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{{Short description|American football player (born 1965)}}
{{Infobox NFL player
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
|image=
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
|caption=
{{Infobox NFL biography
|position=[[Defensive tackle]]
| image =
|number=60 (Michigan), 24 (Rams)
| caption =
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1965|12|29|mf=y}}
| number = 60
|birth_place=[[Riverview, Michigan]]
| position = [[Defensive tackle]], [[linebacker]]
|death_date=
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|12|29|mf=y}}
|height_ft = 6
| birth_place = [[Riverview, Michigan]], U.S.
|height_in = 3
| death_date =
|weight_lbs = 225
| height_ft = 6
|high_school = [[Detroit Catholic Central High School|Novi (MI) Catholic Central]]
| height_in = 2
|draftyear=1989
| weight_lbs = 256
|draftround=6
| high_school = [[Detroit Catholic Central High School|Detroit Catholic Central]]
|draftpick=161
| college = [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]]
|afldraftyear=
| draftyear = 1989
|afldraftround=
| draftround = 6
|afldraftpick=
| draftpick = 161
|suppdraftyear=
| afldraftyear =
|suppdraftround=
| afldraftround =
|undraftedyear=
| afldraftpick =
|college=[[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]]
| suppdraftyear =
|pastteams=
| suppdraftround =
| undraftedyear =
| pastteams =
* [[History of the St. Louis Rams|Los Angeles Rams]] ({{NFL Year|1989}})
* [[History of the St. Louis Rams|Los Angeles Rams]] ({{NFL Year|1989}})
|statlabel1=Games played
| statlabel1 = Games played
|statvalue1=4
| statvalue1 = 4
| pfr = MessMa20
|statlabel2=
| pfrcoach =
|statvalue2=
| cfl =
|statlabel3=
| afl =
|statvalue3=
| highlights =
|nfl=MES519110
* [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|Unanimous All-American]] ([[1988 College Football All-America Team|1988]])
|pfr=
* First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1987 College Football All-America Team|1987]])
|pfrcoach=
* 2× Third-team All-American ([[1985 College Football All-America Team|1985]], [[1986 College Football All-America Team|1986]])
|cfl=
* 4× First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1985 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1985]]-[[1988 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1988]])
|afl=
* [[Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year]] (1988)
|highlights=
* Fiesta Bowl Co-MVP ([[1986 Fiesta Bowl|1986]])
* 4× First-team All-[[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] ([[1985 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1985]]-[[1988 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1988]])
* [[Big Ten Conference football individual awards#Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year|Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year]] (1988)
* Consensus [[All-American]] ([[1988 College Football All-America Team|1988]])
* Michigan career records for sacks (36) and tackles for loss (70)
* [[University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor]] (2014)
* [[Japan Bowl]] MVP (1989)
* [[Japan Bowl]] MVP (1989)
* Fiesta Bowl co-MVP ([[1986 Fiesta Bowl|1986]])
|HOF=
* [[University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor]] (2014)
|CollegeHOF=
| HOF =
| CollegeHOF = 2492
}}
}}


'''Mark W. Messner''' (born December 29, 1965) is a former [[American football]] player. Messner played [[college football]] for the [[University of Michigan]]. He started every game, 49 in all, at [[defensive tackle]] for Michigan from 1985 to 1988. He was the first position player ever to be selected as a first-team All-[[Big Ten Conference]] player all four years. He was selected as a first-team All-American by the ''[[Sporting News]]'' in 1987 and was a consensus All-American in 1988. He set still holds Michigan records for [[quarterback sack]]s in a game (5), career [[tackle for loss|tackles for loss]] (70), and career sacks (36). He was inducted into the [[University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor]] in 2014.
'''Mark W. Messner''' (born December 29, 1965) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[linebacker]] for the [[Los Angeles Rams]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) during the 1989 season. He sustained a serious knee injury in the [[1989–90 NFL playoffs#NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 3|1989-90 NFC Championship Game]] against the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and never played in another game.


Messner played [[college football]] at the [[University of Michigan]]. He started every game, 49 in all, at [[defensive tackle]] for Michigan from 1985 to 1988. He was the first position player ever to be selected as a first-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten Conference]] player all four years.
Messner later played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) as a [[linebacker]] for the [[Los Angeles Rams]] during the [[1989 NFL season]]. He sustained a serious knee injury in the [[1989–90 NFL playoffs#NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 3|1989-90 NFC Championship Game]] against the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and never played in another game.

Messner was also a four-time [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]], earning third-team selections in 1985<ref name="AP 1985">{{cite news |title=All-America |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |date=December 10, 1985 |page=D2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5310293/1985_associated_press_allamerica/}}</ref> and 1986,<ref name="FN 1986">{{cite news |title=All-America News: Football News |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=November 23, 1986 |page=14D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5716828/allamerica_team_football_news/}}</ref> first-team in 1987,<ref name="TSN 1987">{{cite news |title=Brown TSN top player of '87 |newspaper=Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, IL) |date=December 9, 1987 |page=11 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5713765/brown_tsn_top_player_of_87/}}</ref> and unanimous honors in 1987.<ref name="AFCA 1988">{{cite news |title=1988 Kodak All-America Team |newspaper=Asbury Park Press |date=November 22, 1988 |page=D2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5718585/1988_kodak_allamerica_team/}}</ref><ref name="AP 1988">{{cite news |title=AP All-America |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=December 9, 1988 |page=F2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5718250/ap_allamerica/}}</ref><ref name="FWAA 1988">{{cite news |title=Football Writers Association All-America Team |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |date=December 2, 1988 |page=C6 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5719267/football_writers_association/}}</ref><ref name="UPI 1988">{{cite news |title=UPI All-America Team |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |date=December 15, 1988 |page=C10 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5718485/upi_allamerica_team/}}</ref><ref name="WC 1988">{{cite news |title=Walter Camp All-America Team |newspaper=Southern Illinoisan |date=November 24, 1988 |page=18 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5718700/1988_walter_camp_allamerica_team/}}</ref>

He set still holds Michigan records for [[quarterback sack]]s in a game (5), career [[tackle for loss|tackles for loss]] (70), and career sacks (36). He was inducted into the [[University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor]] in 2014.


