Lonnie Marts
Encyclopedia
Lonnie Marts is a former American Football
linebacker
who played ten seasons in the National Football League
. He currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida
and coaches future NFL hopefuls with his athletic training company Godspeed Sports Performance. .
from Tulane University
where he had a position as a safety, despite his large frame. During 1991, he was discovered by Tony Dungy
and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs
. He would then sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
during 1994-1996. Many believe that during this time is when he was at his best performance. He would next play with the Tennessee Oilers
and start
15 games with the team until 1998. In 1999, Lonnie would play with the Jacksonville Jaguars
and replace the injured Bryce Paup
. He would retire with the Jaguars in 2000.
He is also the head football coach at Harvest Community School in Jacksonville, Florida.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who played ten seasons in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and coaches future NFL hopefuls with his athletic training company Godspeed Sports Performance. .
Professional career
Lonnie began his NFL career as a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
from Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
where he had a position as a safety, despite his large frame. During 1991, he was discovered by Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy
Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy [DUN-jee] is a former professional American football player and coach in the National Football League. Dungy was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008...
and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. He would then sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
during 1994-1996. Many believe that during this time is when he was at his best performance. He would next play with the Tennessee Oilers
History of the Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are the professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the then-Houston, Texas, team began play in 1960 as a...
and start
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
15 games with the team until 1998. In 1999, Lonnie would play with the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and replace the injured Bryce Paup
Bryce Paup
Bryce Eric Paup is a former American football defensive end and linebacker, who played professionally for the Green Bay Packers , the Buffalo Bills , the Jacksonville Jaguars , and the Minnesota Vikings .-Biography:Paup grew up on a farm in Scranton, Iowa, where he played football at Scranton...
. He would retire with the Jaguars in 2000.
Current profession
Lonnie currently is the director and trainer of Godspeed Sports Performance. He focuses not only on the athlete's physical development, but also incorporates values that strengthen their performance off the field.He is also the head football coach at Harvest Community School in Jacksonville, Florida.