Chris Zorich: Difference between revisions

Tackles:	211
Sacks:	16.5

Chris Zorich
	Zorich in 2006
No. 97, 78
Position:	Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:	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:
	Chicago Bears (1991–1997); Washington Redskins (1997);
As an administrator:
	Prairie State (2015–2018) ; (Athletic director); Chicago State (2018–2019) ; (Athletic director);
Career highlights and awards
	UPI Lineman of the Year (1989); Lombardi Award (1990); Unanimous All-American (1990); Consensus All-American (1989); Orange Bowl Defensive MVP (1991); Pro Bowl alternate (1993);
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:
Tackles:	211
Sacks:	16.5
	Player stats at NFL.com · PFR
	College Football Hall of Fame

Browse history interactively

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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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

External links[edit]

Chris Zorich at the College Football Hall of Fame
Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference

[foundation-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

[collegefootballhof-3] "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.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|American football player and administrator (born 1969)}}
 {{distinguish|Chris Zoricich}}
+{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
 {{Infobox NFL biography
 |name=Chris Zorich
@@ Line 8: / Line 11: @@
 |number=97, 78
 |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1969|3|13|mf=y}}
-|birth_place=[[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]]
+|birth_place=[[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
 |death_date=
 |death_place=
@@ Line 14: / Line 17: @@
 |height_in = 1
 |weight_lbs = 282
-|high_school = [[Chicago Vocational High School|Chicago Vocational]]<br>([[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]])
+|high_school = [[Chicago Vocational High School|Chicago Vocational]]
 |college=[[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]]
 |draftyear=1991
@@ Line 20: / Line 23: @@
 |draftpick=49
 |pastteams=
-*[[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|1991|1996}})
+* [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|1991|1997}})
-*[[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|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)
+* [[UPI Lineman of the Year (College)|UPI Lineman of the Year]] (1989)
+* [[Lombardi Award]] (1990)
-*[[College Football All-America Team|Consensus All-American]] ([[1989 College Football All-America Team|1989]], [[1990 College Football All-America Team|1990]])
+* [[Unanimous All-American]] ([[1990 College Football All-America Team|1990]])
-*[[Lombardi Award]] (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]])
+* [[Orange Bowl]] Defensive MVP ([[1991 Orange Bowl|1991]])
+* [[Pro Bowl]] alternate ([[1994 Pro Bowl|1993]])
-|statseason=1998
+|statseason=
 |statlabel1=Tackles
 |statvalue1=211
-|statlabel2=Sacks
+|statlabel2=[[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
 |statvalue2=16.5
 |nfl=Chris-Zorich
@@ Line 41: / Line 45: @@
 }}
-'''Christopher Robert Zorich''' (born March 16, 1969) is a former [[American football]] [[defensive tackle]] who played in college for the [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish]] and in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Chicago Bears]] and [[Washington Redskins]]. Zorich was the athletic director at [[Chicago State University]] from May 2018 to July 2019.
+'''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.
 ==Early life==
-An only child of [[African American]] and [[Croatian people|Croatian]] descent, Zorich was raised by his mother (Zora) 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=2008-07-31 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926070125/http://www.chriszorich.org/biography/ | archive-date=2008-09-26 }}</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>
+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==
-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=2008-07-30}}</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 />
+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]].
@@ Line 53: / Line 57: @@
 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" />
-While at Notre Dame, Zorich attended a class taught by now [[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=2016-08-04|title=Sweat Suits :: Minnesota Law & Politics|date=2016-08-04|access-date=2017-02-22}}</ref>
+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 [[NFL draft|drafted]] in the second round of the [[1991 NFL Draft]] by the [[Chicago Bears]]. 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]]. In his NFL career, Zorich tallied 16.5 career [[quarterback sack]]s and scored one [[touchdown]] off a [[fumble]].
+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==
@@ Line 63: / Line 67: @@
 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 (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>
+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 member of the community. From 2015 to 2018, he served as the athletic director at [[Prairie State College]], a [[community college]] in Chicago Heights, Ill. In May 2018, he was named the athletic director at Chicago State University. On July 30, 2019, Zorich and the university parted ways after 14 months on the job. It was unclear if Zorich was fired or he announced his resignation.<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>
+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==
@@ Line 86: / Line 90: @@
 [[Category:1969 births]]
 [[Category:Living people]]
-[[Category:African-American players of American football]]
 [[Category:All-American college football players]]
 [[Category:American football defensive tackles]]
@@ Line 98: / Line 101: @@
 [[Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players]]
 [[Category:Notre Dame Law School alumni]]
-[[Category:Sportspeople from Chicago]]
+[[Category:Players of American football from Chicago]]
-[[Category:Players of American football from Illinois]]
 [[Category:Washington Redskins players]]
+[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
+[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeople]]
+[[Category:Brian Piccolo Award winners]]

v t e 1989 College Football All-America Team consensus selections
Offense	QB Andre Ware RB Anthony Thompson RB Emmitt Smith WR Clarkston Hines WR Terance Mathis TE Mike Busch OL Jim Mabry OL Bob Kula OL Mohammed Elewonibi OL Joe Garten OL Eric Still C Jake Young
Defense	DL Chris Zorich DL Greg Mark DL Tim Ryan DL Moe Gardner LB Percy Snow LB Keith McCants LB Alfred Williams DB Todd Lyght DB Mark Carrier DB Tripp Welborne DB LeRoy Butler
Special teams	PK Jason Hanson P Tom Rouen

v t e 1990 College Football All-America Team consensus selections
Offense	QB Ty Detmer RB Eric Bieniemy RB Darren Lewis WR Raghib Ismail WR Herman Moore TE Chris Smith OT Antone Davis OT Stacy Long OG Joe Garten OG Ed King C John Flannery
Defense	DL Moe Gardner DL Chris Zorich DL Russell Maryland DL David Rocker LB Mike Stonebreaker LB Alfred Williams LB Maurice Crum DB Ken Swilling DB Tripp Welborne DB Darryll Lewis DB Todd Lyght
Special teams	P Brian Greenfield PK Philip Doyle

Authority control databases
International	FAST ISNI VIAF
National	United States