Rashard Mendenhall
{{Short description|American football player (born 1987)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Rashard Mendenhall
| image = Rashard Mendenhall.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Mendenhall with the Steelers in 2009
| number = 34, 28
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1987|6|19}}
| birth_place = Skokie, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 225
| high_school = Niles West
(Skokie, Illinois)
| college = Illinois (2005–2007)
| draftyear = 2008
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 23
| pastteams = * Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2008|2012}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2013}})
| highlights = * Super Bowl champion (XLIII)
- First-team All-American (2007)
- Big Ten Most Valuable Player (2007)
- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2007)
- First-team All-Big Ten (2007)
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 4,236
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 3.9
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 37
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 = 95
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 = 795
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 2
| pfr = MendRa00
}}
Rashard Jamal Mendenhall (born June 19, 1987) is an American former football running back who played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft. He won Super Bowl XLIII with the Steelers against the Arizona Cardinals, for whom he later played one season.
After his career, he became a writer for the television series Ballers.{{cite web|url=http://www.steelersdepot.com/2015/07/hbo-glad-to-have-mendenhalls-expertise-for-ballers/|title=HBO Glad To Have Mendenhall's Expertise For "Ballers" - Steelers Depot|website=www.steelersdepot.com|date=July 5, 2015}}
Early life
Mendenhall attended Niles West High School and Lincoln Jr. High School in Skokie, Illinois. As a five-star prospect, he was also rated the best recruit in the state of Illinois by Scout.com.{{cite press release|title=Scout.com |url=http://illinois.scout.com/a.z?s=169&p=8&c=1&nid=1046713 |work=Scoutb.com |date=December 10, 2004 |access-date=March 15, 2008}} He recorded 1,300 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore. As a junior, he rushed for 1,832 yards and 19 touchdowns, while averaging 11.6 yards per carry. In his last year, he averaged 9.1 yards per carry, rushing for 1,453 yards on 160 attempts and 14 touchdowns. Following his high school career, Mendenhall played in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
College career
Mendenhall played for the University of Illinois football team. His first season was in 2005, during which he rushed for 218 yards on 48 carries, adding 82 yards receiving and two touchdowns. In 2006, Mendenhall nearly tripled his rushing total, gaining 640 yards and scoring five touchdowns. He added 164 yards receiving and a touchdown, with 12 receptions. Throughout his final season with the Illini, Mendenhall rushed for a then school record 1,681 yards and 17 touchdowns. Throughout the 13 game season, he also had 318 yards receiving and two touchdowns on 34 receptions. He majored in Sports Management.[http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mendenhall_rashard00.html FightingIllini.com bio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711001436/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mendenhall_rashard00.html |date=July 11, 2011 }}
Mendenhall was on the cover of Sporting News' High School Football Magazine.{{cite press release|url=http://i.tsn.com/i/p/books/HSFB_cvr2_173.jpg |title=Sporting News' High School Football Magazine cover image |work=Sporting News |date=March 15, 2008 |access-date=March 15, 2008}} On April 24, 2008, Mendenhall made a guest appearance on The Best Damn Sports Show Period in a segment called Best Damn Rookie Hazing, along with former Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly.{{youTube|iKyU5yOK_rc|Rashard Mendenhall & Malcolm Kelly on Best Damn Sports Show}}
On May 8, 2023, Mendenhall was named as an inductee into the Illini Hall of Fame.{{cite web | url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2023/5/8/mens-golf-fighting-illini-athletics-announce-hall-of-fame-class-of-2023.aspx | title=Fighting Illini Athletics Announce Hall of Fame Class of 2023 | date=May 8, 2023 }}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="13" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Illinois Fighting Illini football}}"| Illinois Fighting Illini | |||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 2005
| 10 || 48 || 218 || 4.5 || 18 || 0 || 13 || 82 || 6.3 || 16 || 2 | |||||||||||
| 2006
| 12 || 78 || 640 || 8.2 || 86 || 5 || 12 || 164 || 13.7 || 76 || 1 | |||||||||||
| 2007
| 13 || 262 || 1,681 || 6.4 || 79 || 17 || 34 || 318 || 9.4 || 55 || 2 | |||||||||||
| Career | 35 | 388 | 2,539 | 6.5 | 86 | 22 | 59 | 564 | 9.6 | 76 | 5 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 10 1/8
| weight = 225
| dash = 4.45
| ten split = 1.57
| twenty split = 2.59
| shuttle = 4.18
