Chris Zorich facts for kids
Zorich in 2006
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| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||||
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| Born: | March 13, 1969 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 282 lb (128 kg) | ||||||||||
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| High school: | Chicago Vocational | ||||||||||
| College: | Notre Dame | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1991 / Round: 2 / Pick: 49 | ||||||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Christopher Robert Zorich (born March 16, 1969) is a former American football player. He played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Chris Zorich played for the Chicago Bears and the Washington Redskins. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. From May 2018 to July 2019, Zorich was the athletic director at Chicago State University.
Early Life and Family
Chris Zorich grew up on the South Side of Chicago. He was an only child and was raised by his mother, Zora. He went to Chicago Vocational High School. Chris is also the nephew of famous actor Louis Zorich and his wife, actress Olympia Dukakis.
College Football Career
In 1987, Chris Zorich received a scholarship to play college football at the University of Notre Dame. He started as a linebacker but soon moved to nose tackle. He did not play in his first year.
However, in his second season, he became an All-American. In his very first game, he had ten tackles and one and a half sacks against the University of Michigan. Notre Dame had a perfect season that year and won the national championship. Chris finished third on the team in tackles.
In 1989, his junior year, he was again named a Consensus All-American. He was also one of four finalists for the Lombardi Award, which goes to the best college football lineman. That same year, he won the UPI Lineman of the Year award. As a senior in 1990, Zorich won the Lombardi Award and was recognized as a Unanimous All-America.
In his final college game, the 1991 Orange Bowl, he was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player.
NFL Career Highlights
The Chicago Bears picked Chris Zorich in the second round of the 1991 NFL draft. He played for the Bears from 1991 to 1997. In 1993, he was chosen as an alternate for the Pro Bowl. On December 27, 1992, he scored a touchdown by returning a fumble. He also played one season for the Washington Redskins in 1997. During his NFL career, Zorich had 16.5 quarterback sacks and scored one touchdown.
Life After Football
After his football career, Chris Zorich earned a law degree from Notre Dame. In 1993, he started the Christopher Zorich Foundation. This foundation helps families who are facing difficulties.
Chris has received several awards for his helpful work. These include USA WEEKEND's Most Caring Athlete Award and the Jesse Owens Foundation Humanitarian Award. He has also worked as a motivational speaker, inspiring others.
On May 9, 2007, Chris Zorich was chosen to be part of the College Football Hall of Fame. He was one of the youngest players ever to be inducted. He was also only the third defensive lineman from Notre Dame to join the Hall of Fame.
On December 8, 2009, Zorich was also inducted into the FedEx Orange Bowl Hall of Fame. This was for his excellent performances in the Orange Bowl games in 1990 and 1991.
Chris Zorich lives in Chicago and continues to be involved in sports administration. From 2015 to 2018, he was the athletic director at Prairie State College. This is a community college in Chicago Heights, Illinois. From May 2018 to July 2019, he served as the athletic director at Chicago State University.