==Early years and family==
==Early years and family==
Messner was born in [[Riverview, Michigan]], a southern suburb of [[Detroit]], in 1965.<ref name=PFR/> His biological father, [[Max Messner]], was a linebacker for the [[Detroit Lions]] and [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] from 1960 to 1965.<ref name=LAT>{{cite news|title=Hyper Energy: Michigan's Messner Is a Tough One|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 1, 1989|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1989-01-01/sports/sp-365_1_rose-bowl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Max Messner|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|accessdate=April 3, 2015|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MessMa21.htm}}</ref>
Messner was born in [[Riverview, Michigan]], a southern suburb of [[Detroit]], in 1965.<ref name=PFR/> His biological father, [[Max Messner]], was a linebacker for the [[Detroit Lions]] and [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] from 1960 to 1965.<ref name=LAT>{{cite news|title=Hyper Energy: Michigan's Messner Is a Tough One|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 1, 1989|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-01-sp-365-story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Max Messner|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MessMa21.htm}}</ref>


Messner's parents divorced when he was young, and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, Del Pretty,<ref name=goblue/> who ran a piano store in [[Livonia, Michigan]].<ref name=LAT2/> Messner referred to his biological father as the "fun" dad and Pretty as the "disciplinarian."<ref name=Albom2/> In a 1988 interview with [[Mitch Albom]], Messner referred to Pretty as "the most important person in my life. He's the reason I do what I do, and try as hard as I try."<ref name=Albom2>{{cite news|title=Mark Messner, Never At A Loss|author=[[Mitch Albom]]|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=November 11, 1988|url=http://mitchalbom.com/d/journalism/1099/mark-messner-never-loss|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408054820/http://mitchalbom.com/d/journalism/1099/mark-messner-never-loss|archivedate=April 8, 2015}}</ref> He later noted that Pretty "raised me, fed me, spanked me, hugged me, took me to school, wrote me poems, came to all my football games and made me feel like the most important person in the world.<ref name=Pretty/> Pretty was diagnosed with lymph node cancer in 1980 and eventually died from the disease in December 1989 when Messner was a rookie with the [[Los Angeles Rams]].<ref name=Pretty>{{cite news|title=Mark Messner: His Father's Son|author=Mitch Albom|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|date=December 24, 1989|url=http://mitchalbom.com/d/journalism/883/mark-messner-his-fathers-son|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408070510/http://mitchalbom.com/d/journalism/883/mark-messner-his-fathers-son|archivedate=April 8, 2015}}</ref>
Messner's parents divorced when he was young, and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, Del Pretty,<ref name=goblue/> who ran a piano store in [[Livonia, Michigan]].<ref name=LAT2/> Messner referred to his biological father as the "fun" dad and Pretty as the "disciplinarian."<ref name=Albom2/> In a 1988 interview with [[Mitch Albom]], Messner referred to Pretty as "the most important person in my life. He's the reason I do what I do, and try as hard as I try."<ref name=Albom2>{{cite news|title=Mark Messner, Never At A Loss|author=Mitch Albom|author-link=Mitch Albom|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=November 11, 1988|url=http://mitchalbom.com/d/journalism/1099/mark-messner-never-loss|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408054820/http://mitchalbom.com/d/journalism/1099/mark-messner-never-loss|archive-date=April 8, 2015}}</ref> He later noted that Pretty "raised me, fed me, spanked me, hugged me, took me to school, wrote me poems, came to all my football games and made me feel like the most important person in the world.<ref name=Pretty/> Pretty was diagnosed with lymph node cancer in 1980 and eventually died from the disease in December 1989 when Messner was a rookie with the [[Los Angeles Rams]].<ref name=Pretty>{{cite news|title=Mark Messner: His Father's Son|author=Mitch Albom|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|date=December 24, 1989|url=http://mitchalbom.com/d/journalism/883/mark-messner-his-fathers-son|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408070510/http://mitchalbom.com/d/journalism/883/mark-messner-his-fathers-son|archive-date=April 8, 2015}}</ref>


Messner was a [[hyperactive]] child for whom football was an outlet to unleash his energy.<ref name=LAT/> He grew up in [[Hartland Township, Michigan|Hartland, Michigan]],<ref name=Roster/> and attended [[Hartland High School (Michigan)|Hartland High School]] from 1980 to 1981 before transferring to [[Detroit Catholic Central High School]], which was then located in [[Redford, Michigan]].<ref name=PFR>{{cite web|title=Mark Messner|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|accessdate=April 3, 2015|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MessMa20.htm}}</ref><ref name=LAT/> He played at the [[tight end]] and [[nose guard]] positions for Catholic Central in 1982 and 1983 and earned all-state and [[Parade High School All-American|high school All-American]] honors as a senior,<ref name=CCHOF>{{cite web|title=Mark Messner '84|publisher=Catholic Central Athletic Hall of Fame|accessdate=April 3, 2015|url=http://www.catholiccentral.net/document.doc?id=1130}}</ref> and graduated in 1984.<ref name=Face>{{cite web|title=About Mark Messner|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=April 3, 2015|url=https://www.facebook.com/mark.messner/about?section=education}}</ref> He was later inducted into both the Catholic Central and Catholic League Halls of Fame.<ref name=CCHOF/>
Messner was a [[hyperactive]] child for whom football was an outlet to unleash his energy.<ref name=LAT/> He grew up in [[Hartland Township, Michigan|Hartland, Michigan]],<ref name=Roster/> and attended [[Hartland High School (Michigan)|Hartland High School]] from 1980 to 1981 before transferring to [[Detroit Catholic Central High School]], which was then located in [[Redford, Michigan]].<ref name=PFR>{{cite web|title=Mark Messner|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MessMa20.htm}}</ref><ref name=LAT/> He played at the [[tight end]] and [[nose guard]] positions for Catholic Central in 1982 and 1983 and earned all-state and [[Parade High School All-American|high school All-American]] honors as a senior,<ref name=CCHOF>{{cite web|title=Mark Messner '84|publisher=Catholic Central Athletic Hall of Fame|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=http://www.catholiccentral.net/document.doc?id=1130}}</ref> and graduated in 1984.<ref name=Face>{{cite web|title=About Mark Messner|publisher=Facebook|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=https://www.facebook.com/mark.messner/about?section=education}}</ref> He was later inducted into both the Catholic Central and Catholic League Halls of Fame.<ref name=CCHOF/>


