Marc Mariani

Last updated

Marc Mariani
Marc Mariani 2014.jpg
Mariani with the Tennessee Titans in 2014
No. 83, 80, 87
Position: Wide receiver
Return specialist
Personal information
Born: (1987-05-02) May 2, 1987 (age 36)
Havre, Montana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:187 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school: Havre (MT)
College: Montana
NFL Draft: 2010  / Round: 7 / Pick: 222
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:27
Receiving yards:324
Receiving touchdowns:0
Return yards:5,041
Return touchdowns:3
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Marc Steven Mariani (born May 2, 1987) is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist. He played college football for the University of Montana, and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Contents

High school

Mariani attended Havre High School where he was awarded 10 letters: three each in football and basketball and four in tennis. He was named all-state at wide receiver. In his senior season he had 48 receptions for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns.

He served as a team captain as a senior in football. His 2004 football team was 12–0 and the state "A" champion. He participated in Montana's annual East-West Shrine Game.

College career

Mariani, a walk-on at Montana in 2005 studying Business Marketing & Management, did not play football his first year. In 2006 Mariani played in all 14 games and had eight tackles on special teams. [1] He did not have a reception as a receiver. In 2007 Mariani saw action in 11 games with three starts. His first touchdown came against Northern Colorado when he caught a 27-yard pass in the second quarter. Mariani finished the season with 15 catches for 231 yards and one touchdown. He also led the Big Sky and was 11th in the FCS in punt returns. [1] As a junior in 2008 Mariani started all 16 games and 69 receptions for 1,308 yards with a career-best 15 touchdowns. His best game came against Southern Utah when he tied a school record with 4 touchdowns. He set a school record with 2,265 all-purpose yards, which is the fifth most in Big Sky Conference history. He led the Big Sky in punt returns, averaging 16.22 an attempt, which ranked him fourth in the nation. He was a first-team All-Big Sky picks at both wide receiver and a returner. He was named second-team All-American by the Sports Network. [1] His best season came in 2009 when he caught 80 passes for 1,479 yards and 13 touchdowns. [2] His 1,479 receiving yards set a single-season record at Montana. Mariani led the conference with seven 100-yard receiving games and in multiple touchdown games with four. He was a unanimous All-Big Sky pick at wide receiver, a second-team selection as a return specialist and was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press. His best game came against South Dakota State when he gained 389 all-purpose yards, the second highest total in Big Sky single-game history; he recorded 12 receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns, returned four kickoffs for 178 yards and 40 yards from six punt returns. [3]

Mariani finished his college career as one of the most successful receivers in school history with records in career receiving yards (3,018), receiving touchdowns (29) and career all-purpose yards (5,441). [4]

In a lesser known competition, Marc lost to Havre Blue Pony AA athlete John R. Velk in a five sport challenge before heading to the pros.

Professional career

Tennessee Titans

Mariani was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft and later signed a four-year deal with the team. [5] In week 4, he returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. [6] In week 11, he returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins. [7] Mariani was selected to the 2011 Pro Bowl as a return specialist for the American Football Conference (AFC). [8] Mariani set two Pro Bowl records in the 2011 Pro Bowl: number of returns and total return yards for a game.

Mariani missed the entire 2012 season after he broke his leg on a first-quarter punt return in the third game of the preseason against the Arizona Cardinals. [9] He was released by the Titans during final cuts on August 29, 2014. [10]

Chicago Bears

On November 18, 2014, Mariani was signed by the Chicago Bears to a two-year contract. [11] Mariani only played in six games during the 2014 season, returning 20 kickoffs for 510 yards. [12]

On January 3, 2016, Mariani caught a career-high six receptions for a career-high 80 yards against the Detroit Lions. [13] [14] Mariani ended his 2015 season with a career-high 26.1 yards per return but with a career low 16 returns. [12]

On March 12, 2016, Mariani was re-signed by the Chicago Bears to a one-year contract. [15]

Tennessee Titans (second stint)

On September 5, 2016, Mariani was once again signed to the Tennessee Titans after being released from the Bears over the previous weekend. [16] Mariani finished the 2016 season with 795 total returning yards and 0 touchdowns.

