Mark Gilbert (American football)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Mark Gilbert
| image = HoustonRoughnecksvsMemphisShowboatsUFL5325-149 (54499551392).jpg
| caption = Gilbert with the Memphis Showboats in 2025
| current_team = Memphis Showboats
| number =14
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|6|1|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 186
| high_school = Terry Sanford
(Fayetteville, North Carolina)
| college = Duke (2016–2020)
| undraftedyear = 2021
| pastteams =
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2021}})
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
- Pittsburgh Maulers ({{USFL Year|2023}})
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
- Birmingham Stallions ({{UFL Year|2024}})
- Memphis Showboats ({{UFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- UFL champion (2024)
- USFL interceptions leader (2023)
- All-USFL Team (2023)
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 3
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Pass deflections
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Interceptions
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue5 = 1
| statlabel6 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = GilbMa02
}}
Mark Gilbert Jr. (born June 1, 1997) is an American professional football cornerback for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League. He played college football at Duke and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. Gilbert has also been a member of the Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Maulers, Miami Dolphins, and Birmingham Stallions.
Early life
Mark Gilbert Jr. was born on June 1, 1997, to Tonya and Mark Gilbert. He was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Gilbert attended Terry Sanford High School, where he played football and basketball.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4036033/mark-gilbert|title=Mark Gilbert Stats, News, Bio|website=ESPN}}
College career
Rated as a three-star recruit coming out of high school, Gilbert chose to attend Duke University. Going into his freshman year, Gilbert was nominated as a second-team all-ACC freshman. He played in 12 games during his freshman year, starting three. In his sophomore year, Gilbert was nominated as a fourth-team All-American before the beginning of the season. Gilbert broke numerous records in his sophomore year, including him becoming the only player in Duke history with 5 or more interceptions and 15 or more passes defended in a single season. In week 2 of his Junior year against Northwestern, Gilbert suffered a season-ending hip injury that caused him to miss the rest of the 2018 college football season, and the entirety of the 2019 college football season. Leading into the 2020 college football season, Gilbert was invited to the NFL combine but opted to remain at Duke. During his fifth year at Duke, he started two games for the Blue Devils before being forced to undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot.{{Cite web|url=https://goduke.com/sports/football/roster/mark-gilbert/10554|title=Mark Gilbert - 2019 - Football|website=Duke University}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0 1/8
| weight = 186
| dash = 4.48
| ten split = 1.52
| twenty split = 2.60
| shuttle = 4.38
| cone drill = 7.10
| vertical = 36.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 10
| bench = 13
| arm span = 31 1/4
| hand span = 8 3/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/mark-gilbert/32004749-4c11-7153-6787-8da3d8fffcf6 |title=Mark Gilbert Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=December 6, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1017625&DraftYear=2021 |title=Mark Gilbert College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=December 6, 2024}}
}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers (first stint)=
After going undrafted in the 2021 NFL draft, Gilbert was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Gilbert did not make the active roster but was signed to the Steelers' practice squad.{{Cite web|url=https://steelersdepot.com/2021/05/2021-steelers-udfa-player-profiles-duke-cb-mark-gilbert/|title=2021 Steelers' UDFA Player Profiles: Duke CB Mark Gilbert|first=Jonathan|last=Heitritter|date=May 4, 2021|website=Steelers Depot}}
=Detroit Lions=
Before week 8 of the 2021 NFL season, on October 12, 2021, Gilbert was signed off of the Steelers' practice squad by the Detroit Lions. Gilbert was then made a member of the Lions' active roster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/10/12/22722963/detroit-lions-sign-cornerback-mark-gilbert-from-steelers-practice-squad|title=Report: Lions sign CB Mark Gilbert from Steelers practice squad|first=Jeremy|last=Reisman|date=October 12, 2021|website=Pride Of Detroit}} He was waived on August 30, 2022.{{cite web|title=Lions announce roster moves|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-announce-roster-moves-x0035|website=DetroitLions.com|date=August 30, 2022|access-date=September 3, 2022|archive-date=January 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102104838/https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-announce-roster-moves-x0035|url-status=dead}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint)=
On October 1, 2022, Gilbert re-signed to the Steelers' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Roster moves continue for Steelers|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/roster-moves-continue-for-steelers-x7013|author=Varley, Teresa|website=Steelers.com|date=September 1, 2022}}
=Pittsburgh Maulers=
Gilbert signed with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL on March 25, 2023.{{cite tweet |user=USFLMaulers |title=Free Agent Signings |number=1639658404410183684 |date=March 25, 2023 |access-date=March 28, 2023}} He was released from his contract on August 4, 2023, to sign with an NFL team.{{cite tweet |user=USFLMaulers |title=Contract Terminated / Signing with NFL Team |number=1687461589337960448 |date=August 4, 2023 |access-date=August 5, 2023}}
=Miami Dolphins=
On August 4, 2023, Gilbert signed with the Miami Dolphins.{{cite web|title=Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves|url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-make-roster-moves-8-4-23|website=MiamiDolphins.com|date=August 4, 2023}} He was waived/injured nine days later.{{cite web|url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-make-roster-moves-8-13-23|work=MiamiDolphins.com|title=Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves|date=August 13, 2023|accessdate=August 13, 2023|author=Miami Dolphins}} He reverted to the team's injured reserve list on August 14,{{cite news |title=Dolphins' Mark Gilbert: Shifts to IR |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/dolphins-mark-gilbert-shifts-to-ir/ |website=CBSSports.com |date=August 14, 2023 |access-date=January 20, 2024}} and was waived from the list on August 18.{{cite news |title=Mark Gilbert: Let go by Miami |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/mark-gilbert-let-go-by-miami/ |website=CBSSports.com |date=August 18, 2023 |access-date=January 20, 2024}}
= Birmingham Stallions =
On January 19, 2024, Gilbert was signed by the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL).{{Cite news |title=The UFL Agree to Terms with 42 Players |url=https://uflboard.com/news/the-ufl-agree-to-terms-with-42-players/ |website=UFLBoard.com |date=January 19, 2024 |access-date=January 20, 2024}}
= Memphis Showboats =
Personal life
Gilbert's uncle is Sean Gilbert, a former Pro Bowl defensive tackle, and his cousin is Darrelle Revis, a Hall of Fame selection and Super Bowl champion.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{2024 Birmingham Stallions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert, Mark}}
Category:Players of American football from Fayetteville, North Carolina
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:Duke Blue Devils football players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Pittsburgh Maulers (2022) players
Category:Miami Dolphins players