==University of Michigan==
==University of Michigan==
Messner enrolled at the [[University of Michigan]] in 1984 and played [[college football]] as a [[defensive tackle]] for head coach [[Bo Schembechler]]'s [[Michigan Wolverines football]] teams from 1985 to 1988.<ref name=Roster>{{cite web|title=All-Time Football Roster Database|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|accessdate=April 2, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/rosters/football.php}}</ref>
Messner enrolled at the [[University of Michigan]] in 1984 and played [[college football]] as a [[defensive tackle]] for head coach [[Bo Schembechler]]'s [[Michigan Wolverines football]] teams from 1985 to 1988.<ref name=Roster>{{cite web|title=All-Time Football Roster Database|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|access-date=April 2, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/rosters/football.php}}</ref>


At six feet, three inches, Messner was small for his position. He adjusted for his size by playing with speed and intelligence. Messner once described his approach as follows: "I try to move with quickness toward his weakness. I try to get away from where he is leaning, like a matador steps around a bull."<ref name=Book>{{cite book|title=100 Things Michigan Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die |author=Angelique Chengelis|publisher=Triumph Books|year=2012|isbn=1623680700}}</ref> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' in January 1989 called him "a quarterback's worst enemy."<ref name=LAT/> Another writer described him as "a combination [[Dennis the Menace (U.S. comics)|Dennis the Menace]] and [[Henry David Thoreau]], a philosopher with a cowlick" and "[[Aristotle]] in a jockstrap."<ref name=LAT2/> Messner noted that it was his goal to play with "youthful intensity" like "a young kid."<ref name=Book/>
At six feet, three inches, Messner was small for his position. He adjusted for his size by playing with speed and intelligence. Messner once described his approach as follows: "I try to move with quickness toward his weakness. I try to get away from where he is leaning, like a matador steps around a bull."<ref name=Book>{{cite book|title=100 Things Michigan Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die |author=Angelique Chengelis|publisher=Triumph Books|year=2012|isbn=978-1623680701}}</ref> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' in January 1989 called him "a quarterback's worst enemy."<ref name=LAT/> Another writer described him as "a combination [[Dennis the Menace (U.S. comics)|Dennis the Menace]] and [[Henry David Thoreau]], a philosopher with a cowlick" and "[[Aristotle]] in a jockstrap."<ref name=LAT2/> Messner noted that it was his goal to play with "youthful intensity" like "a young kid."<ref name=Book/>


===1985 season===
===1985 season===
Messner was a [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirt]] who did not play during the 1984 season. As a redshirt freshman, he started all 12 games at defensive tackle for the [[1985 Michigan Wolverines football team]] that compiled a 10-1-1 record, was ranked #2 in the final [[AP Poll]], held opponents to 75 points in the regular season (6.8 points per game), and defeated [[1985 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]] in the [[1986 Fiesta Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1985 Michigan Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, [[Bentley Historical Library]]|accessdate=April 2, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1985fbt.htm}}</ref> Despite his lack of college experience, Messner set a new Michigan record in 1985 with 11 [[quarterback sack]]s and also totaled 71 [[Tackle (football move)|tackle]]s and 14 tackles for loss.<ref name=Madej>{{cite book|title=Michigan: Champions of the West|author1=Bruce Madej |author2=Rob Toonkel |author3=Mike Pearson |author4=Greg Kinney |page=195|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|year=1997}}</ref> He was also named the Defensive Player of the Game in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl after he registered nine tackles, forced a [[fumble]], and recovered another.<ref name=BHL/><ref>{{cite web|title=1986 Fiesta Bowl|publisher=Fiesta Bowl|accessdate=April 3, 2015|url=https://www.fiestabowl.org/fiesta-bowl/fiesta-bowl-game-history/game-results-recaps/1986-fiesta-bowl.php|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102145027/https://www.fiestabowl.org/fiesta-bowl/fiesta-bowl-game-history/game-results-recaps/1986-fiesta-bowl.php|archivedate=January 2, 2015}}</ref> He was also selected as a first-team [[defensive lineman]] on the [[1985 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1985 All-Big Ten team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Soph White, Station, Unanimous Choices|newspaper=Toledo Blade (AP story)|date=December 3, 1985|page=33|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19851203&id=og1PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0wIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6768,3394959}}</ref>
Messner was a [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirt]] who did not play during the 1984 season. As a redshirt freshman, he started all 12 games at defensive tackle for the [[1985 Michigan Wolverines football team]] that compiled a 10-1-1 record, was ranked #2 in the final [[AP Poll]], held opponents to 75 points in the regular season (6.8 points per game), and defeated [[1985 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]] in the [[1986 Fiesta Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1985 Michigan Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, [[Bentley Historical Library]]|access-date=April 2, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1985fbt.htm}}</ref> Despite his lack of college experience, Messner set a new Michigan record in 1985 with 11 [[quarterback sack]]s and also totaled 71 [[Tackle (football move)|tackle]]s and 14 tackles for loss.<ref name=Madej>{{cite book|title=Michigan: Champions of the West|author1=Bruce Madej |author2=Rob Toonkel |author3=Mike Pearson |author4=Greg Kinney |page=195|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|year=1997}}</ref> He was also named the Defensive Player of the Game in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl after he registered nine tackles, forced a [[fumble]], and recovered another.<ref name=BHL/><ref>{{cite web|title=1986 Fiesta Bowl|publisher=Fiesta Bowl|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=https://www.fiestabowl.org/fiesta-bowl/fiesta-bowl-game-history/game-results-recaps/1986-fiesta-bowl.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102145027/https://www.fiestabowl.org/fiesta-bowl/fiesta-bowl-game-history/game-results-recaps/1986-fiesta-bowl.php|archive-date=January 2, 2015}}</ref> He was also selected as a first-team [[defensive lineman]] on the [[1985 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1985 All-Big Ten team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Soph White, Station, Unanimous Choices|newspaper=Toledo Blade (AP story)|date=December 3, 1985|page=33|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19851203&id=og1PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0wIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6768,3394959}}</ref>


