Rashard Mendenhall facts for kids
Mendenhall with the Steelers in 2009
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | June 19, 1987 Skokie, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Niles West (Skokie, Illinois) |
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| College: | Illinois (2005–2007) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||
Rashard Jamal Mendenhall (born June 19, 1987) is a former American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons. Rashard played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Pittsburgh Steelers picked him in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft. He helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII. Later, he played one season for the Arizona Cardinals.
After his football career, Rashard became a writer. He worked on the TV show Ballers.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Rashard Mendenhall grew up in Skokie, Illinois. He went to Niles West High School. He was a top football player in high school. Experts even called him the best recruit in Illinois.
In his second year, he ran for 1,300 yards. He scored 21 touchdowns. As a junior, he gained 1,832 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. He averaged 11.6 yards every time he ran the ball. In his final year, he rushed for 1,453 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also played in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
College Football Career
Rashard played college football for the University of Illinois. He joined the football team in 2005. In his first year, he ran for 218 yards. He also caught passes for 82 yards and scored two touchdowns.
In 2006, Rashard ran for 640 yards and scored five touchdowns. He also caught 12 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown. His best college season was in 2007. He set a school record by rushing for 1,681 yards. He scored 17 touchdowns that year. He also caught 34 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns. Rashard studied Sports Management in college.
He was even featured on the cover of Sporting News' High School Football Magazine.
College Stats Summary
Rashard had a great college career. He played 35 games in total. He ran for 2,539 yards. He scored 22 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 59 passes for 564 yards and 5 receiving touchdowns.
Professional Football Career
The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Rashard Mendenhall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was the 23rd player picked overall. Many people thought he would be a great addition to the team.
Playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Rashard signed a five-year contract with the Steelers in 2008. He was expected to help Willie Parker, another great running back. In his first year, he had some trouble holding onto the ball. His teammates helped him practice to fix this.
In his rookie season, Rashard became the youngest player on the Steelers. He also returned kicks. In Week 4, he got his first NFL start because Willie Parker was injured. However, Rashard got hurt during that game. He fractured his shoulder and missed the rest of the season. He finished his first year with 58 rushing yards.
In 2009, Rashard got another chance to start. He played against the San Diego Chargers. He had an amazing game, rushing for 165 yards and scoring two touchdowns. This game really started his NFL career.
The 2010 season was even better for Rashard. He ran for 1,273 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. He helped lead the Steelers to the Super Bowl. They played against the Green Bay Packers but lost the game.
The 2011 season was a bit harder for Rashard. He rushed for 928 yards and scored 9 touchdowns. In the last game of the season, he tore a ligament in his knee. This injury ended his season early. In 2012, the Steelers suspended him for one game. This was because he did not show up to a game after being told he would not play.
Time with the Arizona Cardinals
In March 2013, Rashard signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He played one season for them. He scored eight rushing touchdowns for the Cardinals.
Retirement from Football
In March 2014, Rashard Mendenhall decided to retire from the NFL. He was only 26 years old. He said he wanted to travel the world and write instead of playing football.
NFL Career Highlights
Rashard Mendenhall played 72 games in his NFL career. He ran for a total of 4,236 yards. He scored 37 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 95 passes for 795 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. His longest run was 68 yards.
Life After Football: Writing Career
After retiring from football, Rashard Mendenhall became a writer. He worked on the HBO sports comedy show Ballers. He was a writer and story editor for the show. Some parts of the show were even inspired by his own experiences playing football.
See also
In Spanish: Rashard Mendenhall para niños
