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{{Short description|American football player and administrator (born 1969)}}
{{NFL player
{{distinguish|Chris Zoricich}}
|image =
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
|Caption=
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
|DateOfBirth=[[March 13]], [[1969]]
{{Infobox NFL biography
|Birthplace=[[Chicago, IL]]
|name=Chris Zorich
|DateOfDeath=
|image=Chris Zorich.jpg
|Position=[[Defensive tackle|DT]]
|alt=
|College=[[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]]
|caption=Zorich in 2006
|DraftedYear=1991
|position=[[Defensive tackle]]
|DraftedRound=2 / Pick 49
|number=97, 78
|DatabaseFootball=
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1969|3|13|mf=y}}
|PFR=
|birth_place=[[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
|Awards=
|death_date=
|Records
|death_place=
|years=1991-1996<BR>1997
|height_ft = 6
|teams=[[Chicago Bears]]<BR>[[Washington Redskins]]
|height_in = 1
|ProBowls=1993
|weight_lbs = 282
|HOF=}}
|high_school = [[Chicago Vocational High School|Chicago Vocational]]
|college=[[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]]
|draftyear=1991
|draftround=2
|draftpick=49
|pastteams=
* [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|1991|1997}})
* [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|1997}})
| pastadmin =
* [[Prairie State College|Prairie State]] (2015–2018) <br> (Athletic director)
* [[Chicago State Cougars|Chicago State]] (2018–2019) <br> (Athletic director)
|highlights=
* [[UPI Lineman of the Year (College)|UPI Lineman of the Year]] (1989)
* [[Lombardi Award]] (1990)
* [[Unanimous All-American]] ([[1990 College Football All-America Team|1990]])
* [[College Football All-America Team|Consensus All-American]] ([[1989 College Football All-America Team|1989]])
* [[Orange Bowl]] Defensive MVP ([[1991 Orange Bowl|1991]])
* [[Pro Bowl]] alternate ([[1994 Pro Bowl|1993]])
|statseason=
|statlabel1=Tackles
|statvalue1=211
|statlabel2=[[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
|statvalue2=16.5
|nfl=Chris-Zorich
|pfr=ZoriCh20
|CollegeHOF=2196
}}


'''Christopher Robert Zorich''' (born March 16, 1969) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[defensive tackle]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Chicago Bears]] and [[Washington Redskins]]. He played [[college football]] for the [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame Fighting Irish]]. Zorich was the athletic director at [[Chicago State University]] from May 2018 to July 2019.
'''Christopher Robert Zorich''' (born [[March 13]], [[1969]] in [[Chicago]]) is a retired [[American football]] player. He was a [[defensive tackle]].


==Early life==
An only child of [[African American]] and [[Croatian people|Croatian]] descent, Zorich was raised by his mother on the South Side of Chicago, where he attended [[Vocational High School]]. He received a scholarship to play football for the [[University of Notre Dame]] in [[1987]], and he would win multiple accolades during his tenure with the Fighting Irish, including two [[All-American]] titles ([[1990]] and [[1991]]) and the [[Lombardi Award]] (1990). He was also named Most Valuable Player of the 1991 [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]].
An only child of [[African American]] and Croatian descent, Zorich was raised by his mother, Zora (1931 - 1991), on the [[South Side, Chicago|South Side]] of [[Chicago]], where he attended [[Chicago Vocational High School]].<ref name=foundation>{{cite web | work=Chris Zorich Foundation | url=http://www.chriszorich.org/biography/ | title=The Chris Zorich Foundation – Biography | access-date=July 31, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926070125/http://www.chriszorich.org/biography/ | archive-date=September 26, 2008 }}</ref> Chris is nephew to character actor [[Louis Zorich]] and his wife [[Olympia Dukakis]].<ref>[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-05-13/sports/0705130131_1_zora-zorich-day-cards-mother-s-day Zorich mother's day]</ref>


==College career==
Upon graduating from Notre Dame, Zorich was drafted by the [[Chicago Bears]] of the [[National Football League]]. He played for the Bears from 1991 until [[1996]], and he was named an alternate for the [[1993 Pro Bowl]]. He also played one season ([[1997]]) for the [[Washington Redskins]] before retiring to pursue a [[law degree]] at Notre Dame. In his NFL career, Zorich tallied 16.5 career [[quarterback sack]]s and scored one [[touchdown]] off a [[fumble]].
Zorich received a scholarship to play [[college football]] at the [[University of Notre Dame]] in 1987 and began as a [[linebacker]] but was moved to nose tackle early in the season and did not play.<ref name=collegefootballhof>{{cite web | work=College Football Hall of Fame | url={{College Football HoF/url|id=2196}} | title=Chris Zorich's College Football HOF profile | access-date=July 30, 2008}}</ref> However, Zorich then earned [[1988 College Football All-America Team|All-American]] honors the following season. In his first game, he had one and a half sacks and ten tackles against the [[University of Michigan]] and finished the year third on the team in tackles as Notre Dame went undefeated and won the national championship.<ref name=collegefootballhof />