===1986 season===
===1986 season===
In his second year, Messner started all 13 games at defensive tackle for the [[1986 Michigan Wolverines football team|1986 Michigan team]] that compiled an 11-2 record, tied for the [[Big Ten Conference]] championship, and lost to [[1986 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State]] in the [[1987 Rose Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1986 Michigan Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|accessdate=April 2, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1986fbt.htm}}</ref> For the second consecutive year, Messner was selected as a first-team defensive lineman on the [[1986 All-Big Ten Conference football team|All-Big Ten team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Harbaugh heads All-Big Ten team|newspaper=The Michigan Daily|date=November 26, 1986|page=8|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2706&dat=19861126&id=1A5KAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vx4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1069,3998533}}</ref>
In his second year, Messner started all 13 games at defensive tackle for the [[1986 Michigan Wolverines football team|1986 Michigan team]] that compiled an 11–2 record, tied for the [[Big Ten Conference]] championship, and lost to [[1986 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State]] in the [[1987 Rose Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1986 Michigan Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|access-date=April 2, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1986fbt.htm}}</ref> For the second consecutive year, Messner was selected as a first-team defensive lineman on the [[1986 All-Big Ten Conference football team|All-Big Ten team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Harbaugh heads All-Big Ten team|newspaper=The Michigan Daily|date=November 26, 1986|page=8|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2706&dat=19861126&id=1A5KAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vx4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1069,3998533}}</ref>


===1987 season===
===1987 season===
As a junior, Messner again started every game, 12 in all, at defensive tackle for the [[1987 Michigan Wolverines football team|1987 Wolverines]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1987 Michigan Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|accessdate=April 2, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1987fbt.htm}}</ref> He had 11 sacks during the 1987 season.<ref name=LAT2/> His five sacks against [[Northwestern Wildcats football|Northwestern]] on October 31, 1987, remains a Michigan single-game record.<ref name=HOH/> At the end of the season, he was selected by the ''[[Sporting News]]'' as a first-team defensive lineman on the [[1987 College Football All-America Team|1987 All-America Team]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ESPN College Football Encyclopedia: The Complete History of College Football from 1869 to the Present |url=http://search.barnesandnoble.com/ESPN-College-Football-Encyclopedia/Michael-MacCambridge/e/9781401337032 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081112070028/http://search.barnesandnoble.com/ESPN-College-Football-Encyclopedia/Michael-MacCambridge/e/9781401337032 |archivedate=2008-11-12 |url-status=dead |accessdate=2009-04-08 }}</ref> He was also voted by his teammates as Michigan's defensive player of the year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michigan MVPs: Morris, Messner|date=November 25, 1987|newspaper=The Argus-Press (AP story)|page=11|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19871125&id=3AooAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SQUGAAAAIBAJ&pg=1329,2143068&hl=en}}</ref>
As a junior, Messner again started every game, 12 in all, at defensive tackle for the [[1987 Michigan Wolverines football team|1987 Wolverines]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1987 Michigan Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|access-date=April 2, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1987fbt.htm}}</ref> He had 11 sacks during the 1987 season.<ref name=LAT2/> His five sacks against [[Northwestern Wildcats football|Northwestern]] on October 31, 1987, remains a Michigan single-game record.<ref name=HOH/> At the end of the season, he was selected by the ''[[Sporting News]]'' as a first-team defensive lineman on the [[1987 College Football All-America Team|1987 All-America Team]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ESPN College Football Encyclopedia: The Complete History of College Football from 1869 to the Present |url=http://search.barnesandnoble.com/ESPN-College-Football-Encyclopedia/Michael-MacCambridge/e/9781401337032 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081112070028/http://search.barnesandnoble.com/ESPN-College-Football-Encyclopedia/Michael-MacCambridge/e/9781401337032 |archive-date=2008-11-12 |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-04-08 }}</ref> He was also voted by his teammates as Michigan's defensive player of the year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michigan MVPs: Morris, Messner|date=November 25, 1987|newspaper=The Argus-Press (AP story)|page=11|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19871125&id=3AooAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SQUGAAAAIBAJ&pg=1329,2143068&hl=en}}</ref>


