# Mark Sander

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**Mark Leonard Sander** (born March 21, 1968) is an American former professional [football](/source/American_football) player who was a [linebacker](/source/Linebacker) or the [Miami Dolphins](/source/Miami_Dolphins) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) in 1992.[3] He played [college football](/source/College_football) for the [Louisville Cardinals](/source/Louisville_Cardinals_football) and holds the program record for career tackles. He played 12 games for the Dolphins, including two starts.

## College career

Sander originally [walked on](/source/Walk-on_(sports)) to the [Louisville Cardinals football](/source/Louisville_Cardinals_football) team.[4] After redshirting in 1986,[5] Sander became a four-year starter for the Cardinals.[6] He was a 1988, 1989 First Team All-South Independent. On the morning of November 23, 1990, Sander was stabbed in the abdomen while attempting to break up a fight outside of a Louisville bar.[6][7] He had previously worked as a bouncer at the bar and noticed some friends involved in an altercation shortly after arriving.[5] Sander had to undergo four hours of surgery, which required 23 staples, and lost 10 pounds during his stay in the hospital.[7][8] In his first interview following the incident on December 3, he claimed that he would be ready to return in time for their [Fiesta Bowl](/source/1991_Fiesta_Bowl) matchup against [Alabama](/source/Alabama_Crimson_Tide_football).[9] Sander started in the 34–7 win and passed [Doug Buffone](/source/Doug_Buffone) to become the school's career tackles leader with 492.[10]

Sander graduated with a degree in [political science](/source/Political_science).[8]

## Professional career

After going undrafted in the [1991 NFL draft](/source/1991_NFL_draft) due to his size and perceived lack of speed,[8] Sander was signed as a [free agent](/source/Free_agent) by the [Miami Dolphins](/source/Miami_Dolphins).[11] He spent the 1991 season on the [practice squad](/source/Practice_squad).[12] In 1992, Sander filled in for an injured [John Offerdahl](/source/John_Offerdahl) at the starting inside linebacker position.[12] In his first game of meaningful action, he recorded nine tackles against the [New York Jets](/source/New_York_Jets).[13] Two weeks later, in just his second start, Sander recorded a game-high nine tackles in a [Monday Night Football](/source/Monday_Night_Football) loss to the [Buffalo Bills](/source/Buffalo_Bills), staying in the game after breaking his right hand in the second quarter.[13][14] It was later discovered that he suffered a broken wrist as well.[15] Sander was placed on the [injured reserve list](/source/Injured_reserve_list) on December 2, 1992.[16] He was subsequently placed on the [physically unable to perform](/source/Physically_unable_to_perform) list in August 1993.[15] He was then cut in November.[17]

## References

1. ["Mark Sander"](https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/s/sand01000.html). *Pro Football Archives*. Retrieved 8 September 2024.

1. ["Mark Sander"](https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Mark+Sander&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&ILChkBx=yes&NBADLChkBx=yes&InjuriesChkBx=yes&PersonalChkBx=yes&DisciplinaryChkBx=yes&LegalChkBx=yes&submit=Search). *Pro Sports Transactions*. Retrieved 8 September 2024.

1. [*The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia*](https://archive.org/details/espnprofootballe00ster/page/594). first ed. Sterling Publishing. 2007. p. [594](https://archive.org/details/espnprofootballe00ster/page/594). ISBN 978-1-4027-4216-3.

1. Mayo, Michael (July 14, 1991). ["Long-shot linebacker's major attribute – guts"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/238433755/?clipping_id=129389659). *[South Florida Sun Sentinel](/source/South_Florida_Sun_Sentinel)*. p. 37. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Reisner, Mel (December 30, 1990). ["Sander expects to start"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/137940841/?clipping_id=129387650). *[The Advocate-Messenger](/source/The_Advocate-Messenger)*. p. 15. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Brown, Russ (December 4, 1990). ["Despite Schellenberger's uncertainty, Sander says he'll be ready for Fiesta (II)"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/110050697/?clipping_id=129386629). *[The Courier-Journal](/source/The_Courier-Journal)*. p. C1. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Stinson, Thomas (December 29, 1990). ["Cardinal LB comes back from knifing"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/400124799/?clipping_id=129387062). *[The Atlanta Constitution](/source/The_Atlanta_Constitution)*. p. 40. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Fowler, Scott (July 14, 1991). ["Free-agent LB has ugly reminder"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/635587619/?clipping_id=129389346). *[The Miami Herald](/source/The_Miami_Herald)*. p. 990. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Brown, Russ (December 4, 1990). ["Despite Schellenberger's uncertainty, Sander says he'll be ready for Fiesta (I)"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/110050751/?clipping_id=129386478). *[The Courier-Journal](/source/The_Courier-Journal)*. p. C1. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Fiesta Bowl notes"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/795065872/?clipping_id=129388344). *[Birmingham Post-Herald](/source/Birmingham_Post-Herald)*. January 2, 1991. p. 18. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Salguero, Armando (May 1, 1991). ["Dolphins prepare for camp by signing 22 free agents"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/132796775/?clipping_id=129389084). *[The Palm Beach Post](/source/The_Palm_Beach_Post)*. p. 37. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Lazzarino, Chris (November 17, 1992). ["Linebacker Sander solid in key start"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/238458709/?clipping_id=129389778). *[South Florida Sun Sentinel](/source/South_Florida_Sun_Sentinel)*. p. 19. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Cristodero, Damian (November 17, 1992). ["Sander leads Dolphins tacklers"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/216748304/?clipping_id=129393320). *[The News-Press](/source/The_News-Press)*. p. 33. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Tolley, Scott (November 18, 1992). ["Sander has broken hand"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/134014046/?clipping_id=129401928). *[The Palm Beach Post](/source/The_Palm_Beach_Post)*. p. 27. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Cole, Jason (August 24, 1993). ["Corner Holt among 13 cut; Craver on injured reserve"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/238446296/?clipping_id=129403312). *[South Florida Sun Sentinel](/source/South_Florida_Sun_Sentinel)*. p. 25. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. O'Brien, David (July 21, 1993). ["Fate – literally – is in Sander's hand"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/238298125/?clipping_id=129403072). *[South Florida Sun Sentinel](/source/South_Florida_Sun_Sentinel)*. p. 25. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Transactions"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/639025287/?clipping_id=129405207). *[The Miami Herald](/source/The_Miami_Herald)*. November 11, 1993. p. 330. Retrieved August 3, 2023. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

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