Mark Cooper
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inducted 2025 |
Known as a top offensive lineman, Mark Cooper made a position switch in his early days at UM, one that would change the trajectory of his playing days at Miami and beyond. Cooper arrived at Coral Gables in 1978 as a tight end out of Miami Killian High School, before being switched to left tackle by UMSHoF member and Hurricanes head coach Howard Schnellenberger.
Mark excelled at the position over the remainder of his collegiate and professional career. He protected the blindside of quarterback and UMSHoF member Jim Kelly, helping The U lay the groundwork for its first national championship in 1983 – the season after Mark’s time as a Hurricane expired. He was on Miami’s 1980 Peach Bowl championship team – the program’s first bowl game win since 1966.
The next year, Cooper helped lead Miami to a 9-2 finish in 1981, where he was recognized for dominant outings in wins against both NC State (14-6) and Notre Dame (37-15). The Hurricanes won their final six games that season, punctuating its success by snapping an 11-game losing streak to the Fighting Irish with its first win over their rival since 1960.
Following his final season in 1982, when he was named a second-team All-South Independent selection, Mark was selected to the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl. He was picked in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, the 31st overall selection.
Cooper went on to a seven-year NFL career, split between Denver (1983-87) where he started Super Bowl XXI on the line for Pro Football Hall of Fame QB John Elway, and Tampa Bay (1987-89), where he protected UMSHoF member and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Vinny Testaverde. Cooper totaled 78 games and 19 starts during his NFL career.
A Licensed Real Estate Broker in Colorado and Florida, Mark is an avid fisherman and hosts the annual Rocky Mountain Fly Fishing Classic in Wyoming, benefitting Cystic Fibrosis.
Mark excelled at the position over the remainder of his collegiate and professional career. He protected the blindside of quarterback and UMSHoF member Jim Kelly, helping The U lay the groundwork for its first national championship in 1983 – the season after Mark’s time as a Hurricane expired. He was on Miami’s 1980 Peach Bowl championship team – the program’s first bowl game win since 1966.
The next year, Cooper helped lead Miami to a 9-2 finish in 1981, where he was recognized for dominant outings in wins against both NC State (14-6) and Notre Dame (37-15). The Hurricanes won their final six games that season, punctuating its success by snapping an 11-game losing streak to the Fighting Irish with its first win over their rival since 1960.
Following his final season in 1982, when he was named a second-team All-South Independent selection, Mark was selected to the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl. He was picked in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, the 31st overall selection.
Cooper went on to a seven-year NFL career, split between Denver (1983-87) where he started Super Bowl XXI on the line for Pro Football Hall of Fame QB John Elway, and Tampa Bay (1987-89), where he protected UMSHoF member and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Vinny Testaverde. Cooper totaled 78 games and 19 starts during his NFL career.
A Licensed Real Estate Broker in Colorado and Florida, Mark is an avid fisherman and hosts the annual Rocky Mountain Fly Fishing Classic in Wyoming, benefitting Cystic Fibrosis.
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