===1988 season===
===1988 season===
Prior to the 1988 season, the ''[[Sporting News]]'' featured a photograph of Messner and coach Schembechler on the cover of its preseason issue ranking Michigan #1 in the country.<ref name=goblue/> During the 1988 season, Messner started every game at defensive tackle for the fourth consecutive year. In all, he started 49 consecutive games for Michigan starting with the opening game of his redshirt freshman year. He was selected as a co-captain and Most Valuable Player on the [[1988 Michigan Wolverines football team|1988 Michigan team]] that lost its opening two games against #1-ranked [[Miami Hurricanes football|Miami]] (by one point) and eventual national champion [[1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]] (by two points), then went undefeated for the remaining 10 games, and defeated [[1987 USC Trojans football team|USC]] in the [[1989 Rose Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1988 Michigan Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|accessdate=April 2, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1988fbt.htm}}</ref> Messner had eight sacks and set a Michigan record in 1988 with 26 tackles for loss.<ref name=LAT2>{{cite news|title=Brawny, Brainy: Messner, the Leader of Michigan's Grunts, Also Can Talk a Pretty Good Game|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 3, 1989|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1989-01-03/sports/sp-165_1_rose-bowl}}</ref><ref name=Madej/> After the 1988 season, Messner was selected as a consensus first-team defensive lineman on the [[1988 College Football All-America Team|1988 All-America Team]].<ref name=CAA>{{cite web|title=2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)|year=2014|accessdate=February 10, 2015|page=6|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2014/Awards.pdf}}</ref> He was also selected to play in the [[Hula Bowl]] and the Japan Bowl post-season all-star games.<ref name=Madej/>
Prior to the 1988 season, the ''[[Sporting News]]'' featured a photograph of Messner and coach Schembechler on the cover of its preseason issue ranking Michigan #1 in the country.<ref name=goblue/> During the 1988 season, Messner started every game at defensive tackle for the fourth consecutive year. In all, he started 49 consecutive games for Michigan starting with the opening game of his redshirt freshman year. He was selected as a co-captain and Most Valuable Player on the [[1988 Michigan Wolverines football team|1988 Michigan team]] that lost its opening two games against #1-ranked [[Miami Hurricanes football|Miami]] (by one point) and eventual national champion [[1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]] (by two points), then went undefeated for the remaining 10 games, and defeated [[1987 USC Trojans football team|USC]] in the [[1989 Rose Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1988 Michigan Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|access-date=April 2, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1988fbt.htm}}</ref> Messner had eight sacks and set a Michigan record in 1988 with 26 tackles for loss.<ref name=LAT2>{{cite news|title=Brawny, Brainy: Messner, the Leader of Michigan's Grunts, Also Can Talk a Pretty Good Game|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 3, 1989|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-03-sp-165-story.html}}</ref><ref name=Madej/> After the 1988 season, Messner was selected as a consensus first-team defensive lineman on the [[1988 College Football All-America Team|1988 All-America Team]].<ref name=CAA>{{cite web|title=2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)|year=2014|access-date=February 10, 2015|page=6|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2014/Awards.pdf|archive-date=November 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126094941/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2014/awards.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also selected to play in the [[Hula Bowl]] and the Japan Bowl post-season all-star games.<ref name=Madej/>


===Career overview and honors===
===Career overview and honors===
Messner was the first position player in the Big Ten Conference to be selected as a first-team all-conference player in four consecutive years.<ref name=Madej/> Only one other Michigan player, [[Chris Hutchinson (American football)|Chris Hutchinson]] (1989-1992), has matched the feat.<ref name=HOH/> In four years at Michigan, Messner totaled 248 tackles and five fumble recoveries.<ref name=Stat>{{cite web|title=Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page |publisher=University of Michigan |accessdate=April 2, 2015 |url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524051040/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |archivedate=May 24, 2013 }}(to retrieve Messner's statistics, enter "messner" in the box for the player's last name)</ref> He remains Michigan's all-time career leader in tackles for loss (70), tackles for sack yardage (376 yards), sacks (36), and sack yardage (273 yards).<ref name=goblue>{{cite book|title=Go Blue!: Michigan's Greatest Football Stories|author=Steve Kornacki|publisher=Triumph Books|year=2013|isbn=1600788483 |pages=77–79}}</ref><ref name=Book/><ref name=BHL/> He was also Michigan's sack leader each year from 1985 to 1987.<ref name=BHL>{{cite web|title=Mark Messner, Defensive Tackle|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|accessdate=April 3, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fballam/aamessne.htm}}</ref>
Messner was the first position player in the Big Ten Conference to be selected as a first-team all-conference player in four consecutive years.<ref name=Madej/> Only one other Michigan player, [[Chris Hutchinson (American football)|Chris Hutchinson]] (1989–1992), has matched the feat.<ref name=HOH/> In four years at Michigan, Messner totaled 248 tackles and five fumble recoveries.<ref name=Stat>{{cite web|title=Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=April 2, 2015 |url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524051040/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |archive-date=May 24, 2013 }}(to retrieve Messner's statistics, enter "messner" in the box for the player's last name)</ref> He remains Michigan's all-time career leader in tackles for loss (70), tackles for sack yardage (376 yards), sacks (36), and sack yardage (273 yards).<ref name=goblue>{{cite book|title=Go Blue!: Michigan's Greatest Football Stories|author=Steve Kornacki|publisher=Triumph Books|year=2013|isbn=978-1600788482 |pages=77–79}}</ref><ref name=Book/><ref name=BHL/> He was also Michigan's sack leader each year from 1985 to 1987.<ref name=BHL>{{cite web|title=Mark Messner, Defensive Tackle|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fballam/aamessne.htm}}</ref>