| vertical = 33.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 9
| bench = 26
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 31 3/8
| hand span = 10 7/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=56664&DraftYear=2008 |title=2008 Draft Scout Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |access-date=February 16, 2023 |website=draftscout.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=8020 |title=Rashard Mendenhall, Combine Results, RB - Illinois |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=February 16, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/12172 |title=Rashard Mendenhall 2008 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=February 16, 2023}}
}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers=
Mendenhall was drafted in the first round with the 23rd overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2008 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2008 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2008/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{cite news |first= Ed |last= Bouchette|title=Steelers draft RB from Illinois, WR from Texas to protect Big Ben |url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08118/877010-66.stm|newspaper= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= April 28, 2008|access-date=April 27, 2008 }} Prior to his rookie season Mendenhall was ranked by ESPN as the 30th best running back in the league.{{cite web |url= https://insider.espn.com/nfl/insider/news/story?id=3424397&action=login&appRedirect=http%253a%252f%252finsider.espn.go.com%252fnfl%252finsider%252fnews%252fstory%253fid%253d3424397|title= James, Bush headline second tier of running backs|access-date=June 6, 2008 |work= ESPN.com|date= June 4, 2008}} On July 25, 2008, Mendenhall agreed to a five-year contract worth $12.55 million with the Steelers,{{cite news |first= Ed|last= Bouchette|title= Mendenhall, Sweed sign with Steelers|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08208/899756-66.stm|newspaper= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= July 26, 2008|access-date=July 26, 2008}} of which $7.125 million was guaranteed.{{cite news|first= Joe|last= Mandak|author-link= Associated Press|title= Steelers sign No. 1 pick to 5-year contract|url= https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-steelers-mendenhall&prov=ap&type=lgns|work= NFL|publisher= Yahoo! Sports|date= July 25, 2008|access-date= July 27, 2008|archive-date= August 18, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090818172657/http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-steelers-mendenhall&prov=ap&type=lgns|url-status= dead}} He was expected to be a complement to Pro-Bowl running back Willie Parker,{{cite news|first= John|last= Harris|title= Expect much from Mendenhall|url= http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_573070.html|newspaper= Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date= June 17, 2008|access-date= June 17, 2008|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080617185955/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_573070.html|archive-date= June 17, 2008}} in addition to returning kicks. Mendenhall fumbled twice in Pittsburgh's third pre-season game against Minnesota; they were attributed to adjusting to the faster pace of the NFL.{{cite news|first= Scott|last= Brown|title= Mendenhall having trouble hanging onto ball|url= http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_584695.html?source=rss&feed=3|newspaper= Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date= August 25, 2008|access-date= August 25, 2008|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080828221356/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_584695.html?source=rss&feed=3|archive-date= August 28, 2008}} Days after the game, teammate Hines Ward placed a ball in Mendenhall's locker with a note stating, "Take Mendenhall's ball away and get $100 from him." Mendenhall was required to carry the ball everywhere he went until the team's next game.{{cite news|first= Mike|last= Prisuta|title= Mendenhall gets gripping lessons|url= http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_584853.html?source=rss&feed=9|newspaper= Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date= August 26, 2008|access-date= August 26, 2008|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080828221411/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_584853.html?source=rss&feed=9|archive-date= August 28, 2008}} Mendenhall fumbled once more in the Steelers final pre-season game,{{cite news|first= Scott|last= Brown|title= Steelers nip Panthers with last second field goal|url= http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_585465.html|newspaper= Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date= August 28, 2008|access-date= August 30, 2008|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080901202456/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_585465.html|archive-date= September 1, 2008}}{{cite news |first= Ed|last= Bouchette|title= It's a Reed-thin margin again|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08242/907939-66.stm|newspaper= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= August 29, 2008|access-date=August 30, 2008}} but worked with running backs coach Kirby Wilson to fix the problem.{{cite news |first= Dan|last= Pompei|title= Gripping drama unfolds in AFC North|url= http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-080830-afc-north-rashard-mendenhall-pompei,1,2493749.column?track=rss|newspaper= Chicago Tribune|date= August 30, 2008|access-date=August 31, 2008}}
