Mark Malone
Encyclopedia
Mark M. Malone is a former American football
quarterback
in the NFL
.
near San Diego, California
. He was also recruited by the USOC as a possible decathlete for the 1980 Olympics.
He was a three-year starter at Arizona State University
. Malone was named the 1980 Senior Bowl
MVP and was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers
with the 28th pick in the 1980 NFL draft.
He played eight seasons (1980–1987) with the Steelers, becoming the fourth ranked quarterback in franchise history with 8,582 yards. His highlights with the Steelers included giving the eventual Super Bowl Champion 49ers
their only loss
in 1984 and guiding the Steelers to the 1984 AFC Championship Game against the Miami Dolphins
. He was traded on April 12, 1988 to the San Diego Chargers
for his last full NFL season. He would play one more game in 1989 with the New York Jets
. For his career, Malone passed for 10,175 yards and 60 TDs, and rushed 159 times for 628 yards and 18 TDs. Malone also had one career reception for a 90 yard TD, a Steelers team record until Mike Wallace broke it with a 95 yard TD reception vs. Arizona in 2011. However, Malone's career was plagued with several severe injuries.
in Pittsburgh
and ESPN
, where he was a host and analyst on the programs NFL Matchup
, NFL Live
and NFL 2night. He became the sports director at WBBM-TV
in Chicago
in 2004 until 2008 when his contract was not renewed (among others at the station) in an effort to cut costs. Malone then moved to Westwood One
as a color commentator for its NFL coverage.
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...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the NFL
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...
.
Playing career
Malone was the nation's most recruited quarterback in 1975 out of El Cajon Valley High SchoolEl Cajon Valley High School
El Cajon Valley High School is a comprehensive public secondary school located in El Cajon, California, which is in the eastern county of San Diego, and serves students in grades nine through twelve. Established in 1955, El Cajon Valley is the third of twelve high schools to be built in the...
near San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. He was also recruited by the USOC as a possible decathlete for the 1980 Olympics.
He was a three-year starter at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
. Malone was named the 1980 Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
MVP and was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
with the 28th pick in the 1980 NFL draft.
He played eight seasons (1980–1987) with the Steelers, becoming the fourth ranked quarterback in franchise history with 8,582 yards. His highlights with the Steelers included giving the eventual Super Bowl Champion 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
their only loss
1984 San Francisco 49ers season
The 1984 San Francisco 49ers season was their 39th season in the National Football League. The season was highlighted by their second Super Bowl victory. The franchise had their best season ever with a record of 15 wins and only 1 loss...
in 1984 and guiding the Steelers to the 1984 AFC Championship Game against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was traded on April 12, 1988 to the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for his last full NFL season. He would play one more game in 1989 with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. For his career, Malone passed for 10,175 yards and 60 TDs, and rushed 159 times for 628 yards and 18 TDs. Malone also had one career reception for a 90 yard TD, a Steelers team record until Mike Wallace broke it with a 95 yard TD reception vs. Arizona in 2011. However, Malone's career was plagued with several severe injuries.
Sportscasting career
After his playing career ended, he became a television sportscaster, working at WPXIWPXI
WPXI, channel 11, is the NBC-affiliated television station for Western Pennsylvania that is licensed to Pittsburgh. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 48 from a transmitter located on the north side of Pittsburgh. Owned by Cox Enterprises, the station has studios in the...
in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, where he was a host and analyst on the programs NFL Matchup
NFL Matchup
NFL Matchup is a National Football League preview show that airs every week during the regular season and playoffs. As of 2006, the official name is State Farm NFL Matchup, and it is produced by NFL Films....
, NFL Live
NFL Live
NFL Live is a National Football League studio show, currently airing Monday through Friday at 4:00 p.m and 12:30 a.m ET on the ESPN cable network. Formerly known as NFL 2Night, the program is the only NFL-related studio program to air during the week...
and NFL 2night. He became the sports director at WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV, virtual channel 2 , is the CBS owned-and-operated television station in Chicago, Illinois. WBBM-TV's main studios and offices are located in The Loop section of Chicago, as part of the development at Block 37, and its transmitter is atop the Willis Tower.-History:WBBM-TV traces its history...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 2004 until 2008 when his contract was not renewed (among others at the station) in an effort to cut costs. Malone then moved to Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
as a color commentator for its NFL coverage.