In 2014, Messner was inducted into the [[University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor]].<ref name=HOH>{{cite news|title=Michigan to honor Mark Messner, Gary Grant and Katie McGregor on Sunday at hoops game|author=Nick Baumgartner|newspaper=[[Mlive.com]]|date=February 14, 2014|url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/02/michigan_to_honor_mark_messner.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=U-M Greats Grant, McGregor and Messner Named to Hall of Honor|date=September 14, 2013|publisher=University of Michigan|work=MGoBlue.com|accessdate=April 3, 2015|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/genrel/091413aaa.html}}</ref> He has also been included on the ballot for possible induction into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in both 2013 and 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michigan players left out of College Football Hall of Fame's 2014 class|author=Brendan Quinn|newspaper=Mlive.com|accessdate=May 22, 2014|url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/05/michigan_players_left_out_of_c.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Jumbo Elliott, Rob Lytle, Mark Messner all return to College Football Hall of Fame ballot|author=Brendan Quinn|newspaper=Mlive.com|date=October 22, 2014|url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/10/jumbo_elliott_rob_lytle_mark_m.html}}</ref>
In 2014, Messner was inducted into the [[University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor]].<ref name=HOH>{{cite news|title=Michigan to honor Mark Messner, Gary Grant and Katie McGregor on Sunday at hoops game|author=Nick Baumgartner|newspaper=[[Mlive.com]]|date=February 14, 2014|url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/02/michigan_to_honor_mark_messner.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=U-M Greats Grant, McGregor and Messner Named to Hall of Honor|date=September 14, 2013|publisher=University of Michigan|work=MGoBlue.com|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/genrel/091413aaa.html}}</ref> He has also been included on the ballot for possible induction into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in both 2013 and 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michigan players left out of College Football Hall of Fame's 2014 class|author=Brendan Quinn|newspaper=Mlive.com|access-date=May 22, 2014|url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/05/michigan_players_left_out_of_c.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Jumbo Elliott, Rob Lytle, Mark Messner all return to College Football Hall of Fame ballot|author=Brendan Quinn|newspaper=Mlive.com|date=October 22, 2014|url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/10/jumbo_elliott_rob_lytle_mark_m.html}}</ref>


==Professional football==
==Professional football==
{{NFL predraft
Messner was drafted in the sixth round (161st overall pick) of the [[1989 NFL Draft]] by the [[History of the St. Louis Rams|Los Angeles Rams]].<ref name=PFR/> He was drafted lower than had been anticipated, and an [[Associated Press]] story reported that NFL representatives believed his speed and size (6'3", 255 pounds) made him "too small for an NFL defensive tackle and too slow for a linebacker."<ref>{{cite news|title=Messner drafted by L.A. Rams|newspaper=Ludington Daily News (AP story)|date=April 25, 1989|page=7|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19890425&id=6hRQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=61UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6229,2171558&hl=en}}</ref>
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 3/4
| weight = 256
| dash = 5.24
| ten split = 1.81
| twenty split = 3.02
| shuttle = 4.63
| vertical = 23.0
| broad ft = 7
| broad in = 10
| bench = 11
| note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=25775 |title=Mark Messner, Combine Results, ILB - Michigan |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=January 18, 2023}}</ref>
}}

Messner was selected in the sixth round (161st overall pick) of the [[1989 NFL draft]] by the [[History of the St. Louis Rams|Los Angeles Rams]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1989 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1989/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was drafted lower than had been anticipated, and an [[Associated Press]] story reported that NFL representatives believed his speed and size (6'3", 255 pounds) made him "too small for an NFL defensive tackle and too slow for a linebacker."<ref>{{cite news|title=Messner drafted by L.A. Rams|newspaper=Ludington Daily News (AP story)|date=April 25, 1989|page=7|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19890425&id=6hRQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=61UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6229,2171558&hl=en}}</ref>


Messner appeared in only four regular season games, none as a starter, for the Rams during their [[1989 Los Angeles Rams season|1989 season]].<ref name=PFR/> On January 14, 1990, he sustained a career-ending knee injury in the [[1989–90 NFL playoffs#NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 3|1989-90 NFC Championship Game]] against the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and never played in another game. The injury resulted in tears to his [[Anterior cruciate ligament injury|anterior]] (ACL), lateral and medial [[cruciate ligament]]s. Messner recalled, "My knee injury was a dandy for my one and only football injury ... Last time I ever put on football gear. Bad day!"<ref name=goblue/>
Messner appeared in only four regular season games, none as a starter, for the Rams during their [[1989 Los Angeles Rams season|1989 season]].<ref name=PFR/> On January 14, 1990, he sustained a career-ending knee injury in the [[1989–90 NFL playoffs#NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 3|1989-90 NFC Championship Game]] against the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and never played in another game. The injury resulted in tears to his [[Anterior cruciate ligament injury|anterior]] (ACL), lateral and medial [[cruciate ligament]]s. Messner recalled, "My knee injury was a dandy for my one and only football injury ... Last time I ever put on football gear. Bad day!"<ref name=goblue/>


==Later years and family==
==Later years and family==
Messner married Jennifer Rybarz Messner in January 2002. He has four children, Mitchell Messner, Justin Messner, Bailey Reiter and Mckenna Reiter.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Mark Messner (family)|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=April 3, 2015|url=https://www.facebook.com/mark.messner/about?section=relationship}}</ref>
Messner married Jennifer Rybarz Messner in January 2002. He has four children, Mitchell Messner, Justin Messner, Bailey Reiter and Mckenna Reiter.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Mark Messner (family)|publisher=Facebook|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=https://www.facebook.com/mark.messner/about?section=relationship}}</ref>


After retiring from football, Messner worked for [[Eastman Kodak Company]] and later for [[Canon Inc.|Canon Business Solutions]] and [[Konica Minolta|Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A.]] He was a region vice president for Canon from March 2009 to July 2010 based in [[Farmington Hills, Michigan]]. Since July 2010, he has been a vice president of Konica Minolta in [[Tampa, Florida]].<ref name=Face/>
After retiring from football, Messner worked for [[Eastman Kodak Company]] and later for [[Canon Inc.|Canon Business Solutions]] and [[Konica Minolta|Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A.]] He was a region vice president for Canon from March 2009 to July 2010 based in [[Farmington Hills, Michigan]]. Since July 2010, he has been a vice president of Konica Minolta in [[Tampa, Florida]] and CPQ Champion.<ref name=Face/>


==References==
==References==
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{{1988 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1988 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Los Angeles Rams 1989 draft navbox}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Messner, Mark}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Messner, Mark}}
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[[Category:Michigan Wolverines football players]]
[[Category:Michigan Wolverines football players]]
[[Category:People from Riverview, Michigan]]
[[Category:People from Riverview, Michigan]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Michigan]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Wayne County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Detroit Catholic Central High School alumni]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]

Latest revision as of 18:01, 17 September 2024

Mark Messner
No. 60
Position:Defensive tackle, linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1965-12-29) December 29, 1965 (age 58)
Riverview, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:256 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:Detroit Catholic Central
College:Michigan
NFL draft:1989 / round: 6 / pick: 161
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference
College Football Hall of Fame

Mark W. Messner (born December 29, 1965) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL) during the 1989 season. He sustained a serious knee injury in the 1989-90 NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers and never played in another game.