During his junior year, he followed his initial season with a consensus [[1989 College Football All-America Team|All-America]] year in 1989 and was also one of four finalists for the [[Lombardi Award]]. Also in 1989 he was voted the [[UPI Lineman of the Year (College)|UPI Lineman of the Year]] award as the top lineman in college football. As a senior, Zorich won the [[Lombardi Award]] and was recognized as a unanimous [[1990 College Football All-America Team|All-America]].
Zorich has become a well-known [[philanthropist]] in the Chicago area, having established the Christopher Zorich Foundation in 1993 to assist disadvantaged families. He is a past recipient of ''[[USA WEEKEND]]'''s Most Caring Athlete Award and the [[Jesse Owens]] Foundation Humanitarian Award. Zorich has also worked as a [[motivational speaker]].


In the final game of his college career he was the Defensive Most Valuable player of the 1991 [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]].<ref name="collegefootballhof" />
==External links==
*[http://www.chriszorich.org/ Christopher Zorich Foundation website]
*[http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ZORICCHR01 NFL career statistics]


While at Notre Dame, Zorich attended a class taught by onetime [[Big Ten]] Commissioner [[Kevin Warren]]. Zorich eventually signed with Warren's new law firm as Warren's first client.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lawandpolitics.com/minnesota/Sweat-Suits/167ab6dd-04c8-4272-9742-3e1a3a7ea866.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804111615/http://www.lawandpolitics.com/minnesota/Sweat-Suits/167ab6dd-04c8-4272-9742-3e1a3a7ea866.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 4, 2016|title=Sweat Suits :: Minnesota Law & Politics|date=August 4, 2016|access-date=February 22, 2017}}</ref>

==NFL career==
Zorich was selected in the second round of the [[1991 NFL draft]] by the [[Chicago Bears]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1991 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1991/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He played for the Bears from 1991 until 1997, and he was named an alternate for the [[1993 Pro Bowl]]. On December 27, 1992, he returned a fumble for a touchdown during a 27-14 loss to the [[Dallas Cowboys]].<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199212270dal.htm Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys - December 27th, 1992]</ref> He also played one season, in 1997, for the [[Washington Redskins]]. Over the course of his NFL career, Zorich tallied 16.5 career [[quarterback sack]]s and scored total one [[touchdown]].

==After football==
Zorich earned a [[Juris Doctor]] ([[Juris Doctor|J.D.]]) degree at Notre Dame<ref name=collegefootballhof /> and established the Christopher Zorich Foundation in 1993 to assist disadvantaged families. He is a past recipient of ''[[USA WEEKEND]]'''s Most Caring Athlete Award and the [[Jesse Owens]] Foundation Humanitarian Award. Zorich has also worked as a [[motivational speaker]].

On May 9, 2007, Zorich was announced as one of the specially selected inductees of the 2007 class at the [[College Football Hall of Fame]]. Not only was he one of the youngest players to ever be inducted, he is only the third defensive lineman from tradition-rich Notre Dame to call the College Football Hall of Fame home.

On December 8, 2009, Zorich was also inducted into the FedEx Orange Bowl Hall of Fame for his outstanding performances in back-to-back Orange Bowl appearances in 1990 and 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120809aaa.html|title = Chris Zorich Selected to Orange Bowl Hall of Fame|date = December 8, 2009|access-date = July 8, 2014}}</ref>

Zorich lives in Chicago and continues to be an active in athletics administration. From 2015 to 2018, he served as the athletic director at [[Prairie State College]], a [[community college]] in Chicago Heights, Ill. From May 2018 to July 2019, he served as athletic director at [[Chicago State University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.chicago.suntimes.com/2019/7/30/20747679/chicago-state-and-former-bears-notre-dame-dt-chris-zorich-part-ways.html|title = Chicago State parts ways with former Bears, Notre Dame DT Chris Zorich|date = July 30, 2019|website = Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{College Football HoF|2196}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=Chris-Zorich|cfl= |afl= |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=Z/ZoriCh20|rotoworld= }}