Career awards and highlights

Records

Oilers/Titans franchise records

Pro Bowl records

Post-playing career

After retiring from football, Mariani now works as a real estate agent for Village Real Estate, a Nashville real estate firm. [18] On August 1, 2018, he was announced as an assistant coach for the Lipscomb Academy Mustangs football team, working with wide receivers and returners. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Rossum</span> American football player (born 1975)

Allen Bonshaca Lamont Rossum is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desmond Howard</span> American football player (born 1970)

Desmond Kevin Howard is an American former football wide receiver and return specialist who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a senior, and was selected fourth overall in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. Howard spent most of his career on special teams as a return specialist and holds the NFL single season record for punt return yardage. With the Green Bay Packers, Howard was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXI after returning a kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown, the longest return in Super Bowl history at the time. To date, he is the only special teams player to receive the award. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dante Hall</span> American football player (born 1978)

Damieon Dante Hall is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is nicknamed "the Human Joystick" and "the X-Factor". Hall was a fifth-round draft pick out of Texas A&M University by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2000 NFL Draft. Hall played for the Chiefs for seven years before being traded to the St. Louis Rams in 2007. Hall was ranked the 10th greatest return specialist in NFL history on NFL Network's NFL Top 10 Return Aces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Metcalf</span> American football player (born 1968)

Eric Quinn Metcalf is an American former professional football player who was primarily known as a return specialist, but played running back and wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection for the Browns and the Chargers. He was also the 1988 US Track and Field Champion in the long jump and a two-time NCAA Champion in the same event at the University of Texas. His father Terry was a former running back for the St. Louis Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrick Mason</span> American football player (born 1974)

Derrick James Mason is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for fifteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Tennessee Oilers in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL Draft after playing college football for the Michigan State Spartans. Following eight seasons with the Oilers franchise, including two Pro Bowl selections, Mason signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2005. He became the Ravens' all-time leading receiver with 5,777 yards from 2005 to 2010. He spent 2011 with the New York Jets and Houston Texans. Mason retired as a Baltimore Raven on June 11, 2012. He was the last active NFL player to have played for the Oilers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wes Welker</span> American football player and coach (born 1981)

Wesley Carter Welker is an American football coach and former wide receiver who is the wide receivers coach for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played in the NFL for 12 seasons, most notably with the New England Patriots. Regarded as one of the greatest undrafted players of all time, he holds the NFL record for receptions by an undrafted player. Welker played college football at Texas Tech University, where he won the Mosi Tatupu Award and was a first-team All-Big 12 as a senior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devin Hester</span> American football player (born 1982)

Devin Devorris Hester Sr. is an American former football wide receiver and return specialist who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, where he was the first player in the university's recent history to play in all three phases of American football: offense, defense and special teams. In addition to Chicago, Hester also played for the Atlanta Falcons, the Baltimore Ravens and the Seattle Seahawks over his 11-season NFL career. He is also the first and only player to return the opening kick of a Super Bowl for a touchdown, accomplishing that in Super Bowl XLI. He is regarded as one of the greatest return specialists in NFL history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Upchurch</span> American football player (born 1952)

Richard Upchurch is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played his entire career with the Denver Broncos from 1975 to 1983. One of 29 individuals to be selected to multiple All-Decade teams, Upchurch is noted as one of the greatest return specialists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Ginn Jr.</span> American football player (born 1985)

Theodore Ginn Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darius Reynaud</span> American football player (born 1984)

Darius Reynaud is a former American football running back and return specialist. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at West Virginia.

Tyrone Christopher Hughes is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacoby Jones</span> American football player (born 1984)

Jacoby Rashi'd Jones is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Lane College, and was selected by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played for the Texans from 2007 to 2011. Jones then played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2012 to 2014, and was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2012. He is known for two of the most memorable plays in the 2012 NFL playoffs as a member of the Ravens: catching a 70-yard game-tying touchdown pass in the final seconds of regulation in the AFC Divisional playoff game against the Denver Broncos, which helped lead the Ravens to an eventual 38–35 double overtime victory; and a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers, the longest play in Super Bowl history. He also played for the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015 and the Monterrey Steel of the National Arena League in 2017.

