# Carl Zander

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**Carl August Zander Jr** (born April 12, 1963) is an American former professional [football](/source/American_football) player who was a [linebacker](/source/Linebacker) for the [Cincinnati Bengals](/source/Cincinnati_Bengals) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) from 1985 to 1991. Selected in the second round of the [1985 NFL draft](/source/1985_NFL_draft), he was a member of the Bengals' starting lineup in [Super Bowl XXIII](/source/Super_Bowl_XXIII). He played [college football](/source/College_football) for the [Tennessee Volunteers](/source/Tennessee_Volunteers_football), where he was a [captain](/source/Captain_(sports)) of the Vols' [1984 squad](/source/1984_Tennessee_Volunteers_football_team).

## Early life

Zander played [high school football](/source/High_school_football) at [West Morris Mendham High School](/source/West_Morris_Mendham_High_School) under long-time coach Richard Attonito. During his senior year in 1980, he played [fullback](/source/Fullback_(American_football)), linebacker and [punter](/source/Punter_(football)). He rushed for 1,178 yards and 26 touchdowns on offense, registered 167 tackles (110 solo) on defense, and averaged 41 yards per punt, with a long of 83 yards, on [special teams](/source/Special_teams). He received All-State honors at the end of the season.[1]

## College career

Zander joined the [Tennessee Volunteers](/source/Tennessee_Volunteers_football) in 1981, part of a signing class that included [Alvin Toles](/source/Alvin_Toles), [Reggie McKenzie](/source/Reggie_McKenzie_(linebacker)), [Raleigh McKenzie](/source/Raleigh_McKenzie), [Johnnie Jones](/source/Johnnie_Jones), and [Alan Cockrell](/source/Alan_Cockrell).[1] During his freshman year in 1981, he played only sparingly as a reserve behind veteran [Mike Cofer](/source/Mike_Cofer_(linebacker)), and registered 11 tackles (6 solo). His first start came in the finale against [Vanderbilt](/source/Vanderbilt_Commodores_football), in which he had 9 tackles (1 for a loss) and a batted-down pass. He also started in Tennessee's 28–21 victory over [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin_Badgers_football) in the [1981 Garden State Bowl](/source/1981_Garden_State_Bowl), and registered a team-leading 14 tackles.[2] Though bothered by injuries during his sophomore season in 1982, he nevertheless picked up 35 tackles (20 solo) and recovered a fumble.[3]

Zander's breakout season came during his junior year in 1983, when he registered 129 tackles (67 solo), second on the team only to [Alvin Toles](/source/Alvin_Toles)' 135. He had 20 tackles (7 solo) in the Vols' opening loss to [Pittsburgh](/source/Pittsburgh_Panthers_football), 13 tackles (8 solo) in Tennessee's 41–34 win over [Alabama](/source/Alabama_Crimson_Tide_football), and 19 tackles in the Vols' 13–10 loss to [Ole Miss](/source/Ole_Miss_Rebels_football). In Tennessee's 7–0 win over [Rutgers](/source/Rutgers_Scarlet_Knights_football), which took place at [Giants Stadium](/source/Giants_Stadium) in Zander's home state of New Jersey, he had 16 tackles (7 solo), and shared "Player of the Game" accolades with [Reggie White](/source/Reggie_White).[4]

As part of a linebacker corps that included Toles, [Reggie McKenzie](/source/Reggie_McKenzie_(linebacker)), and [Dale Jones](/source/Dale_Jones_(American_football)), Zander registered a team-leading 167 tackles, including 102 solo tackles, a sack and 3 tackles-for-loss, during his senior year in 1984. He also had an interception, forced 3 fumbles, and broke up 6 passes.[5] He had 16 tackles in Tennessee's 24–24 tie against [Army](/source/Army_Black_Knights_football),[6] and had a season-high of 22 tackles in the Vols' 17–12 loss to [Kentucky](/source/Kentucky_Wildcats_football).[7] In Tennessee's 28–27 loss to [Maryland](/source/Maryland_Terrapins_football) in the 1984 [Sun Bowl](/source/Sun_Bowl), he had a team-leading 20 tackles, and received the game's "Most Valuable Lineman" award.[8] He was named All-SEC by SouthSports.[9]

During his career at Tennessee, Zander registered 342 tackles (195 solo), including a sack and 5 tackles-for-loss, as well as 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 9 batted-down passes.[10] As of 2012, his 167 tackles in 1984 remains the team's 5th-highest single-season total, and the highest since the 1970s.[11]

