View source for Mark Bavaro

{{Short description|American football player (born 1963)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Mark Bavaro
| number      = 89, 83, 84
| position    = [[Tight end]]
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1963|4|28}}
| birth_place = [[Winthrop, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 4
| weight_lb   = 245
| high_school = [[Danvers High School|Danvers]] <br> ([[Danvers, Massachusetts]])
| college     = [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]]
| draftyear   = 1985
| draftround  = 4
| draftpick   = 100
| pastteams   =
* [[New York Giants]] ({{NFL Year|1985|1990}})
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|1992}})
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|1993|1994}})
| highlights  =
* 2× [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XXI|XXI]], [[Super Bowl XXV|XXV]])
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1986 All-Pro Team|1986]], [[1987 All-Pro Team|1987]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1986 Pro Bowl|1986]], [[1987 Pro Bowl|1987]])
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#1985|1985]])
* [[George Halas Award]] (1993)
* [[New York Giants Ring of Honor]]
* First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1984 College Football All-America Team|1984]])
| statlabel1  = [[Reception (American football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue1  = 351
| statlabel2  = [[Receiving yards]]
| statvalue2  = 4,733
| statlabel3  = [[Touchdown|Receiving touchdowns]]
| statvalue3  = 39
| pfr         = B/BavaMa00 
}}

'''Mark Anthony Bavaro''' (born April 28, 1963) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[tight end]] for the [[New York Giants]] (1985–1990), [[Cleveland Browns]] (1992), and [[Philadelphia Eagles]] (1993–1994) in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). Bavaro was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] for his performances in the 1986 and 1987 seasons and was a member of the Giants teams that won [[Super Bowl]]s [[Super Bowl XXI|XXI]] and [[Super Bowl XXV|XXV]].

After an [[All-America]]n career at the [[University of Notre Dame]], Bavaro was [[NFL draft|drafted]] by the Giants in the fourth round (#100 overall) in the [[1985 NFL draft]]. He quickly emerged as a starter in his rookie season and became renowned during his Giants career for his blocking, toughness, and receiving skills. After a degenerative knee condition forced him to sit out the 1991 season, he returned to play three seasons for the Browns and Eagles before retiring in 1995. Since retiring, Bavaro has done work as an [[anti-abortion movement|anti-abortion]] activist. His brother [[David Bavaro|David]] also played in the NFL for four seasons.