Mendenhall entered the 2008 regular season as the Steelers' youngest player. He took on return duties in addition to his running back position.{{cite news |first= Gerry|last= Dulac|title= Mendenhall gets fresh start from Tomlin|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08250/910002-66.stm|newspaper= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= September 6, 2008|access-date=September 6, 2008}} Entering the fourth week of the 2008 season, Willie Parker suffered an injury which allowed Mendenhall to make his first NFL start.{{cite news |agency= Associated Press|title= Steelers will be without RB Parker, DT Hampton against rival Ravens|url= https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3604561|work= ESPN.com|date= September 23, 2008|access-date=September 23, 2008}} Mendenhall rushed for 30 yards on 9 carries,{{cite web|url= http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/playbyplay?game_id=29588&displayPage=tab_play_by_play&season=2008&week=REG4&override=true|title= Week Four GameCenter|access-date= September 30, 2008|website= Play-by-Play|publisher= NFL.com|date= September 30, 2008|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081002042115/http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/playbyplay?game_id=29588&displayPage=tab_play_by_play&season=2008&week=REG4&override=true|archive-date= October 2, 2008}}{{cite web|url= http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/29588/PIT_Gamebook.pdf|title= National Football League Game Summary|access-date= September 30, 2008|website= Baltimore Ravens At Pittsburgh Steelers|publisher= NFL.com|date= September 30, 2008|archive-date= October 31, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081031014108/http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/29588/PIT_Gamebook.pdf|url-status= dead}} but was forced to leave the game with a fractured shoulder in the third quarter after a hit by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.{{cite news |first= Ed|last= Bouchette|title= Four Steelers hurt; Mendenhall, Simmons to injured reserve list|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08274/916203-66.stm|newspaper= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= September 30, 2008|access-date=October 22, 2008}} Mendenhall was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.{{cite news|first= Teresa|last= Varley|title= Injuries leave Steelers thin at running back|url= http://news.steelers.com/article/96862/|publisher= PittsburghSteelers.com|date= September 30, 2008|access-date= October 22, 2008|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081019003728/http://news.steelers.com/article/96862/|archive-date= October 19, 2008}} Mendenhall finished his rookie season with 58 rushing yards on 19 carries and 115 yards on six kick returns.{{cite web |url= http://www.nfl.com/players/rashardmendenhall/careerstats?id=MEN393702|title= Rashard Mendenhall|access-date=October 22, 2008 |website= Career stats|publisher= NFL.com|date= September 30, 2008}}{{cite news |first= Ed|last= Bouchette|title= Steelers rookie Mendenhall reacquainted with team|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09031/945958-66.stm|publisher= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=January 31, 2009|access-date=February 1, 2009}}
In week 4 of the 2009 season, Mendenhall started in place of an injured Willie Parker. Against the San Diego Chargers, he jump-started his NFL career by rushing for 165 yards and two touchdowns.
After a 2009 season where Mendenhall ran for 1,108 yards and 7 touchdowns, his 2010 season proved to be even more impressive. In 2010 Mendenhall ran for 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns, helping lead the Steelers back to the Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers, which they subsequently lost. The loss was aided by a 4th quarter fumble by Mendenhall that led to a Packers scoring drive.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201102060pit.htm |title=Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers - February 6th, 2011 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |access-date=December 15, 2017}}
The 2011 season was a difficult season for Mendenhall, who only rushed for over 100 yards two times in 15 games. However, Mendenhall scored 9 touchdowns and had a 4.0 yards per carry average. On January 1, 2012, Mendenhall left the last regular season game against the Cleveland Browns with a knee injury on the final play of the 1st quarter. It was soon discovered that he had torn his ACL and was placed on the IR list. Mendenhall finished the year with 928 yards rushing.