{{1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football navbox}}
{{Lombardi Award}}
{{UPI Lineman of the Year}}
{{1989 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1990 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Bears1991DraftPicks}}
{{"Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Zorich, Chris}}
{{defensive-lineman-stub}}
[[Category:1969 births|Zorich, Chris]]
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people|Zorich, Chris]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football defensive tackles|Zorich, Chris]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:People from Chicago|Zorich, Chris]]
[[Category:American football defensive tackles]]
[[Category:American motivational speakers]]
[[Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players|Zorich, Chris]]
[[Category:Chicago Bears players|Zorich, Chris]]
[[Category:American people of Croatian descent]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins players|Zorich, Chris]]
[[Category:Philanthropists from Illinois]]
[[Category:American philanthropists|Zorich, Chris]]
[[Category:Chicago Bears players]]
[[Category:American motivational speakers|Zorich, Chris]]
[[Category:Chicago State Cougars athletic directors]]
[[Category:Croatian-Americans|Zorich, Chris]]
[[Category:Chicago Vocational High School alumni]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players]]
[[Category:Notre Dame Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Chicago]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins players]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeople]]
[[Category:Brian Piccolo Award winners]]

Revision as of 10:18, 21 April 2024

Not to be confused with Chris Zoricich.

Chris Zorich
refer to caption
Zorich in 2006
No. 97, 78
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1969-03-13) March 13, 1969 (age 55)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:282 lb (128 kg)
Career information
High school:Chicago Vocational
College:Notre Dame
NFL draft:1991 / Round: 2 / Pick: 49
Career history
As a player:
As an administrator:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:211
Sacks:16.5
Player stats at PFR

Christopher Robert Zorich (born March 16, 1969) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Zorich was the athletic director at Chicago State University from May 2018 to July 2019.

Early life

An only child of African American and Croatian descent, Zorich was raised by his mother, Zora (1931 - 1991), on the South Side of Chicago, where he attended Chicago Vocational High School.[1] Chris is nephew to character actor Louis Zorich and his wife Olympia Dukakis.[2]

College career

Zorich received a scholarship to play college football at the University of Notre Dame in 1987 and began as a linebacker but was moved to nose tackle early in the season and did not play.[3] However, Zorich then earned All-American honors the following season. In his first game, he had one and a half sacks and ten tackles against the University of Michigan and finished the year third on the team in tackles as Notre Dame went undefeated and won the national championship.[3]

During his junior year, he followed his initial season with a consensus All-America year in 1989 and was also one of four finalists for the Lombardi Award. Also in 1989 he was voted the UPI Lineman of the Year award as the top lineman in college football. As a senior, Zorich won the Lombardi Award and was recognized as a unanimous All-America.

In the final game of his college career he was the Defensive Most Valuable player of the 1991 Orange Bowl.[3]

While at Notre Dame, Zorich attended a class taught by onetime Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren. Zorich eventually signed with Warren's new law firm as Warren's first client.[4]

NFL career

Zorich was selected in the second round of the 1991 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.[5] He played for the Bears from 1991 until 1997, and he was named an alternate for the 1993 Pro Bowl. On December 27, 1992, he returned a fumble for a touchdown during a 27-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.[6] He also played one season, in 1997, for the Washington Redskins. Over the course of his NFL career, Zorich tallied 16.5 career quarterback sacks and scored total one touchdown.

After football

Zorich earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at Notre Dame[3] and established the Christopher Zorich Foundation in 1993 to assist disadvantaged families. He is a past recipient of USA WEEKEND's Most Caring Athlete Award and the Jesse Owens Foundation Humanitarian Award. Zorich has also worked as a motivational speaker.

On May 9, 2007, Zorich was announced as one of the specially selected inductees of the 2007 class at the College Football Hall of Fame. Not only was he one of the youngest players to ever be inducted, he is only the third defensive lineman from tradition-rich Notre Dame to call the College Football Hall of Fame home.

On December 8, 2009, Zorich was also inducted into the FedEx Orange Bowl Hall of Fame for his outstanding performances in back-to-back Orange Bowl appearances in 1990 and 1991.[7]

Zorich lives in Chicago and continues to be an active in athletics administration. From 2015 to 2018, he served as the athletic director at Prairie State College, a community college in Chicago Heights, Ill. From May 2018 to July 2019, he served as athletic director at Chicago State University.[8]

References

  1. ^ "The Chris Zorich Foundation – Biography". Chris Zorich Foundation. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
  2. ^ Zorich mother's day
  3. ^ a b c d "Chris Zorich's College Football HOF profile". College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 30, 2008.
  4. ^ "Sweat Suits :: Minnesota Law & Politics". August 4, 2016. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  5. ^ "1991 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  6. ^ Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys - December 27th, 1992
  7. ^ "Chris Zorich Selected to Orange Bowl Hall of Fame". December 8, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  8. ^ "Chicago State parts ways with former Bears, Notre Dame DT Chris Zorich". Chicago Sun-Times. July 30, 2019.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chris_Zorich&oldid=1220023467"