== Early life and college ==
Bavaro was born in [[Winthrop, Massachusetts]] as the second of three children to Wally, a track coach at [[Chelsea High School (Massachusetts)|Chelsea High School]], and Christine, who studied to be a marriage and family therapist when her children were in school. Both of his grandfathers came from Italy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1987/09/09/nfc-east-legend-in-the-making-after-only-two-seasons-tight-end-mark-bavaro-has-quietly-become-a-giant-among-giants|title=Legend In the Making|work=Sports Illustrated|date=September 9, 1987|first=Paul|last=Zimmerman|author-link=Paul Zimmerman (sportswriter)|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> His younger brother [[David Bavaro|David]] also played football professionally as a [[linebacker]] for four NFL teams over the course of four seasons.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930075203/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BAVARDAV01 David Bavaro]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> He attended [[Danvers High School]] in [[Danvers, Massachusetts]], where he was a [[high school football]] All-American.<ref name="Goode"/> He was a well-rounded athlete who also excelled in [[track and field]] at Danvers.<ref name="Golf">Larrabee, Gary. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071007110723/http://northshoremassgolf.com/Volumes/Volume%202/2_4/18.html Gridiron to golf]}}, northshoremassgolf.com, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> After being intensively [[recruiting (athletics)|recruited]] by several colleges,<ref name="Golf"/> he chose to play collegiately for the [[University of Notre Dame]]. He was recruited by head coach [[Dan Devine]] but played his four years under coach [[Gerry Faust]].<ref name="ND">Faust, Heisler, and Valdiserri. pgs. 34–5</ref> He played behind star tight end [[Tony Hunter (tight end)|Tony Hunter]] as a [[freshman]], then missed all but three minutes of his [[wiktionary:sophomore|sophomore]] season due to a hand injury.<ref name="ND"/> He established himself as a starter as a [[student|junior]], but grew home-sick and briefly contemplated quitting the team to move back home following the season.<ref name="sick">Faust and Love. pgs. 207–8</ref> After Faust talked him into staying,<ref name="sick"/> he won All-America honors his [[student|senior]] season, when he totalled 32 [[Reception (American football)|receptions]] for 395&nbsp;yards.<ref>Janofsky, Michael. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE0DD163CF932A15752C0A961948260 Super Bowl XXI; Bavaro strong, silent, one of a kind] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093201/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/21/sports/super-bowl-xxi-bavaro-strong-silent-and-one-of-a-kind.html |date=November 7, 2021 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 21, 1987, accessed March 25, 2008.</ref> Bavaro developed a reputation for playing through injuries while at Notre Dame.<ref name="ND"/> "He plays with pain better than any player I've seen in my 37 years of coaching," Faust later stated.<ref name="ND"/> He left Notre Dame after graduating in 1985 despite having one season of eligibility remaining (due to the [[redshirt (college sports)|redshirt]] status of his sophomore season<ref name="ND"/>) and was selected in the fourth round (#100 overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft by the [[New York Giants]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1985 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1985/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Professional career ==
Coming out of college, Bavaro was known mostly for his blocking ability and was expected to play the role of a run blocking tight end as a professional.<ref>[[Frank Litsky|Litsky, Frank]]. [https://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F20F1FF9385F0C718EDDAC0894DD484D81 New Giant in Familiar Role] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093113/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/22/sports/new-giant-in-familiar-role.html |date=November 7, 2021 }}, ''The New York Times'', May 22, 1985, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> He earned the nickname "[[John Rambo|Rambo]]" early in his rookie season due to his intense playing style, quiet personality, and physical resemblance to [[Sylvester Stallone]].<ref name="ND"/> After starting tight end [[Zeke Mowatt]] suffered a season-ending injury before the start of the 1985 season, coach [[Bill Parcells]], who had called Bavaro the most impressive rookie during training camp, installed Bavaro as the starter.<ref name="jeans">Litsky, Frank. [https://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F50811FE3E5F0C728CDDA00894DD484D81 Mowatt Sidelined for Entire Season] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093131/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/01/sports/mowatt-sidelined-for-entire-season.html |date=November 7, 2021 }}, ''The New York Times'', September 1, 1985, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> Bavaro finished his rookie season with 37 receptions, 511&nbsp;yards, and 4 [[touchdown]]s.<ref name="dbf">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060328102824/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BAVARMAR01 Mark Bavaro]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> He also set a team record with 12 receptions in one game during [[quarterback]] [[Phil Simms]]' 513&nbsp;yard passing effort against the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] on October 13, 1985.<ref name="record">[https://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=FA081EF93A5D0C778DDDA90994DD484D81 A Great Day Wasn't Enough] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093113/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/14/sports/a-great-day-wasn-t-enough.html |date=November 7, 2021 }}, ''The New York Times'', October 14, 1985, accessed May 14, 2007.<br />* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070408010955/http://www.databasefootball.com/boxscores/scheduleyear.htm?lg=nfl&yr=1985 1985 NFL Season Scores, Schedules and Playoffs]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> After the game, which the Giants lost 35–30, Bavaro responded in the low-key manner that would typify his career, "[i]t was nothing special, the plays were the same stuff. I don't know what they did. I just caught a lot of balls. I'd rather win, that's all."<ref name="record"/> Bavaro was named to the [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] for his performance during the season.<ref name="blocker"/>

