Mark Tuinei
Encyclopedia
Mark Pulemau Tuinei was an American football
offensive tackle in the National Football League
for the Dallas Cowboys
. Known as a "gentle giant", his career lasted for 15 years (1983–1997) and his ability to protect quarterback
Troy Aikman
and to run-block for running back
Emmitt Smith
helped them win Super Bowl
s in 1992, 1993, and 1995 and the NFC East Division in 1985 and 1992-96. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl
in 1994 and 1995.
and raised in Nanakuli, Hawai'i and attended Punahou School
in Honolulu. He was Hawaii Prep Lineman of the Year as a senior, a state shot put champion and an all-star basketball player.
where he started at defensive tackle as a sophomore, finishing fifth on the team in tackles. As a junior he transferred home to the University of Hawaii
, but was nagged by injuries his senior year and played in only seven games.
He was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame.
His brother Tom Tuinei was an All-Western Athletic Conference
defensive tackle at University of Hawaii
and played for the Detroit Lions
and the Canadian Football League
's Edmonton Eskimos
.
in 1983
as a rookie free agent and made the team as a defensive tackle.
In 1985
, the Cowboys needed help at the offensive line and like defensive tackles Blaine Nye
and Pat Donovan before him, he was switched to offensive tackle.
He played several spots along the offensive line until 1987
, when he became a full-time starter at left tackle.
Tuinei helped protect Hall of Fame
QB Troy Aikman
and helped paved the way for Hall of Fame
RB Emmitt Smith
to become the NFL all time leading rusher.
Although he was just one of those unsung players that goes out and does their job, teammates admired Tuinei for his ability and toughness. He suffered knee injuries most of his career, yet he would play a total of 195 games.
He was a key member on one of the best offensive lines in NFL history, helping the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII
, XXVIII
, and XXX
and the NFC East
Division in 1985
and from 1992
to 1996
. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl
in 1994
and 1995
.
Knee problems ended his career after the 1997
season, when Larry Allen
took over for him at left tackle.
Tuinei, is tied with Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Bill Bates
for the most seasons in a Cowboy uniform—with 15.
He is considered to be one of the greatest offensive tackles in the Cowboys franchise history.
. He had been planning to return to Punahou School as offensive line coach. The autopsy revealed that Tuinei died of a lethal combination of heroin and a form of the drug ecstasy. His death was ruled an accident. Upon the release of the autopsy, Plano police chief Bruce Glasscock was quoted as saying that it was Tuinei's first experience with heroin. Glasscock did not elaborate how that determination was made.
"What you had was a 39-year-old male, 6'5", in excess of 300 pounds, a healthy individual, took one shot of heroin and basically dropped dead as a result," Glasscock said during his press conference regarding Tuinei.
The four individuals who worked for the drug ring that provided Tuinei with the lethal dose of heroin were later sentenced in Sherman, Texas
. Julian Solis Perez and Andres Milan were sentenced to eleven-year prison terms and Favian Ramos a twelve-year sentence. Jesus Carbajal received a life sentence. The men were charged, tried and convicted for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive tackle in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. Known as a "gentle giant", his career lasted for 15 years (1983–1997) and his ability to protect quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
and to run-block for running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
helped them win Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s in 1992, 1993, and 1995 and the NFC East Division in 1985 and 1992-96. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
in 1994 and 1995.
Early life
Tuinei was born in Oceanside, CaliforniaOceanside, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile...
and raised in Nanakuli, Hawai'i and attended Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
in Honolulu. He was Hawaii Prep Lineman of the Year as a senior, a state shot put champion and an all-star basketball player.
College career
Tuinei played for two seasons at UCLAUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
where he started at defensive tackle as a sophomore, finishing fifth on the team in tackles. As a junior he transferred home to the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
, but was nagged by injuries his senior year and played in only seven games.
He was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame.
His brother Tom Tuinei was an All-Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
defensive tackle at University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
and played for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
's Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
.
Professional career
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Tuinei signed with the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in 1983
1983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
as a rookie free agent and made the team as a defensive tackle.
In 1985
1985 NFL season
The 1985 NFL season was the 66th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XX when the Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots.-Major rule changes:...
, the Cowboys needed help at the offensive line and like defensive tackles Blaine Nye
Blaine Nye
Blaine Francis Nye is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League and founder and president of Stanford Consulting Group, Inc...
and Pat Donovan before him, he was switched to offensive tackle.
He played several spots along the offensive line until 1987
1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
, when he became a full-time starter at left tackle.
Tuinei helped protect Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
QB Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
and helped paved the way for Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
RB Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
to become the NFL all time leading rusher.
Although he was just one of those unsung players that goes out and does their job, teammates admired Tuinei for his ability and toughness. He suffered knee injuries most of his career, yet he would play a total of 195 games.
He was a key member on one of the best offensive lines in NFL history, helping the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII was a football game played on January 31, 1993 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1992 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football Conference champion...
, XXVIII
Super Bowl XXVIII
Super Bowl XXVIII was an American football game played on January 30, 1994, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1993 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football...
, and XXX
Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXX was an American football game played on January 28, 1996 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona to decide the National Football League champion following the 1995 regular season...
and the NFC East
NFC East
The NFC East is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins....
Division in 1985
1985 NFL season
The 1985 NFL season was the 66th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XX when the Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots.-Major rule changes:...
and from 1992
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
to 1996
1996 NFL season
The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...
. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
in 1994
1994 Pro Bowl
The 1994 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 6, 1994 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was NFC 17, AFC 3. Andre Rison of the Atlanta Falcons was the game's MVP...
and 1995
1995 Pro Bowl
The 1995 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 5, 1995, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was AFC 41, NFC 13. Marshall Faulk of the Indianapolis Colts was the game's MVP. The coaches were Dallas’ Barry Switzer and Bill Cowher of the Steelers. The game was viewed by 49,121 at...
.
Knee problems ended his career after the 1997
1997 NFL season
The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee...
season, when Larry Allen
Larry Allen
Larry Christopher Allen, Sr. is a former American football guard of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft...
took over for him at left tackle.
Tuinei, is tied with Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Bill Bates
Bill Bates
William Frederick Bates is a former American football safety in the National Football League who spent his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys.-Early years:...
for the most seasons in a Cowboy uniform—with 15.
He is considered to be one of the greatest offensive tackles in the Cowboys franchise history.
Death
In May 1999, Tuinei was found unconscious in his car and pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital in the Dallas suburb of PlanoPlano, Texas
Plano is a city in the state of Texas, located mostly within Collin County. The city's population was 259,841 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Texas and the 71st most populous city in the United States. Plano is located within the metropolitan area commonly referred to as...
. He had been planning to return to Punahou School as offensive line coach. The autopsy revealed that Tuinei died of a lethal combination of heroin and a form of the drug ecstasy. His death was ruled an accident. Upon the release of the autopsy, Plano police chief Bruce Glasscock was quoted as saying that it was Tuinei's first experience with heroin. Glasscock did not elaborate how that determination was made.
"What you had was a 39-year-old male, 6'5", in excess of 300 pounds, a healthy individual, took one shot of heroin and basically dropped dead as a result," Glasscock said during his press conference regarding Tuinei.
The four individuals who worked for the drug ring that provided Tuinei with the lethal dose of heroin were later sentenced in Sherman, Texas
Sherman, Texas
Sherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. Julian Solis Perez and Andres Milan were sentenced to eleven-year prison terms and Favian Ramos a twelve-year sentence. Jesus Carbajal received a life sentence. The men were charged, tried and convicted for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.