Tony Mandarich

Former Top NFL Draftee & Star, Addiction & Recovery Advocate

Tony Mandarich

Former Top NFL Draftee & Star, Addiction & Recovery Advocate

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Biography

Tony Mandarich was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1989 as "The Incredible Bulk, the best offensive line NFL draft Prospect ever". Four years later in 1992, he was again featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as "The NFL's Incredible Bust."

Released by the Green Bay Packers that year, he immersed himself in a world of painkillers and alcohol. On March 23rd, 1995 he entered rehab and turned his life around. He returned to the NFL 11 months later and played 3 years for the Indianapolis Colts before retiring due to a shoulder injury.

Tony’s passion is to carry the message of recovery, as an Advocate for Sobriety and Mental Illness. He expresses much of his life through his professional photography.

In 2009, Tony released his book, My Dirty Little Secrets - Steroids, Alcohol & God: The Tony Mandarich Story. The book will be re-released in 2020 in an audio format with the addition of an update of the last 10 years.

On the eve of 2019 NFL Draft, ESPN aired a 44-minute E60 documentary about the life of Tony Mandarich and what the real story was.

You will hear the raw real-life experience of the 1989 2nd overall draft pick, a message carried from a man who knows football, alcoholism, drug addiction, and how to take the adversities of life and turn them into virtues.

Speaker Videos

Spokes of the Wheel – Preparing for Adversity

The Plan

Feeding the Addiction

Why Not Me?

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Speech Topics

Why Not Me: Tony Mandarich’s Story

In his intimately personal presentation, Tony will share his story in a very raw & rigorously honest format. The event will begin with a five-minute DVD introducing Tony and showing highlights & lowlights of his football career and his dream to play in the NFL. From growing up in Canada, to his senior year of high school football in Ohio, attending Michigan State University and the harsh realities of playing in the NFL. He will take the audience on his personal journey of addiction to sobriety. Additionally, he will relate his story to the audience addressing themes of gateway drugs, prescription drug abuse, opiates, peer pressure and steroids.

If appropriate Tony will use a PowerPoint of his Images directly relevant to parts of his story he is speaking about.

To conclude the event, Tony will field questions from the audience.

Spokes in the Wheel: Preparing for Adversity

Tony will share from his personal experiences how it always comes back to the fundamentals of life in preparing and dealing with any adversity. The event will begin with a five-minute DVD introducing Tony and showing some of the EPIC adversities in his NFL football career and other areas of his life we will all relate to. Additionally, he will convey his story to the audience that these principles apply to all of us, in our personal lives, and our businesses.

If appropriate Tony will use a PowerPoint or white board to visually & metaphorically explain the “Spokes of the Wheel” presentation.

To conclude the event, Tony will field questions from the audience.

Testimonials

"Tony Mandarich helped make our Annual Banquet a big success. Tony was flexible and personable the whole time he was with us. He met with our Emcee before the event, and the Emcee was so impressed that he brought Tony onto his radio show and also did a podcast with him. On the night of the event, Tony’s story helped the audience understand the tight grip that substances can get on people, and then he helped them understand that the grip can be broken and a life can be turned around. Tony’s memorable story inspired our audience."

- Director of Development