View source for Lonnie Marts

{{Short description|American football player (born 1968)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Lonnie Marts Jr
| image         = File:Lonnie Marts Jr - CEO Founder.jpg
| number        = 51, 55, 56, 58
| position      = [[Linebacker]]
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1968|11|10}}
| birth_place   = [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], U.S.
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 2
| weight_lb     = 246
| high_school   = [[St. Augustine High School (New Orleans)|St. Augustine]]
| college       = [[Tulane Green Wave football|Tulane]]
| undraftedyear = 1991
| pastteams     =
* [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ({{NFL Year|1990|1993}})
* [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] ({{NFL Year|1994|1996}})
* [[Tennessee Oilers]] ({{NFL Year|1997|1998}})
* [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] ({{NFL Year|1999|2000}})
| highlights    =
* [[List of NFL annual forced fumbles leaders|NFL forced fumbles leader]] (1993)
| statlabel1    = [[Tackle (football move)|Tackle]]s
| statvalue1    = 520
| statlabel2    = [[Quarterback sack|Sack]]s
| statvalue2    = 17.0
| statlabel3    = [[Pass deflected|Passes defended]]
| statvalue3    = 1
| statlabel4    = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue4    = 5
| statlabel5    = Forced [[fumble]]s
| statvalue5    = 16
| statlabel6    = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue6    = 12
| statlabel7    = Defensive [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue7    = 2
| pfr           = MartLo20
}}
'''Lonnie Marts Jr.''' (born November 10, 1968) is a former [[American football]] [[linebacker]] who played ten seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL).  He currently resides in [[Jacksonville, Florida]] and is the Chief Executive Officer & Director of [https://www.leveltheplayingfieldla.org/ Level The Playing Field Leadership Academy], a 501c(3)b, non-profit organization.
==Career==
Marts began his NFL career as a [[free agent]] from [[Tulane University]] where he had a position as a [[Safety (American football position)|safety]], despite his large frame. In 1991, he was discovered by [[Tony Dungy]] and signed with the [[Kansas City Chiefs]]. He later played with the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] from 1994 to 1996. Many believe that during this time is when he was at his best performance.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} He later played with the [[History of the Tennessee Titans|Tennessee Oilers]] and [[Starting lineup|started]] 15 games with the team until 1998. In 1999, Lonnie played with the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] and replaced the injured [[Bryce Paup]]. He retired with the Jaguars in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jaguars Recognize Florida Blue Community Champion Lonnie Marts Jr. With Level the Playing Field |url=https://www.jaguars.com/video/jaguars-recognize-florida-blue-community-champion-lonnie-marts-jr-with-level-the |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.jaguars.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2020 Marts founded Level the Playing Field Leadership Academy (LPFLA), a nonprofit organization in Jacksonville, FL.  Level the Playing Field exists to empower young male athletes of color, from single parent homes to become successful on and off the field. Their vision is to positively impact the lives of the next generation of male athletes of color. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leveltheplayingfieldla.org|title=Level The Playing Field Leadership Academy}}</ref>
==Leadership roles==
2002-2014 - Created Godspeed Sports Performance which  trained athletes.
2010-2020 - Served as the Athletic Director & Head Coach at Harvest Community School.
Between these roles, Marts coached a number of high school players to the Division 1 college level.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coachup.com/coaches/lonniem|title=Train with Lonnie, a Football coach on CoachUp}}</ref>
==Personal life==
He is married to Gionne Taylor Marts, and they have five children.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://leveltheplayingfieldla.org/Level The Playing Field Leadership Academy]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928101225/http://www.godspeedsp.com/ Godspeed Sports Performance Official Site]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110708103257/http://www.bucstats.com/stats/player_profile_bucs.php?player_index=545%2F Lonnie Marts Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football Stats]
*[https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/01/sports/plus-pro-football-philadelphia-mcnabb-signed-but-not-in-uniform.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/M/McNabb,%20Donovan/ Lonnie Marts being signed to the Tennessee Oilers]
{{NFL forced fumbles annual leaders}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marts, Lonnie}}
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs players]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Oilers players]]
[[Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players]]
[[Category:Tulane Green Wave football players]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American exercise instructors]]
[[Category:St. Augustine High School (New Orleans) alumni]]