Messner played college football at the University of Michigan. He started every game, 49 in all, at defensive tackle for Michigan from 1985 to 1988. He was the first position player ever to be selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference player all four years.

Messner was also a four-time All-American, earning third-team selections in 1985[1] and 1986,[2] first-team in 1987,[3] and unanimous honors in 1987.[4][5][6][7][8]

He set still holds Michigan records for quarterback sacks in a game (5), career tackles for loss (70), and career sacks (36). He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 2014.

Early years and family

[edit]

Messner was born in Riverview, Michigan, a southern suburb of Detroit, in 1965.[9] His biological father, Max Messner, was a linebacker for the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers from 1960 to 1965.[10][11]

Messner's parents divorced when he was young, and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, Del Pretty,[12] who ran a piano store in Livonia, Michigan.[13] Messner referred to his biological father as the "fun" dad and Pretty as the "disciplinarian."[14] In a 1988 interview with Mitch Albom, Messner referred to Pretty as "the most important person in my life. He's the reason I do what I do, and try as hard as I try."[14] He later noted that Pretty "raised me, fed me, spanked me, hugged me, took me to school, wrote me poems, came to all my football games and made me feel like the most important person in the world.[15] Pretty was diagnosed with lymph node cancer in 1980 and eventually died from the disease in December 1989 when Messner was a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams.[15]

Messner was a hyperactive child for whom football was an outlet to unleash his energy.[10] He grew up in Hartland, Michigan,[16] and attended Hartland High School from 1980 to 1981 before transferring to Detroit Catholic Central High School, which was then located in Redford, Michigan.[9][10] He played at the tight end and nose guard positions for Catholic Central in 1982 and 1983 and earned all-state and high school All-American honors as a senior,[17] and graduated in 1984.[18] He was later inducted into both the Catholic Central and Catholic League Halls of Fame.[17]

University of Michigan

[edit]

Messner enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1984 and played college football as a defensive tackle for head coach Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1985 to 1988.[16]

At six feet, three inches, Messner was small for his position. He adjusted for his size by playing with speed and intelligence. Messner once described his approach as follows: "I try to move with quickness toward his weakness. I try to get away from where he is leaning, like a matador steps around a bull."[19] The Los Angeles Times in January 1989 called him "a quarterback's worst enemy."[10] Another writer described him as "a combination Dennis the Menace and Henry David Thoreau, a philosopher with a cowlick" and "Aristotle in a jockstrap."[13] Messner noted that it was his goal to play with "youthful intensity" like "a young kid."[19]

1985 season

[edit]

Messner was a redshirt who did not play during the 1984 season. As a redshirt freshman, he started all 12 games at defensive tackle for the 1985 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled a 10-1-1 record, was ranked #2 in the final AP Poll, held opponents to 75 points in the regular season (6.8 points per game), and defeated Nebraska in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl.[20] Despite his lack of college experience, Messner set a new Michigan record in 1985 with 11 quarterback sacks and also totaled 71 tackles and 14 tackles for loss.[21] He was also named the Defensive Player of the Game in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl after he registered nine tackles, forced a fumble, and recovered another.[22][23] He was also selected as a first-team defensive lineman on the 1985 All-Big Ten team.[24]

1986 season

[edit]

In his second year, Messner started all 13 games at defensive tackle for the 1986 Michigan team that compiled an 11–2 record, tied for the Big Ten Conference championship, and lost to Arizona State in the 1987 Rose Bowl.[25] For the second consecutive year, Messner was selected as a first-team defensive lineman on the All-Big Ten team.[26]

1987 season

[edit]

As a junior, Messner again started every game, 12 in all, at defensive tackle for the 1987 Wolverines.[27] He had 11 sacks during the 1987 season.[13] His five sacks against Northwestern on October 31, 1987, remains a Michigan single-game record.[28] At the end of the season, he was selected by the Sporting News as a first-team defensive lineman on the 1987 All-America Team.[29] He was also voted by his teammates as Michigan's defensive player of the year.[30]

1988 season

[edit]

Prior to the 1988 season, the Sporting News featured a photograph of Messner and coach Schembechler on the cover of its preseason issue ranking Michigan #1 in the country.[12] During the 1988 season, Messner started every game at defensive tackle for the fourth consecutive year. In all, he started 49 consecutive games for Michigan starting with the opening game of his redshirt freshman year. He was selected as a co-captain and Most Valuable Player on the 1988 Michigan team that lost its opening two games against #1-ranked Miami (by one point) and eventual national champion Notre Dame (by two points), then went undefeated for the remaining 10 games, and defeated USC in the 1989 Rose Bowl.[31] Messner had eight sacks and set a Michigan record in 1988 with 26 tackles for loss.[13][21] After the 1988 season, Messner was selected as a consensus first-team defensive lineman on the 1988 All-America Team.[32] He was also selected to play in the Hula Bowl and the Japan Bowl post-season all-star games.[21]

Career overview and honors

[edit]

