:Mark Washington (cornerback)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1947)}}
{{For|the Canadian Football League player|Mark Washington (Canadian football)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Mark Washington
| image = Mark Washington (cornerback) 2011.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Washington in 2011
| number = 46
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|12|28}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 188
| high_school = Harlan (Chicago)
| college = Morgan State
| draftyear = 1970
| draftround = 13
| draftpick = 335
| pastteams = * Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1970}}–{{NFL Year|1978}})
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1979}})
| highlights = * 2× Super Bowl champion (VI, XII)
- All-CIAA (1969)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 118
| statlabel2 = Interceptions
| statvalue2 = 13
| statlabel3 = Interception yards
| statvalue3 = 107
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 7
| pfr = WashMa20
}}
Mark Henry Washington (born December 28, 1947) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. He played college football for the Morgan State Bears.
Early life
Washington attended Chicago's John Marshall Harlan Career Academy, before receiving a football scholarship to play for Morgan State University. He was coached by Earl Banks, who at the time sent many of his players to professional football.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2205&dat=19740326&id=P8MlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RfUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2330,1684504 | title=End Of An Era | access-date=February 19, 2023}}
He became a four year starter at cornerback and was part of a team that had 31 straight wins. As a senior, he was named co-captain, posted 6 interceptions and received All-CIAA honors. He finished his career with 15 interceptions.
In 1993, he was inducted into the Morgan State University Athletic Hall of Fame.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2205&dat=19931127&id=mZ8lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7fQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1976,3831086 | title=Morgan's Varsity 'M' Club inducts 16 into Hall of Fame | access-date=February 19, 2023}}
Professional career
=Dallas Cowboys=
Washington was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 13th round (335th overall) of the 1970 NFL draft. Even as a rookie, he was one of the best athletes on the team and showed his big play potential with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19701124&id=WGhGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A-kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4917,6192262 | title=Mike Washington Has Kickoff Return Formula | access-date=February 19, 2023}} He also blocked an extra point in Super Bowl V.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19710118&id=YgFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JfcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1461,4086594 | title=Kicker finally makes Colts | access-date=February 19, 2023}} His 48.4 yards per kick return that season remains a franchise record (though unofficial, as he only returned five kicks on the season).
Coming into his second year, he injured his knee while returning a kickoff in preseason and was waived injured on August 25, 1971. He would eventually rejoin the team and play in two games.
When Herb Adderley retired in 1973, he had a chance to earn the left cornerback starting job, but he was passed over by Charlie Waters.
In 1974, he was named the starting left cornerback at mid-season after Waters struggled and held the job until being slowed down by an ankle injury in the last 2 contests, starting a total of 6 games.
In 1975, he was the starter at left cornerback for the full season (14 starts), registered 4 interceptions (tied for second on the team) and helped the Cowboys reach Super Bowl X. But he is mostly remembered for his play against Lynn Swann, who finished the game with four receptions for a then Super Bowl record 161 yards, one touchdown and became the first wide receiver to earn Super Bowl MVP honors. Washington had excellent coverage on Swann on all 4 receptions, but Swann was able to make plays each time.{{cite web| url=http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=supervictims&num=4 | title=Mark Washington, Cornerback, Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl X, Miami | access-date=February 19, 2023}}{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19760828&id=pOUNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jW0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5177,2609940 | title=Duck Soup Sans Swann? | access-date=February 19, 2023}}
In 1976, he was replaced with Benny Barnes, but got a chance to start 5 games at right cornerback after Mel Renfro was injured, posting 4 interceptions (led the team).
In 1977, he started 4 games at mid-season after Aaron Kyle suffered a fractured left wrist. He also filled in at left corner in Super Bowl XII when Barnes exited with a foot injury early in the game and registered an interception late in the second quarter. In 1978, he started 3 games at left cornerback in place of Barnes who had foot problems, but was later sidelined himself by a right knee injury. He was waived on August 21, 1979.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19790822&id=TlUaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZiYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3347,5938554 | title=Transactions | access-date=February 19, 2023}}
=New England Patriots=
Washington signed with the New England Patriots as a free agent on September 13, 1979.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19790914&id=MoRRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BBIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5608,2478252 | title=Patriots sign vet cornerback | access-date=February 19, 2023}} He was released on November 1, to make room for tight end Al Chandler.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19791102&id=GFBSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g3wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6500,1293768 | title=Injured Bulaich says blow was intentional | access-date=February 19, 2023}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Cowboys1970DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl VI}}
{{Super Bowl XII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, Mark}}
Category:Players of American football from Chicago
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:Morgan State Bears football players