Bavaro continued his emergence in the 1986 season. He remained the starter after Mowatt's recovery from injury and emerged as a favorite target of Simms.<ref>Litsky, Frank. [https://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F50715F83C5E0C7A8DDDA00894DE484D81 Bavaro has Skills to Fit Mowatt Role] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093202/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/19/sports/bavaro-has-skills-to-fit-mowatt-role.html |date=November 7, 2021 }}, ''The New York Times'', September 19, 1986, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> He finished the season with 66 receptions, 1,001&nbsp;yards, and 4 touchdowns<ref name="dbf"/> and was selected to his first [[NFL Pro Bowl|Pro Bowl]]. His 66 receptions broke the Giants record for receptions by a tight end previously held by [[Bob Tucker (American football)|Bob Tucker]] (59).<ref>Litsky, Frank. [https://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F5071EF634590C768DDDAB0994DE484D81 Giants Keep Rolling Along] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093116/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/15/sports/giants-keep-rolling-along.html |date=November 7, 2021 }}, ''The New York Times'', December 15, 1986, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> Perhaps the most well-known play of Bavaro's career occurred in a ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' game in 1986. Here is a description of the play taken from a ''Monday Night Football'' broadcast in 2005: "On Dec. 1 1986, New York Giants tight end Mark Bavaro cements his reputation as one of the toughest men in the NFL. With the Giants trailing, Bavaro catches an innocent pass from Phil Simms over the middle. It takes nearly seven 49ers defenders to finally drag him down, some of which are carried for almost 20&nbsp;yards, including future Hall of Famer [[Ronnie Lott]]. Bavaro's inspiring play jump starts the Giants, who win the game and eventually the Super Bowl."<ref>[http://media.espn.com/MediaZone/PressKits/NFL2005/MNF_list.htm MNF 36: THE LIST MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SPECIAL (Original Air Date: Aug. 25, 2005)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093138/https://espnpressroom.com/us/ |date=November 7, 2021 }}, espn.com, accessed January 12, 2007.</ref> This reputation as a tough player was further cemented later in the season when he played for six weeks with a broken jaw that forced him to sip food through a straw.<ref>Gola, Hank. [http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/football/16577832.htm Twenty years ago, a special Giants team ruled the day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093131/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/ |date=November 7, 2021 }}, ''[[New York Daily News]]'', January 30, 2007.</ref> He continued to establish his reputation as an excellent blocker during the season,<ref name="blocker">Litsky, Frank. [https://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F50716FE3B5F0C718DDDA90994DE484D81 PRO FOOTBALL; Man of Few Words and Many Catches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093250/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/12/sports/pro-football-man-of-few-words-and-many-catches.html |date=November 7, 2021 }}, ''The New York Times'', October 12, 1986, accessed May 12, 2007.</ref> and was described as "the premier tight end" in the league by 49ers' coach [[Bill Walsh (football coach)|Bill Walsh]] before the team's playoff matchup.<ref>Janofsky, Michael. [https://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F50714FB385E0C728FDDAB0994DE484D81 N.F.L. Playoff; 49ers' Walsh: Quiet Winner] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093117/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/31/sports/nfl-playoffs-49ers-walsh-quiet-winner.html |date=November 7, 2021 }}, ''The New York Times'', December 31, 1986, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> The [[1986 New York Giants season|Giants finished the regular season 14–2]] and defeated the [[Denver Broncos]] 39–20 in [[Super Bowl XXI]]. Bavaro's third quarter touchdown gave the Giants the lead which they would never relinquish. After the season Bavaro was chosen to appear on the cover of ''[[Sports Illustrated|Sports Illustrated's]]'' NFL preview issue for the 1987 season. Bavaro was pictured on the cover in a cutoff shirt holding his [[Shoulder pads (sport)|shoulder pads]] over his shoulder, the caption reads "The Living End: Mark Bavaro of the New York Giants".<ref>''[[Sports Illustrated]]''. [http://dynamic.si.cnn.com/si_online/covers/issues/1987/0909.html Volume 67 Issue 11] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612062534/http://dynamic.si.cnn.com/si_online/covers/issues/1987/0909.html |date=June 12, 2007 }}, September 9, 1987, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> The cover also featured Bavaro celebrating a touchdown in the trademark manner of his career.  Bavaro, a [[Roman Catholic]], would [[genuflect]] in the end zone and motion the [[sign of the cross]] after each touchdown.

Bavaro performed well during the 1987 season and was again selected to the Pro Bowl. He finished the season with 55 receptions, 867&nbsp;yards, and 8 touchdowns.<ref name="dbf"/> In the offseason he underwent surgery to correct [[turf toe]] on his right big toe.<ref name="injurieshampering">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/25/sports/injuries-hampering-bavaro.html|title=Injuries Hampering Bavaro|date=November 25, 1988|first=Frank|last=Litsky|work=The New York Times |author-link=Frank Litsky|access-date=August 6, 2021|archive-date=August 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806020256/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/25/sports/injuries-hampering-bavaro.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He followed that season with 53 receptions, 672&nbsp;yards, and 4 touchdowns in 1988<ref name="dbf"/> despite being late to training camp that season due to a contract dispute and his left big toe now being affected by turf toe.<ref name="injurieshampering"/> After failing to miss a game due to injury in his first four seasons, Bavaro struggled with knee injuries in 1989 and was limited to seven games.<ref name="dbf"/> He came back to play in 15 games in 1990.<ref name="dbf"/> The Giants started the season 10–0 and finished 13–3. They advanced to [[Super Bowl XXV]] where they played the [[Buffalo Bills]]. During the game Bavaro made two key third down receptions to keep scoring drives alive as the Giants won 20–19.

Bavaro struggled with a degenerative knee condition throughout the 1990 season and was rarely able to practice.<ref name="Browns">Anderson, Dave. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE3DE143EF932A25755C0A964958260 Sports of The Times; Mark Bavaro Asks Browns: Trust Me] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093117/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/11/sports/sports-of-the-times-mark-bavaro-asks-browns-trust-me.html |date=November 7, 2021 }}, ''The New York Times'', June 11, 1992, accessed March 25, 2008.</ref> The Giants cut him in July 1991 because of the injury.<ref name="cut">Litsky, Frank. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0DA163EF930A3575BC0A967958260 Football; Giants Pull Reverse and Give Bavaro A New Pact] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093118/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/03/sports/football-giants-pull-reverse-and-give-bavaro-a-new-pact.html |date=November 7, 2021 }}, ''The New York Times'', August 3, 1991, accessed March 25, 2008.</ref> After some initial dispute, the Giants signed him to a one-year [[US Dollar|US$]]310,000 contract and placed him on the physically unable to perform list.<ref name="cut"/> He spent the season as a tight end coach at [[Savio Preparatory High School|Saint Dominic Savio High School]] in East [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. He took the position after the team's coach took a chance and wrote Bavaro a letter to ask him if he would consider coaching.<ref name="knee">Eskenazi, Gerald. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFDF1330F93BA25752C1A967958260 SIDELINES: WHAT A CATCH; Bavaro Answers Request to Coach At a High School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080126090312/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFDF1330F93BA25752C1A967958260 |date=January 26, 2008 }}, ''The New York Times'', November 18, 1991, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref>

