Mark Stepnoski
Encyclopedia
Mark Matthew Stepnoski is a former American football
offensive lineman in the National Football League
. He attended Cathedral Preparatory School
in Erie, Pennsylvania
, and went on to star at the University of Pittsburgh
.
Stepnoski's professional career in the NFL was spent with the Dallas Cowboys
(1989–1994, 1999–2000), and the Houston Oilers
(1995–1998). Stepnoski won two Super Bowl
s while with the Cowboys and was a five time Pro Bowl
er, attending the game from 1992 through 1996.
. He graduated from the school in 1985.
He signed with Pittsburgh University where he became a four year starter at offensive guard
, helping clear de way for Craig Heyward
and Curvin Richards
to become two of the leading rushers in the nation.
Stepnoski was an All-America
n in 1988, 1989 and one of the three finalists for the Outland Trophy
.
His play earned him a spot on his home state's All Century Second Team, compiled by the Pennsylvania Football News.
in the 3rd round of the 1989 NFL Draft
. He dropped in the draft, because the scouts thought that he was undersized for the NFL.
The Cowboys switched him to center
, although he never played that position before. During his rookie year he was tutored by Tom Rafferty
, who was playing his last season in the NFL. He became a starter for the last four games of the season.
Stepnoski used his athletic ability, leverage and balance, to outmaneuver bigger defensive players and become one of the leagues best centers
of his era.
From 1992
to 1994
, together with Erik Williams
, Mark Tuinei
, Nate Newton
and Larry Allen
, he was part of some of the best offensive lines to play in NFL history.
By 1992
, he was a Pro Bowl
center and a Super Bowl
champion. The following season, he suffered an injury before Dallas won a back-to-back Super Bowl
. In the early 90s he helped paved the way for Emmitt Smith
to become the NFL's All Time Leading Rusher.
Stepnoski was one of the teams first big-named players to leave the Cowboys following the 1994 season
via unrestricted free agency
.
, who later became the Tennessee Titans
in 1998
. During his 4 seasons with the Oilers and Titans, he continued his streak of success making the Pro Bowl
twice.
in 1999
, finishing his career with 3 more solid years with the Cowboys and retiring after the 2001 season
.
Stepnoski played 13 years in the NFL, including five consecutive Pro Bowl
appearances and a spot on the NFL's all-decade second team.
.
Stepnoski is also a marijuana
legalization advocate and is an active member of NORML. His position on this subject, made his high school
alma mater, Cathedral Preparatory School
, rescinded his nomination to the school's athletic hall of fame
.
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...
offensive lineman 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 attended Cathedral Preparatory School
Cathedral Preparatory School
Cathedral Preparatory School is an all-male college prep school in Erie, Pennsylvania run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie and was established in 1921 by Archbishop John Mark Gannon. The school boasts a 97%-100% college acceptance rate among graduating classes...
in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, and went on to star at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
.
Stepnoski's professional career in the NFL was spent with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
(1989–1994, 1999–2000), and the Houston Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
(1995–1998). Stepnoski won two Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s while with the Cowboys and was a five time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er, attending the game from 1992 through 1996.
Early years
Stepnoski, was a highly recruited all state offensive tackle from Erie Cathedral Preparatory SchoolCathedral Preparatory School
Cathedral Preparatory School is an all-male college prep school in Erie, Pennsylvania run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie and was established in 1921 by Archbishop John Mark Gannon. The school boasts a 97%-100% college acceptance rate among graduating classes...
. He graduated from the school in 1985.
He signed with Pittsburgh University where he became a four year starter at offensive guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
, helping clear de way for Craig Heyward
Craig Heyward
Craig William "Ironhead" Heyward was an American football running back who played for the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, St...
and Curvin Richards
Curvin Richards
Curvin Stephen Richards is a former professional American football running back. He played in the National Football League for three seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions...
to become two of the leading rushers in the nation.
Stepnoski was an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n in 1988, 1989 and one of the three finalists for the Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
.
His play earned him a spot on his home state's All Century Second Team, compiled by the Pennsylvania Football News.
Dallas Cowboys
Stepnoski, was selected by the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the 3rd round of the 1989 NFL Draft
1989 NFL Draft
The 1989 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24 , 1989...
. He dropped in the draft, because the scouts thought that he was undersized for the NFL.
The Cowboys switched him to center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
, although he never played that position before. During his rookie year he was tutored by Tom Rafferty
Tom Rafferty
Thomas Michael Rafferty is a former American football offensive lineman in the NFL. He attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School in Manlius, New York, and went on to start four years for coach Joe Paterno at Penn State University earning All-American honors in 1975.-Early years:Rafferty attended...
, who was playing his last season in the NFL. He became a starter for the last four games of the season.
Stepnoski used his athletic ability, leverage and balance, to outmaneuver bigger defensive players and become one of the leagues best centers
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
of his era.
From 1992
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
to 1994
1994 NFL season
The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season...
, together with Erik Williams
Erik Williams
Erik George Williams is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League who played most of his career with the Dallas Cowboys . He played college football at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he was an NAIA All-American offensive lineman. Williams was...
, Mark Tuinei
Mark Tuinei
Mark Pulemau Tuinei was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys...
, Nate Newton
Nate Newton
Nathaniel Newton is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League who played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers . He also played for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League, in 1984 and 1985...
and Larry Allen
Larry Allen
Larry Christopher Allen, Sr. is a former American football guard of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft...
, he was part of some of the best offensive lines to play in NFL history.
By 1992
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
, he was a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
center and a Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
champion. The following season, he suffered an injury before Dallas won a back-to-back Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
. In the early 90s he helped paved the way for Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
to become the NFL's All Time Leading Rusher.
Stepnoski was one of the teams first big-named players to leave the Cowboys following the 1994 season
1994 NFL season
The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season...
via unrestricted free agency
Free 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....
.
Houston Oilers
Mark signed with the Houston Oilers in 19951995 NFL season
The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
, who later became the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
in 1998
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
. During his 4 seasons with the Oilers and Titans, he continued his streak of success making the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
twice.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys signed Stepnoski 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....
in 1999
1999 NFL season
The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...
, finishing his career with 3 more solid years with the Cowboys and retiring after the 2001 season
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
.
Stepnoski played 13 years in the NFL, including five consecutive Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
appearances and a spot on the NFL's all-decade second team.
Personal life
In November 2007, Stepnoski expressed support for the 9/11 Truth Movement9/11 Truth Movement
9/11 Truth movement is a collective name for loosely affiliated organizations and individuals who question the accepted account of the September 11, 2001, attacks....
.
Stepnoski is also a marijuana
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
legalization advocate and is an active member of NORML. His position on this subject, made his high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
alma mater, Cathedral Preparatory School
Cathedral Preparatory School
Cathedral Preparatory School is an all-male college prep school in Erie, Pennsylvania run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie and was established in 1921 by Archbishop John Mark Gannon. The school boasts a 97%-100% college acceptance rate among graduating classes...
, rescinded his nomination to the school's athletic hall of fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
.