Marquis Cooper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marquis Cooper

Cooper in 2004
No. 50, 55, 58, 95
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1982-03-11)March 11, 1982 Mesa, Arizona
Died:	March 2009 (aged 26) near Clearwater, Florida
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	213 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school:	Highland (Gilbert, Arizona)
College:	Washington
NFL Draft:	2004 / Round: 3 / Pick: 79
Career history
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004–2005) Minnesota Vikings (2006) Pittsburgh Steelers (2006) Seattle Seahawks (2006) Pittsburgh Steelers (2007) Jacksonville Jaguars (2007) Pittsburgh Steelers (2007) Oakland Raiders (2008)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 37 Sacks: 0.0 Forced fumbles: 0 Fumble recoveries: 0 Interceptions: 0 Player stats at NFL.com

Marquis Victor Cooper (born March 11, 1982 – died March 2009) was an American football player. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

Cooper also played for several other teams. These included the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at the University of Washington.

Sadly, in March 2009, Marquis Cooper and three other men went missing. Their boat overturned in rough seas near Clearwater, Florida. Cooper and two of the men are believed to have died in the accident.

Early Life and Education

Marquis Cooper was born in Mesa, Arizona. He grew up in Gilbert, Arizona. His father, Bruce Cooper, was a KPNX sportscaster. Marquis had a younger sister named Donielle.

He went to Gilbert Junior High School. Later, he attended Highland High School. There, he became an All-State player in football.

Even though his grandfather worked at Arizona State University, Cooper chose to attend the University of Washington. He earned a degree in sociology. In 2003, he was part of the Pac-10 All-Conference team. Cooper met his wife, Rebekah, at the University of Washington. They had a daughter named Delaney Christine. During the football offseason, his family lived in Tampa, Florida.

Professional Football Career

Marquis Cooper played for several teams during his NFL career. He was known for being a linebacker.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked Cooper in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He was the 79th player chosen overall. He played for the Buccaneers until September 2, 2006.

Minnesota Vikings

Cooper joined the Minnesota Vikings on September 5, 2006. He played with them for a short time. He was released from the team on October 30.

First Time with Pittsburgh Steelers

On October 31, 2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers picked up Cooper. They kept him on their team for a little over a month. He was released by the Steelers on December 5.

Seattle Seahawks

Cooper signed with the Seattle Seahawks on December 12. He finished the 2006 football season with them. He was released by the Seahawks on July 27, 2007.

Second Time with Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers signed Cooper again on July 30, 2007. He was released by them once more on September 19.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On November 27, 2007, Cooper signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played for the Jaguars for a short period. They released him on December 7.

Third Time with Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers signed Cooper for a third time on December 9, 2007. He became a free agent in 2008, meaning he could sign with any team.

Oakland Raiders

Cooper joined the Oakland Raiders on November 5, 2008. He was signed after another linebacker, Robert Thomas, was put on injured reserve.

Career Statistics

Here are some of Marquis Cooper's statistics from his time in the NFL:

Tragic Boating Accident

On March 1, 2009, the United States Coast Guard reported that a 21-foot fishing boat was missing. It was off the coast near Clearwater, Florida. The boat had four people on board. These were Marquis Cooper, Corey Smith, and two former University of South Florida football players, Nick Schuyler and Will Bleakley.

The four men had left Clearwater Pass on February 28 at 6:30 a.m. They were expected to return later that night. The Coast Guard began looking for the boat after midnight on March 1. By the afternoon of March 2, the boat was found overturned. Nick Schuyler was found clinging to it.

The Coast Guard stopped searching for the three missing men. However, their friends and family continued their own search. This private search was called off on March 6. Marquis Cooper, Corey Smith, and Will Bleakley are believed to have died. On March 11, Cooper's wife asked for a death certificate in court.

An investigation into the accident was completed on March 25, 2009. It included talking to Nick Schuyler and checking the boat. The report found that the boat overturned because the anchor line was tied incorrectly. When the boat moved forward, the anchor line pulled the back of the boat into the water. This caused everyone to be thrown into the rough Gulf waters.

Nick Schuyler said that after the boat flipped, he and the other three men held onto the overturned boat. They were all wearing life vests. The water was chest-high, and waves were about 6 feet tall. Cooper and Smith became unresponsive and separated from the boat early on March 1. Bleakley became unresponsive about 24 hours later. Schuyler was rescued less than six hours after that. The investigator said the symptoms Schuyler saw were typical of hypothermia, which is when your body loses heat too quickly.

See also

• Not Without Hope
• List of American football players who died during their careers
• List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea