Herzlich was born in Kirkwood, Missouri,[2] the son of Barbara Read (born Martin), a former tennis player, and Sandon Mark Herzlich.[3][4] His paternal grandfather's Ashkenazi Jewish family left Austria after the German annexation.[5] His father was raised Jewish and converted to Protestantism when Herzlich was born.[6] He has one sibling, younger brother Bradley Martin, who was a member of the football team at Brown University.[7]
High school career
Herzlich attended Conestoga High School in Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania, where he earned Associated Press Class First-team AAAA All-State honors as senior linebacker. Considered a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, Herzlich was recruited by Boston College, Duke, North Carolina, Vanderbilt and Virginia.[8] He was committed to Virginia some time before he chose to play for Boston College.[8] He recorded 142 tackles and made four interceptions as a junior and also lined up at fullback in 2003 and 2004, scoring three offensive touchdowns. As a senior, he registered a team-high 153 tackles, including 48 solo stops, in 2005, and totaled eight tackles for loss, including four sacks; he also returned a blocked field goal 86 yards for a touchdown. He led the Pioneers to back-to-back Central League titles (2004 and 2005) and became the first player in school history to win the team MVP award three times. Herzlich was also a lacrosse star at Conestoga, and received a scholarship offer from Johns Hopkins University to play lacrosse.
College career
Herzlich went on to attend Boston College and played in all 13 games as a true freshman. He earned College Football News Freshman All-American honors with a total of 42 tackles (32 solo), including 5.0 tackles for a loss and 1.0 sack, one interception and forced two fumbles. As a sophomore, he started all 14 games for the Eagles and finished the season second in total tackles with 97 (55 solos, 42 assists). He also led the team with 12 tackles-for-loss to go with 1.5 quarterback sacks and 4 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries. Herzlich entered his junior season (2008) as a preseason all-star candidate. He was named to the Lott Trophy and Butkus Award watchlists prior to the season.[9] In 2008 Herzlich was a First-team All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a finalist for the Butkus Award, and a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy. He led the team with 110 tackles and 81 stops, six interceptions, eight pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 13 tackles for a loss. In November 2008, Herzlich was a projected top-15 pick by many scouts for the 2009 NFL Draft but announced his return to Boston College for the 2009 season.
In 2010, Herzlich returned to the football field and won the Rudy Award and the ACC's Brian Piccolo Award after starting all 13 games and finishing third on the team with 65 tackles and 50 solo stops. He tied for first on the team with two forced fumbles, second on the team with four interceptions and four pass break ups and also had 3.5 tackles for a loss.[10]
Cancer diagnosis
On May 14, 2009, Herzlich announced that he had been diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, stating in a press release:
Obviously, I was shocked. I had been extremely focused on preparing for my senior season at Boston College and for life beyond that. Now, I must channel all that energy into facing my toughest opponent yet, and that is exactly what I will do...At this point, I do not know what this means for my football future, but I am determined to rid my body of this disease so that I can put that uniform back on. Thank you in advance for your prayers and concern. Together, we will fight this and win.[11]
On September 29, 2009, Mark Herzlich announced that he was cancer free. This was confirmed by the team doctors. He publicly announced this during the ESPN and Home Depot College Gameday Special at Boston College on October 3, 2009.[12] He sat out the remainder of the 2009 season and returned in 2010, registering five tackles (three solo) in the season-opening 38-20 win against FCS school Weber State.
Herzlich was not selected in the 2011 NFL Draft even though he was invited to attend the event. After going undrafted, Herzlich was selected with the 51st pick of the 10th round by the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL. Despite this, Herzlich stated that he would wait for an NFL contract rather than join the UFL.[15]
On July 26, 2011, the New York Giants signed Herzlich to a three-year, $1.41 million contract as an undrafted free agent at the recommendation of owner John Mara.[16][17] Herzlich made the New York Giants final 53 man roster. On November 20, 2011, Herzlich made his first NFL start against the Philadelphia Eagles.[18] Set to become a free agent in 2014, he re-signed with the Giants on March 7, 2014.[19]
On March 20, 2017, Herzlich re-signed with the Giants.[20] On September 2, 2017, he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a stinger in training camp.[21]
On March 12, 2018, Herzlich re-signed with the Giants.[22]
On September 1, 2018, Herzlich was released by the Giants.[23]
Post-playing career
Herzlich joined ACC Network following the end of his playing career, where he serves as a color commentator.[24]
Personal life
Herzlich is a Christian.[25] He is married to Danielle Herzlich. They have three children.[26][27]
Related Research Articles
Leon E'srom Williams is a former American football linebacker. He played for the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. He was drafted by the Browns in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Williams was also a member of the New York Sentinels of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at the University of Miami.
A.J. Nicholson is an American football linebacker who has played in the National Football League (NFL), the Arena Football League (AFL), and the Indoor Football League (IFL). He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.
The Boston College Eagles football team represents Boston College in the sport of American football. The Eagles compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Eagles home games are played at Alumni Stadium on the university's campus in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
Jonathan Beason is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. He also played for the New York Giants.
Zackary Robert DeOssie is an American former football long snapper who played for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Brown Bears and was selected by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft as a linebacker. He was a twice Pro Bowl selection as a long snapper. DeOssie won two Super Bowls with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII and the Super Bowl XLVI, both over his hometown New England Patriots. He is the son of former NFL linebacker Steve DeOssie; the two hold the distinction of being the only father-son duo to win Super Bowls with the same franchise.
Kenneth Phillips is a former American football safety. He was selected by the New York Giants 31st overall in the 2008 NFL Draft and won Super Bowl XLVI with the team over the New England Patriots. He played college football at the University of Miami. He was also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints.
Aaron Curry is an American college football coach and former linebacker who is the inside linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Curry was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Wake Forest. Curry also played for the Oakland Raiders in 2011 and 2012.
Busari Alamu Raji Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Boston College Eagles. Raji was selected by the Green Bay Packers with the ninth overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft. He won Super Bowl XLV with the Packers against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Brian P. Toal is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Las Vegas Locomotives in the UFL Premiere Season Draft in 2009. He played college football at Boston College.
The 2009 Boston College Eagles football team represented Boston College in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Eagles were led by first-year head coach Frank Spaziani. He replaced Jeff Jagodzinski who was fired after the 2008 season. The Eagles finished the season 8–5, 5–3 in ACC play and lost in the Emerald Bowl 24–13 against USC.
Nico Johnson is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Alabama, where he was a member of National Championship teams in 2009, 2011, and 2012.
Robert Quinn is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at North Carolina, and was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the 14th pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.
Luke August Kuechly is an American former professional football linebacker who spent all eight seasons of his National Football League (NFL) career with the Carolina Panthers. He was selected by the Panthers ninth overall in the 2012 NFL draft. Kuechly played college football for the Boston College Eagles, twice earning consensus All-American honors.
Devin Darnell Taylor is a former American football defensive end. He played college football at South Carolina, and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Jaylon Smith is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Notre Dame and was drafted 34th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Kareem Martin is a former American football defensive end. He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football at North Carolina. He also played for the New York Giants and Detroit Lions.
Willie Henry is an American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Michigan.
Zachary William-Jacob Allen is an American football defensive end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boston College.
Trent Harris is an American football linebacker for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for Miami. He signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
Dequartavous "Tae" Crowder is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Georgia. He was selected by the New York Giants with the final pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, making him that draft's Mr. Irrelevant.
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.