Messner was the first position player in the Big Ten Conference to be selected as a first-team all-conference player in four consecutive years.[21] Only one other Michigan player, Chris Hutchinson (1989–1992), has matched the feat.[28] In four years at Michigan, Messner totaled 248 tackles and five fumble recoveries.[33] He remains Michigan's all-time career leader in tackles for loss (70), tackles for sack yardage (376 yards), sacks (36), and sack yardage (273 yards).[12][19][22] He was also Michigan's sack leader each year from 1985 to 1987.[22]

In 2014, Messner was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor.[28][34] He has also been included on the ballot for possible induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in both 2013 and 2014.[35][36]

Professional football

[edit]
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+3⁄4 in
(1.90 m) 		256 lb
(116 kg) 		5.24 s 1.81 s 3.02 s 4.63 s 23.0 in
(0.58 m)		 7 ft 10 in
(2.39 m)		 11 reps
All values from NFL Combine[37]

Messner was selected in the sixth round (161st overall pick) of the 1989 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams.[38] He was drafted lower than had been anticipated, and an Associated Press story reported that NFL representatives believed his speed and size (6'3", 255 pounds) made him "too small for an NFL defensive tackle and too slow for a linebacker."[39]

Messner appeared in only four regular season games, none as a starter, for the Rams during their 1989 season.[9] On January 14, 1990, he sustained a career-ending knee injury in the 1989-90 NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers and never played in another game. The injury resulted in tears to his anterior (ACL), lateral and medial cruciate ligaments. Messner recalled, "My knee injury was a dandy for my one and only football injury ... Last time I ever put on football gear. Bad day!"[12]

Later years and family

[edit]

Messner married Jennifer Rybarz Messner in January 2002. He has four children, Mitchell Messner, Justin Messner, Bailey Reiter and Mckenna Reiter.[40]

After retiring from football, Messner worked for Eastman Kodak Company and later for Canon Business Solutions and Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. He was a region vice president for Canon from March 2009 to July 2010 based in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Since July 2010, he has been a vice president of Konica Minolta in Tampa, Florida and CPQ Champion.[18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "All-America". Akron Beacon Journal. December 10, 1985. p. D2.
  2. ^ "All-America News: Football News". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 23, 1986. p. 14D.
  3. ^ "Brown TSN top player of '87". Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, IL). December 9, 1987. p. 11.
  4. ^ "1988 Kodak All-America Team". Asbury Park Press. November 22, 1988. p. D2.
  5. ^ "AP All-America". The Cincinnati Enquirer. December 9, 1988. p. F2.
  6. ^ "Football Writers Association All-America Team". The Indianapolis Star. December 2, 1988. p. C6.
  7. ^ "UPI All-America Team". The Indianapolis Star. December 15, 1988. p. C10.
  8. ^ "Walter Camp All-America Team". Southern Illinoisan. November 24, 1988. p. 18.
  9. ^ a b c "Mark Messner". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d "Hyper Energy: Michigan's Messner Is a Tough One". Los Angeles Times. January 1, 1989.
  11. ^ "Max Messner". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d Steve Kornacki (2013). Go Blue!: Michigan's Greatest Football Stories. Triumph Books. pp. 77–79. ISBN 978-1600788482.
  13. ^ a b c d "Brawny, Brainy: Messner, the Leader of Michigan's Grunts, Also Can Talk a Pretty Good Game". Los Angeles Times. January 3, 1989.
  14. ^ a b Mitch Albom (November 11, 1988). "Mark Messner, Never At A Loss". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on April 8, 2015.
  15. ^ a b Mitch Albom (December 24, 1989). "Mark Messner: His Father's Son". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on April 8, 2015.
  16. ^ a b "All-Time Football Roster Database". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  17. ^ a b "Mark Messner '84". Catholic Central Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "About Mark Messner". Facebook. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  19. ^ a b c Angelique Chengelis (2012). 100 Things Michigan Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1623680701.
  20. ^ "1985 Michigan Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  21. ^ a b c d Bruce Madej; Rob Toonkel; Mike Pearson; Greg Kinney (1997). Michigan: Champions of the West. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 195.
  22. ^ a b c "Mark Messner, Defensive Tackle". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  23. ^ "1986 Fiesta Bowl". Fiesta Bowl. Archived from the original on January 2, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  24. ^ "Soph White, Station, Unanimous Choices". Toledo Blade (AP story). December 3, 1985. p. 33.
  25. ^ "1986 Michigan Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  26. ^ "Harbaugh heads All-Big Ten team". The Michigan Daily. November 26, 1986. p. 8.
  27. ^ "1987 Michigan Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  28. ^ a b c Nick Baumgartner (February 14, 2014). "Michigan to honor Mark Messner, Gary Grant and Katie McGregor on Sunday at hoops game". Mlive.com.
  29. ^ "ESPN College Football Encyclopedia: The Complete History of College Football from 1869 to the Present". Archived from the original on November 12, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
  30. ^ "Michigan MVPs: Morris, Messner". The Argus-Press (AP story). November 25, 1987. p. 11.
  31. ^ "1988 Michigan Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  32. ^ "2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2014. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  33. ^ "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". University of Michigan. Archived from the original on May 24, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2015.(to retrieve Messner's statistics, enter "messner" in the box for the player's last name)
  34. ^ "U-M Greats Grant, McGregor and Messner Named to Hall of Honor". MGoBlue.com. University of Michigan. September 14, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  35. ^ Brendan Quinn. "Michigan players left out of College Football Hall of Fame's 2014 class". Mlive.com. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  36. ^ Brendan Quinn (October 22, 2014). "Jumbo Elliott, Rob Lytle, Mark Messner all return to College Football Hall of Fame ballot". Mlive.com.
  37. ^ "Mark Messner, Combine Results, ILB - Michigan". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  38. ^ "1989 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  39. ^ "Messner drafted by L.A. Rams". Ludington Daily News (AP story). April 25, 1989. p. 7.
  40. ^ "About Mark Messner (family)". Facebook. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
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