## Professional career

Zander was selected by the [Cincinnati Bengals](/source/Cincinnati_Bengals) in the second round (43rd overall pick) of the [1985 NFL draft](/source/1985_NFL_draft), one of three Tennessee linebackers (the other two being [Reggie McKenzie](/source/Reggie_McKenzie_(linebacker)) and [Alvin Toles](/source/Alvin_Toles)) drafted that year.[12] During his seven seasons with the Bengals, he played in a total of 106 games, and was a starter in 94. He recorded 8 sacks, 3 interceptions and 7 fumble recoveries (which he returned for a total of 99 yards).[13] By the 1989 season, he was the Bengals' defensive signal-caller, relaying the play from the coaches to the other players on the field, and modifying it as necessary to respond to the offensive formation.[14]

Zander was in the starting lineup for the Bengals' 20–16 loss to [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco_49ers) in [Super Bowl XXIII](/source/Super_Bowl_XXIII).[15] He had three tackles in the game.[16]

Zander contemplated retiring in March 1991 after the Bengals offered him a contract he considered insufficient, and missed the first two games of the season, but played during the remaining 14 games.[17][18]

## References

1. "[1981 Tennessee Signees](http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=194&pg=60) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035235/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=194&pg=60) March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine," *1981 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide* (University of Tennessee, 1981), p. 58.

1. "[1982 Tennessee Squad](http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=742&pg=62) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084735/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=742&pg=62) March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine," *1982 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide* (University of Tennessee, 1982), p. 60.

1. "[1983 Tennessee Squad](http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=58) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161011082059/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=58) October 11, 2016 at the Wayback Machine," *1983 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide* (University of Tennessee, 1983), pp. 60–61.

1. "[1984 Tennessee Squad](http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=747&pg=64) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061356/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=747&pg=64) March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine," *1984 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide* (University of Tennessee, 1984), p. 62.

1. "[1984 Defensive Statistics](http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=738&pg=105) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033112/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=738&pg=105) March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine," *1985 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide* (University of Tennessee, 1985), p. 102.

1. "[Game 3: Army](http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=199&pg=45&catid=46&s=zander) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070024/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=199&pg=45&catid=46&s=zander) March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine," *Sun Bowl Press Guide* (1984), p. C-3.

1. "[Game 10: Kentucky](http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=199&pg=52&catid=46&s=zander) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000804/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=199&pg=52&catid=46&s=zander) March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine," *Sun Bowl Press Guide* (1984), p. C-10.

1. "[Shut Out For Half, Terps Roar Back In Sun Bowl](http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=738&pg=103) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094338/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=738&pg=103) March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine," *1985 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide* (University of Tennessee, 1985), p. 100.

1. "[1984 Honorees](http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=738&pg=106) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140914030053/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=738&pg=106) September 14, 2014 at the Wayback Machine," *1985 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide* (University of Tennessee, 1985), p. 104.

1. [Career Football Statistics](http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/fball-stats/z.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131031171644/http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/fball-stats/z.htm) October 31, 2013 at the Wayback Machine, UTSports.com. Retrieved: August 1, 2013.

1. [Individual Football Records](http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113625/http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf) March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine, UTSports.com, 2012. Retrieved: August 1, 2013.

1. ["1985 NFL Draft Listing"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1985/draft.htm). *Pro-Football-Reference.com*. Retrieved 2023-10-09.

1. ["Carl Zander Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/Z/ZandCa20.htm). *Pro-Football-Reference.com*. Retrieved 2025-07-20.

1. "[Zander is the Esiason of the Bengals' Defense](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LoA_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=HFUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3465,1946959&dq=carl-zander+bengals&hl=en)," *Portsmouth Daily Times*, September 20, 1989, p. 11.

1. ["Super Bowl XXIII - Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers - January 22nd, 1989"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198901220cin.htm). *Pro-Football-Reference.com*. Retrieved 2023-11-09.

1. "[Former Vols Dot Super Bowl Landscape](http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020305aae.html)[dead link]," UTSports.com, February 3, 2005. Retrieved: August 1, 2013.

1. "[Bengals' Zander Considering Retirement](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hV1BAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C6kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1696,2842223&dq=carl-zander+bengals&hl=en)," *Harlan Daily Enterprise*, March 14, 1991, p. 6.

1. "[Bengals May Start Zander](http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DDNB&p_theme=ddnb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F50505774A80F4D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM)," *Dayton Daily News*, September 11, 1991, p. 3B.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Carl Zander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Zander) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Zander?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.