On December 12, 2012, Mendenhall was suspended by the Steelers organization for a game against the Dallas Cowboys for not showing up to a game against the San Diego Chargers because he was deactivated due to inconsistent play.{{Cite web |url=http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-Suspend-RB-Rashard-Mendenhall-Activate-RB-Baron-Batch-From-Practice-Squad/e12031e0-bbeb-487f-9482-4d5e87a2c4be |title=Steelers Suspend RB Rashard Mendenhall; Activate RB Baron Batch from Practice Squad |access-date=December 12, 2012 |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215105515/http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-Suspend-RB-Rashard-Mendenhall-Activate-RB-Baron-Batch-From-Practice-Squad/e12031e0-bbeb-487f-9482-4d5e87a2c4be |url-status=dead }}
=Arizona Cardinals=
Mendenhall signed a one-year contract worth up to $2.5 million with the Arizona Cardinals on March 13, 2013. Mendenhall would end up scoring eight rushing touchdowns for the Cardinals {{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/9048226|title=Cards agree to one-year deal with Mendenhall|date=March 13, 2013|website=ESPN.com}}
= Retirement =
In March 2014, at the age of 26, Mendenhall retired from the NFL, saying, "Football was pretty cool, but I don't want to play anymore. I want to travel the world and write!"{{cite press release|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rashard-mendenhall/rashard-mendenhall-retirement-_b_4931316.html|title='The Huffington Post'|date=March 9, 2014|access-date=March 10, 2014}}{{cite web | last=Wesseling | first=Chris | title=Arizona Cardinals' Rashard Mendenhall is retiring | website=NFL.com | date=2014-03-09 | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/arizona-cardinals-rashard-mendenhall-is-retiring-0ap2000000332052 | access-date=2024-11-29}}{{cite web | last=Schefter | first=Adam | title=Mendenhall, 26, retiring after 6 NFL seasons | website=ESPN.com | date=2014-03-09 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/10576569 | access-date=2024-11-29}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
| 2008 | PIT
| 4 || 19 || 58 || 3.1 || 12 || 0 || 2 || 17 || 8.5 || 11 || 0 | ||||||||
| 2009 | PIT
| 16 || 242 || 1,108 || 4.6 || 60 || 7 || 25 || 261 || 10.4 || 26 || 1 | ||||||||
| 2010 | PIT
| 16 || 324 || 1,273 || 3.9 || 50T || 13 || 23 || 167 || 7.3 || 24 || 0 | ||||||||
| 2011 | PIT
| 15 || 228 || 928 || 4.1 || 68 || 9 || 18 || 154 || 8.6 || 35 || 0 | ||||||||
| 2012 | PIT
| 6 || 51 || 182 || 3.6 || 20 || 0 || 9 || 62 || 6.9 || 15 || 1 | ||||||||
| 2013 | ARI
| 15 || 217 || 687 || 3.2 || 28 || 8 || 18 || 134 || 7.4 || 24 || 0 | ||||||||
| colspan="2"|[https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/11257/rashard-mendenhall Career] || 72|| 1,081 || 4,236 || 3.9 || 68 || 37 || 95 || 795 || 8.4 || 35 || 2 |
Writing career
Mendenhall was a writer and story editor for the HBO sports comedy Ballers.{{cite web|url=http://blog.azcardinals.com/2015/07/06/ex-cards-mendenhall-rhodes-work-hollywood/|title=Cardinals Blogs - Ex-Cards Mendenhall, Rhodes work Hollywood|website=blog.azcardinals.com|date=July 6, 2015}} A number of scenes from the show were inspired by his own career.{{cite web| author = Kevin Cook| title = Class Notes Profile: Gridiron Writer| url = https://illinoisalumni.org/2019/09/05/class-notes-profile-gridiron-writer/| website = Illinois Alumni | date = September 5, 2019| access-date = September 10, 2019}}
Controversies
{{criticism section|date=December 2023}}
Reacting to the death of Osama bin Laden and the American reaction to the death of Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011, Mendenhall posted comments on his Twitter account criticizing the celebrations;{{cite web|title=Rashard Mendenhall's bin Laden Tweets raise eyebrows|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7364793n|publisher=CBS News}} one tweet seemed to support 9/11 conspiracy theories.{{cite web |last1=Barkhorn |first1=Eleanor |title=Rashard Mendenhall Doubts bin Laden Was Behind 9/11, and He's Not Alone |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/05/rashard-mendenhall-doubts-bin-laden-was-behind-9-11-and-hes-not-alone/238254/ |website=The Atlantic |date=May 3, 2011 |access-date=July 17, 2018}}
