Mark Sanchez

Mark Travis John Sanchez (born November 11, 1986) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons.

Johnson tutored Mark on the complexities of the position and in two seasons with the team, Mark led the Diablos to a 27–1 record culminating with the California Interscholastic Federation Division II championship in 2004.

In July 2004, Sanchez announced his commitment to the University of Southern California.

Being named the nation's top quarterback coming out of high school, Sanchez was well regarded upon his arrival at USC.

Sanchez was named football player of the year by several major college recruiting services and was considered the top quarterback in the nation upon the conclusion of his high school football career in 2005.

With upperclassmen Matt Leinart and John David Booty returning, Sanchez did not play during his freshman year in 2005, opting to redshirt to preserve a year of eligibility.

During this time, he participated as the quarterback of USC's scout team, earning the Trojans' Service Team Offensive Player of the Year Award.

In April 2006, Sanchez was arrested after a female USC student accused him of sexual assault.

He was released from jail the following day and suspended.

On June 3, 2006, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office announced no charges would be filed, and Sanchez was reinstated, though he was disciplined by the football team for underage drinking and using false identification on the night he was arrested.

At the outset of the 2006 season, Sanchez competed for the starting quarterback position; once Booty, a junior, suffered severe back spasms caused by a pre-existing back condition, surgery was required and Sanchez was promoted to run the first-team offense during the spring as Booty recovered.

Coaches stated Booty would be considered the starting quarterback when he returned for fall practice.

During the 2006 season, Sanchez saw limited playing time in games against Arkansas, Stanford and Oregon.

Through those three games, Sanchez completed 3 of his 7 pass attempts for 63 yards and one interception.

He also saw additional action against Arizona, Michigan, and Notre Dame but he did not attempt a pass in those contests.

A backup quarterback during his first three years at the University of Southern California, Sanchez rose to prominence in 2007 due to injuries suffered by starting quarterback John David Booty; he also became popular within the community due to his Mexican-American heritage.

He was named the starter in 2008, and led USC to a 12–1 record and won the Rose Bowl against Penn State.

He played college football for the USC Trojans and was selected by the New York Jets in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.

He is currently a color analyst for NFL coverage on Fox and Fox Sports 1.

Although USC coach Pete Carroll and many scouts considered him too inexperienced, Sanchez entered the 2009 NFL Draft and was selected by the Jets in the first round.

Despite a subpar first season, Sanchez led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game, a losing effort to the Indianapolis Colts, becoming the fourth rookie quarterback in NFL history to win his first playoff game and the second to win two playoff games.

In his second season, Sanchez again led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers; he joined Ben Roethlisberger as the only two quarterbacks in NFL history to reach the conference championship in their first two seasons in the league.

The next two seasons would be a regression for both the team and Sanchez as they failed to reach the playoffs and he was eventually replaced towards the end of the 2012 season by Greg McElroy.

Sanchez suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during the preseason in 2013; he was released after the season concluded and was subsequently signed by the Philadelphia Eagles.

When Eagles starter Nick Foles went down with an injury, Sanchez started the second half of the season and set career highs in completion percentage and passer rating.

Nevertheless, Sanchez was unable to reestablish himself as a starter and spent one season each as a backup for the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Washington Redskins before retiring after the 2018 season.

Mark Sanchez was born in Long Beach, California, to Nick Sr. and Olga Sanchez.

When Mark was four, his parents divorced; Mark and his brothers, Nick Jr. and Brandon, stayed with their father but their mother remained involved in their upbringing.

Mark initially lived in Whittier and Pico Rivera; when he was six, his father moved with the children to Rancho Santa Margarita, a predominantly white city in Orange County.

Mark's father remarried and raised them strictly, seeking to influence them to become leaders.

Throughout his childhood and teenage years, Mark's father would have him combine athletic and mental training.

Mark would have to dribble a basketball without looking at it while reciting multiplication tables; practice baseball swings in a batting cage while answering questions about the periodic table and similar combined drills that his father hoped would develop quick thinking and self-confidence that would guide Mark in all areas of life and not simply sports.

By the time Sanchez entered the eighth grade, he had developed an interest in football but was unsure of what position to play.

His father consulted coaches Bill Cunerty, who formerly coached at Saddleback College, and Bob Johnson, the head coach at Mission Viejo High School.

Both coaches stated Mark could be a quarterback if he applied himself and was open to learning the intricacies of the position.

Nick Sr. trained Mark during sessions in their backyard or at the park.

Mark, who was attending Santa Margarita High School, joined the football team.

During his first Varsity pass attempt as a sophomore in a game against El Modena High School, Mark threw a 55-yard touchdown to WR Bobby Whithorne on the first play of the fourth quarter to help Santa Margarita win 17–10.

Prior to his junior year of high school, Sanchez transferred to Mission Viejo, where Johnson, who was recognized as a "quarterback guru", having trained professionals like Carson Palmer, was head coach.

Under Johnson's tutelage, Mark Felt he would have a better opportunity to become a better player.