SWX Local Sports Digital Journalist
Marc Mariani holds Tennessee Titans franchise records in number of punt and kickoff returns in a single season. He is a 2024 inductee into the Montana Football Hall of Fame.
The Montana Football Hall of Fame will induct its 2024 Class on June 22, 2024 at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. Until then, SWX will profile each of the eight inductees in the weeks leading up to the ceremony.
Homegrown, small town Montana athlete. That says it all for Mark Mariani.
Born and raised in Havre, Mark did it all for the Blue Ponies, but that’s just what Montana kids do. In 2004, as team captain on the football team, Havre won the State Class A football championship beating Billings Central in the title game. In total, Mariani had 10 varsity letters at Havre across three sports.
In the fall, he enrolled at the University of Montana as a walk-on, redshirting his first year as a freshman. He played in all 14 games, finding the playing field through special teams as a sophomore. More time on special teams as both a kick and punt return specialist as it turns out would prove valuable and pay dividends in the future.
In his last two years at Montana, Mariani would move into the starting lineup at wide receiver and the former walk-on would excel. He had 69 catches his junior year, 80 as a senior and when you throw in all the punt returns, kick returns, and all-purpose yards, Mariani posted numbers that would earn him All-American honors.
He left the Griz with school records in career receiving yards, touchdowns and career all-purpose yards. Simply put, we’ve established at this point that the kid from the Hi-Line is pretty good at just about everything when it comes to football. But the story doesn’t end with his collegiate career in Missoula.
Taken by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft, his rookie year turned out to be his best. In week four, Mariani ran back a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. In week 11, he had an 87-yard punt return against Washington that led to being named to the 2011 Pro Bowl where he set Pro Bowl game records in number of punt returns and total return yards.
Mariani went on to play seven years in the NFL, five with Tennessee and two with Chicago. He retired with over 5,000 return yards and 27 receptions as a wide receiver. Mariani holds Titans franchise records in number of punt and kickoff returns in a single season.
Mariani currently resides in Nashville with his wife, Carly, and their two children. Marco Mariani, a 2024 inductee into the Montana Football Hall of Fame.
Marc Mariani holds Tennessee Titans franchise records in number of punt and kickoff returns in a single season. He is a 2024 inductee into the Montana Football Ha… Read more2024 Montana Football Hall of Fame: Havre’s Marc Mariani
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The physical location for the MHSA Athletes’ Hall of Fame is at the Fortin Center at Rocky Mountain College in Billings. A plaque commemorating each inductee is on display.
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SWX will profile each of the eight inductees into the 2024 Montana Football Hall of Fame Class every week leading up to the banquet on June 22nd.
He kept student athletes healthy and on the playing field for over three decades. 34 years to be exact as Chuck Karnop played a huge role in the success of Montana State athletics.
SWX Local Sports Digital Journalist
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