On April 11, 2019, during the public fallout between Mendenhall's former teammates Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, Mendenhall took to Twitter stating that the situation between Roethlisberger and Brown occurred because Roethlisberger is racist. Mendenhall tweeted, "Alright, I'll end the mystery...B's racist and @AB84 (Brown) is black. He had to catch balls from a racist quarterback. Every honest player knows it, it's not a big deal. He was just supposed to take his lickings and move on, like a slave for real." Mendenhall later attempted to back pedal on his remarks, saying that Roethlisberger was "not racist" just like Brown is "not a dirtbag" and "Clearly it's no fun, when EVERYONE's the accused."{{cite news |last1=Zucker |first1=Joseph |title=Ben Roethlisberger's Wife Ashley: 2019 Offseason Was 'Challenging' on Marriage |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2906347-ben-roethlisbergers-wife-ashley-2019-offseason-was-challenging-on-marriage |access-date=December 23, 2023 |work=Bleacher Report |date=August 26, 2020 |language=en}}
On December 18, 2023, Mendenhall posted on X, "I'm sick of average white guys commenting on football. Y'all not even good at football. Can we please replace the Pro Bowl with an All-Black vs. All-White bowl so these cats can stop trying to teach me who’s good at football. I’m better than ur {{sic}} goat."{{cite news |last1=Popejoy |first1=Curt |title=Former Steeler Rashard Mendenhall takes to Twitter with yet another tirade |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/former-steeler-rashard-mendenhall-takes-160251373.html |access-date=December 23, 2023 |work=Yahoo Sports |date=December 18, 2023}} The post drew widespread mockery and criticism, including from Robert Griffin III, who posted a video in which he said, "This is the tweet of a dumbass. Don't be a dumbass. These are prejudice, discriminatory, racial ideologies which set us back centuries. We don't want to go back to the old times. I don't want to participate in the segregation bowl."{{cite news |last1=Schmitt |first1=Collin |title=Steeler Nation: Pittsburgh Steelers News, Rumors, & More |url=https://www.steelernation.com/2023/12/22/steelers-rashard-mendenhall-blasted-espn-robert-griffin-iii-controversial-proposal |access-date=December 23, 2023 |work=Steeler Nation |language=en}} Mendenhall followed up on the post five days later, saying "Did not intend to lessen my white football brothers. But honestly, they know that..".{{Cite web |last=Gaydos |first=Ryan |date=2023-12-24 |title=Ex-Steelers player says he 'did not intend to lessen my white football brothers' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/ex-steelers-player-says-he-did-not-intend-lessen-my-white-football-brothers |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080527105141/http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mendenhall_rashard00.html Illinois Fighting Illini bio]
- {{IMDb name|nm3135260}}
{{2008 NFL Draft}}
{{SteelersFirstPick}}
{{Steelers2008DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XLIII}}
{{Chicago Tribune Silver Football navbox}}{{Big Ten Conference Football Player of the Year navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mendenhall, Rashard}}
Category:American football running backs
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football players
Category:Sportspeople from Skokie, Illinois
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Players of American football from Cook County, Illinois
Category:Writers from Illinois