Mark Ingram Sr. facts for kids
Mark Valentino Ingram Sr., born on August 23, 1965, is a former American football player. He was a talented wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for many years. He played for teams like the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, and Philadelphia Eagles. Before turning professional, he played college football for the Michigan State Spartans. Mark Ingram Sr. is also famous for being the father of Mark Ingram II, who won the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 2009 and became a star running back for the New Orleans Saints.
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | August 23, 1965 Rockford, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 194 lb (88 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Flint Northwestern (Flint, Michigan) | ||||||
| College: | Michigan State | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1987 / Round: 1 / Pick: 28 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Contents
Early Life and College Football
Mark Ingram Sr. grew up in Flint, Michigan, where he played high school football at Flint Northwestern High School. In high school, he played as a quarterback. His teammate, Andre Rison, who also became a famous NFL player, played halfback.
After high school, Ingram went on to play college football at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. At Michigan State, he changed his position from quarterback to wide receiver. He continued to play as a wide receiver throughout his college and professional football career.
Mark Ingram Sr.'s NFL Journey
Mark Ingram Sr. was chosen by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1987 NFL draft. He was the 28th player picked overall. He played for the Giants from 1987 to 1992.
Super Bowl Champion!
One of his most memorable moments was during Super Bowl XXV. In this big game, he made a very important play. He managed to get away from at least five Buffalo Bills defenders to gain a crucial first down. This play helped the Giants continue a long drive that ended in a touchdown. He was the Giants' best receiver in that game, catching five passes for 77 yards. The Giants went on to win the Super Bowl!
The Famous "Clock Play"
Later in his career, Ingram played for the Miami Dolphins. In a game against the New York Jets, he caught four touchdown passes from the legendary quarterback Dan Marino. The most famous of these was the game-winning touchdown. Marino pretended he was going to spike the ball to stop the clock, which tricked the Jets' defense. Instead, he threw a short pass to Ingram, who was wide open in the end zone for the winning score. This play is now known as "The Clock Play."
Ingram retired from professional football after the 1996 season. Throughout his NFL career, he had 265 receptions for 3,926 receiving yards and scored 26 touchdowns.
Family Life
Mark Ingram Sr. is the proud father of Mark Ingram II. His son also became a very successful football player. Mark Ingram II played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. In 2009, he won the Heisman Trophy, which is given to the most outstanding player in college football.
In 2011, Mark Ingram II was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. He went on to become the Saints' second all-time leader in rushing yards, showing that talent runs in the family!
