behind Mike Pawlawski while DeBerg and Craig Erickson competed for the starting job.[39] At the end of preseason, however, Vlasic was among the final group cut by the Buccaneers.[40] When DeBerg was cut from the team in early November, Vlasic was re-signed to the team in his place.[41] He remained on the roster for the 1994 preseason, but his only preseason pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown, and he was waived shortly afterward.[42] This marked the end of Vlasic's professional football career.
Personal life
Before his inaugural season of pro football, Vlasic, a finance major at Iowa, got a real estate license in case pro football did not work out.[43] Vlasic is currently a Senior Wealth Advisor with Mariner Wealth Advisors in Overland Park KS. He has a wife and three children.[44]
Mark is the inspiration for the name of the Vlasic Classic, a Nintendo Tecmo Tournament. [1]
References
- ^ Hecht, Steve (October 23, 1980). "East Allegheny Wildcats at playoff door". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 14.
- ^ "Center defeats Beaver Falls, 86-81". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 7, 1981. p. 11.
- ^ White, Mike (December 31, 1981). "NA wins Big Four Tourney with win over North Hills". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 16.
- ^ "Mark Vlasic - Hall of Fame Class of 1999". Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ Pille, Bob (May 13, 1986). "Less is more at Iowa stadium". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 96.
- St. Petersburg Times. p. 6C.
- ^ "Sports People; Student Is Charged". The New York Times. October 23, 1985. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ Blaudschun, Mark (August 20, 1986). "Illini Pull Together After 24 Leave Team". The Dallas Morning News.
- ^ "Iowa's Vlasic, Mauro Romp Over Iowa State". Chicago Tribune. September 14, 1986. p. 6.
- ^ Homer, Jody (November 7, 1986). "Fickle Fans Get Fry Burned Up". Chicago Tribune. p. 6.
- ^ "Defense Gives Iowa Narrow Win Over Northwestern". Lexington Herald-Leader. October 26, 1986. p. C6.
- ^ "The 1986 SeaWorld Holiday Bowl". The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. Archived from the original on 2009-06-15. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ "1987 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
- ^ Cobbs, Chris (April 29, 1987). "NFL Draft '87 Chargers Trade for Banks, Draft to Build Defense". Los Angeles Times. p. 1.
- ^ Friend, Tom (August 24, 1987). "Vlasic Puts Chargers Ahead, but Defense Can't Hold Off Rams". Los Angeles Times. p. 1.
- ^ Friend, Tom (October 1, 1987). "NFL Players Strike: Day 9 Rick Neuheisel Rejoins Chargers". Los Angeles Times. p. 8.
- ^ Holbreich, Curt (December 23, 1987). "Fouts Out for Game Against Broncos Quarterback Has a Torn Rotator Cuff; Herrmann Will Start". Los Angeles Times. p. 1.
- ^ Plaschke, Bill (December 28, 1987). "Chargers Buried by a Blizzard and the Broncos, 24-0". Los Angeles Times. p. 1.
- ^ "QB Fouts Quits After 15 Years". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. March 25, 1988. p. 1D.
- ^ Hewitt, Brian (April 28, 1988). "Chargers Send Herrmann to Colts, Plan to Sign Fuller". Los Angeles Times. p. 1.
- ^ "Chargers Expect To Settle On QB In Exhibition Game". The Wichita Eagle. August 20, 1988. p. 4B.
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 14, 1988. p. D6.
- The Miami Herald. November 18, 1988. p. 9E.
- ^ Kaufman, Ira (November 22, 1988). "Two quarterbacks hurt". The Bryan Times. p. 17.
- ^ a b c "Marc Vlasic Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
- ^ Patterson, Don (August 30, 1989). "Chargers Trade Mojsiejenko, Put McCallum on Hold". Los Angeles Times. p. 1.
- ^ "Chargers Cut Quarterback Archer". The Wichita Eagle. August 7, 1990. p. 3B.
- Washington Post. September 4, 1989.
- ^ Simers, T. J. (October 8, 1990). "CHARGER REVIEW NOTEBOOK This Is as Bad as It Gets ... They Hope". Los Angeles Times. p. 15A.
- ^ Simers, T. J. (January 1, 1991). "Henning Says Tolliver is Still His QB Choice". Los Angeles Times. p. 1.
- ^ Pulliam, Kent (March 14, 1991). "Agent says Vlasic has signed; Chiefs deny report". The Kansas City Star. p. C5.
- ^ "NFL Teams Make Final Roster Cuts Chiefs' Trims Include Elkins And Veteran Bell". The Wichita Eagle. August 27, 1991. p. 1B.
- ^ George, Thomas (November 18, 1991). "Pro Football; Broncos Come Clean In Another Fine Mess". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
- ^ "Vlasic Rallies Chiefs". St. Paul Pioneer Press. December 9, 1991. p. 4F.
- ^ Covitz, Randy (December 15, 1991). "Addition of quarterback is possible". The Kansas City Star. p. 6.
- Kingman Daily Miner. January 6, 1992. p. 6.
- ^ "Sports People: Pro Football; Chiefs Sign Krieg". The New York Times. March 20, 1992. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
- The Gazette. April 30, 1993. p. 2.
- ^ "Erickson, DeBerg: Neither Perfect". The Miami Herald. July 31, 1993. p. 3D.
- ^ "Teams make their moves, but many are meaningless". The Kansas City Star. August 31, 1993. p. C5.
- ^ "NFL loses oldest player as Buccaneers waive DeBerg". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 3, 1993. p. 9.
- ^ "Buccaneers waive Vlasic". The Gazette. August 9, 1994. p. 1.
- Kansas City Business Journal. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
- ^ Diuguid, Lewis W. (August 27, 1992). "Celebrity pals fill calendar". The Kansas City Star. p. 1.
External links
- Mark Vlasic profile, JT-SW.com; accessed December 9, 2016.