Mark Bavaro

Mark Anthony Bavaro (born April 28, 1963) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end for the New York Giants (1985–1990), Cleveland Browns (1992), and Philadelphia Eagles (1993–1994) in the National Football League (NFL).

After an All-American career at the University of Notre Dame, Bavaro was drafted by the Giants in the fourth round (#100 overall) in the 1985 NFL Draft.

He quickly emerged as a starter in his rookie season and became renowned during his Giants career for his blocking, toughness, and receiving skills.

He left Notre Dame after graduating in 1985 despite having one season of eligibility remaining (due to the redshirt status of his sophomore season ) and was selected in the fourth round (#100 overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

Coming out of college, Bavaro was known mostly for his blocking ability and was expected to play the role of a run blocking tight end as a professional.

He earned the nickname "Rambo" early in his rookie season due to his intense playing style, quiet personality, and physical resemblance to Sylvester Stallone.

After starting tight end Zeke Mowatt suffered a season-ending injury before the start of the 1985 season, coach Bill Parcells, who had called Bavaro the most impressive rookie during training camp, installed Bavaro as the starter.

Bavaro finished his rookie season with 37 receptions, 511 yards, and 4 touchdowns.

He also set a team record with 12 receptions in one game during quarterback Phil Simms' 513 yard passing effort against the Cincinnati Bengals on October 13, 1985.

After the game, which the Giants lost 35–30, Bavaro responded in the low-key manner that would typify his career, "[i]t was nothing special, the plays were the same stuff. I don't know what they did. I just caught a lot of balls. I'd rather win, that's all."

Bavaro was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team for his performance during the season.

Bavaro was selected to the Pro Bowl for his performances in the 1986 and 1987 seasons and was a member of the Giants teams that won Super Bowls XXI and XXV.

Bavaro continued his emergence in the 1986 season.

He remained the starter after Mowatt's recovery from injury and emerged as a favorite target of Simms.

He finished the season with 66 receptions, 1,001 yards, and 4 touchdowns and was selected to his first Pro Bowl.

His 66 receptions broke the Giants record for receptions by a tight end previously held by Bob Tucker (59).

Perhaps the most well-known play of Bavaro's career occurred in a Monday Night Football game in 1986.

After the season Bavaro was chosen to appear on the cover or Sports Illustrated's NFL preview issue for the 1987 season.

Bavaro was pictured on the cover in a cutoff shirt holding his shoulder pads over his shoulder, the caption reads "The Living End: Mark Bavaro of the New York Giants".

The cover also featured Bavaro celebrating a touchdown in the trademark manner of his career.

Bavaro, a Roman Catholic, would genuflect in the end zone and motion the sign of the cross after each touchdown.

Bavaro performed well during the 1987 season and was again selected to the Pro Bowl.

He finished the season with 55 receptions, 867 yards, and 8 touchdowns.

After a degenerative knee condition forced him to sit out the 1991 season, he returned to play three seasons for the Browns and Eagles before retiring in 1995.

Since retiring Bavaro has done work as an anti-abortion activist.

His brother David also played in the NFL for four seasons.

Bavaro was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts.

He attended Danvers High School in Danvers, Massachusetts, where he was a high school football All-American.

He was a well-rounded athlete who also excelled in track and field at Danvers.

After being intensively recruited by several colleges, he chose to play collegiately for the University of Notre Dame.

He was recruited by head coach Dan Devine but played his four years under coach Gerry Faust.

He played behind star tight end Tony Hunter as a freshman, then missed all but three minutes of his sophomore season due to a hand injury.

He established himself as a starter as a junior, but grew home-sick and briefly contemplated quitting the team to move back home following the season.

After Faust talked him into staying, he won All-America honors his senior season, when he totalled 32 receptions for 395 yards.

Bavaro developed a reputation for playing through injuries while at Notre Dame.

"He plays with pain better than any player I've seen in my 37 years of coaching" Faust later stated.

Here is a description of the play taken from a Monday Night Football broadcast in 2005: "On Dec. 1 1986, New York Giants tight end Mark Bavaro cements his reputation as one of the toughest men in the NFL. With the Giants trailing, Bavaro catches an innocent pass from Phil Simms over the middle. It takes nearly seven 49ers defenders to finally drag him down, some of which are carried for almost 20 yards, including future Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott. Bavaro's inspiring play jump starts the Giants, who win the game and eventually the Super Bowl."

This reputation as a tough player was further cemented later in the season when he played for six weeks with a broken jaw that forced him to sip food through a straw.

He continued to establish his reputation as an excellent blocker during the season, and was described as "the premier tight end" in the league by 49ers' coach Bill Walsh before the team's playoff matchup.

The Giants finished the regular season 14–2 and defeated the Denver Broncos 39–20 in Super Bowl XXI.