Vincent Joseph Sutherland is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears. He was a standout receiver and kick returner for Purdue University from 1997-2000. He also played for the Arena Football League (AFL)'s New York Dragons. At the time of his graduation in 2001, his 13 receiving touchdowns were a school record for one season. That record was tied in 2002 by John Standeford, and broken in 2004 by Taylor Stubblefield. He also still holds school records for punt return average in a season, punt returns for touchdowns in a season/career, and the longest reception in Purdue history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Weems</span> American football player (born 1985)

Eric Grimes Weems is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver, special teamer, and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He also played for the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Return specialist</span> American/Canadian football player who specializes in kick returns

A return specialist or kick returner is a player on the special teams unit of a gridiron football team who specializes in returning punts and kickoffs. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most also play another position such as wide receiver, defensive back, or running back. The special teams counterpart of a return specialist is a kicking specialist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Royal</span> American football player (born 1986)

William Edward "Eddie" Royal is an American former football wide receiver and return specialist. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia Tech and was elected to its sports hall of fame in 2018. Royal has also played for the San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andre Roberts (American football)</span> American football player (born 1988)

Andre McXavier Roberts is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. He played college football at The Citadel and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Roberts has also played for the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, and the Los Angeles Chargers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwayne Harris</span> American football player (born 1987)

Dwayne Lenard Harris is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordarrelle Patterson</span> American football player (born 1991)

Cordarrelle Patterson, nicknamed "Flash", is an American football player for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). A versatile utility player, he plays running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and occasionally on defense. Patterson played college football at Hutchinson Community College before transferring to Tennessee, where he earned First-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots with whom he won Super Bowl LIII, and the Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jakeem Grant</span> American football player (born 1992)

Jakeem Grant Sr. is an American football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL), usually operating as a return specialist. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft and has also played for the Chicago Bears. He played college football at Texas Tech, where he set their all-time record for receiving yards. On December 12, 2021, Grant broke the Bears' franchise record for longest punt return for a touchdown by scoring on a 97 yard punt return in a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The return is the tenth longest punt returned for a touchdown in NFL history.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Tennessee Titans: Marc Mariani Archived September 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . Titansonline.com. Retrieved on December 5, 2010.
  2. ↑ Marc Mariani Stats, Splits, News, Photos - Montana Grizzlies - NCAA College Football - ESPN. Sports.espn.go.com (May 2, 1987). Retrieved on 2010-12-05.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ Mariani gets four-year deal. Fantasysp.com. Retrieved on December 5, 2010.
  5. ↑ "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  6. ↑ Titans reach deals with two more picks | Titans Insider. Blogs.tennessean.com (June 15, 2010). Retrieved on 2010-12-05.
  7. ↑ Titans lose ugly game to 'Skins in overtime Archived July 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . TNJN (November 22, 2010). Retrieved on 2010-12-05.
  8. ↑ Walker, Teresa M. (October 16, 1977). "Mariani, Babin Selected for 2011 Pro Bowl". Titansonline.com. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Titans WR Marc Mariani carted off field with broken leg". NFL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  10. ↑ Alper, Josh (August 29, 2014). "Titans release Marc Mariani on way to 53 players". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  11. ↑ Mayer, Larry (November 18, 2014). "Bears sign return specialist Mariani". Chicago Bears. Archived from the original on November 20, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Marc Mariani: Career Stats at NFL.com". www.nfl.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Lions vs. Bears - Box Score - January 3, 2016 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Marc Mariani: Game Logs at NFL.com". www.nfl.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  15. ↑ Potash, Mark (March 12, 2016). "Bears sign WR/KR Marc Mariani to one-year contract". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  16. ↑ Wyatt, Jim (September 5, 2016). "Titans Agree to Terms with WR/Returner Marc Mariani". Titans Online. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  17. 1 2 "Marc Mariani sets return records in Pro Bowl - BostonHerald.com". bostonherald.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2011.
  18. ↑ Organ, Mike (May 17, 2018). "Titans: Former Titans returner Marc Mariani goes from free agent to Nashville real estate agent". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  19. ↑ Boclair, David (August 1, 2018). "Mariani becomes assistant coach at high school". Nashville Posy. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.