Despite being advised to retire several times by the doctor who worked on his knee,<ref name="cut"/> Bavaro managed to secure a contract in 1992 with the [[Cleveland Browns]], who were coached by former Giants [[assistant coach]] [[Bill Belichick]].<ref name="Browns"/> He played one season for the Browns and managed to appear in all 16 games.<ref name="dbf"/> After the season, he signed with the [[Philadelphia Eagles]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Litsky |first1=Frank |title=PRO FOOTBALL; Add Hostetler and Bavaro To New Millionaires' Club |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/26/sports/pro-football-add-hostetler-and-bavaro-to-new-millionaires-club.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=January 5, 2025 |date=March 26, 1993}}</ref> He played in all 16 games again and had 43 receptions, 481&nbsp;yards, and 6 touchdowns in 1993.<ref name="dbf"/> After playing one more season for the Eagles he retired in 1995 at the age of 31. Bavaro finished his nine NFL seasons with 351 receptions for 4,733&nbsp;yards and 39 touchdowns.<ref name="dbf"/>

In 2011, he was inducted into the [[New York Giants#Ring of Honor|New York Giants Ring of Honor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.giants.com/news/giants-announce-class-of-2011-ring-of-honor-6392126|title=Giants Announce Class of 2011, Ring of Honor|publisher=[[New York Giants]]|date=November 30, 2011|access-date=September 3, 2012|archive-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326140420/https://www.giants.com/news/giants-announce-class-of-2011-ring-of-honor-6392126|url-status=live}}</ref>

His career was so influential that ESPN's Mark Bavaro Fantasy Football league is named after him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://markbavaroleague.com|title=Mark Bavaro League|website=Mark Bavaro League|access-date=December 20, 2017|archive-date=August 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826092451/https://markbavaroleague.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Bavaro to the [[PFRA Hall of Very Good]] Class of 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2022.html |title= PFRA's Hall of Very Good Class of 2022 |author=Professional Football Researchers Association|access-date=July 19, 2022}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

=== Regular season ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1985 NFL season|1985]] !! [[1985 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 37 || 511 || 13.8 || 32 || 4
|-
! [[1986 NFL season|1986]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| [[1986 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| '''16''' || 15 || '''66''' || '''1,001''' || 15.2 || 41 || 4
|-
! [[1987 NFL season|1987]] !! [[1987 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 12 || 12 || 55 || 867 || '''15.8''' || 38 || '''8'''
|-
! [[1988 NFL season|1988]] !! [[1988 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| '''16''' || 15 || 53 || 672 || 12.7 || 36 || 4
|-
! [[1989 NFL season|1989]] !! [[1989 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 7 || 7 || 22 || 278 || 12.6 || 29 || 3
|-
! [[1990 NFL season|1990]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| [[1990 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 15 || 15 || 33 || 393 || 11.9 || '''61''' || 5
|-
! [[1992 NFL season|1992]] !! [[1992 Cleveland Browns season|CLE]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 25 || 315 || 12.6 || 39 || 2
|-
! [[1993 NFL season|1993]] !! [[1993 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 43 || 481 || 11.2 || 27 || 6
|-
! [[1994 NFL season|1994]] !! [[1994 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 12 || 11 || 17 || 215 || 12.6 || 27 || 3
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 126 !! 123 !! 351 !! 4,733 !! 13.5 !! 61 !! 39
|}

=== Playoffs ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1985 NFL season|1985]] !! [[1985 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 2 || 2 || 9 || 103 || 11.4 || 18 || 1
|-
! [[1986 NFL season|1986]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| [[1986 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| '''3''' || '''3''' || 8 || '''134''' || '''16.8''' || '''30''' || '''2'''
|-
! [[1990 NFL season|1990]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| [[1990 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| '''3''' || '''3''' || '''13''' || 129 || 9.9 || 19 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 8 !! 8 !! 30 !! 366 !! 12.2 !! 30 !! 3
|}

== Personal life ==
Bavaro married Susan Downes in 1987. The couple have three children.<ref name="Goode">Goode, Jon. [http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/football/articles/2004/12/14/a_giant_among_us/ A Giant among us: Catching up with Mark Bavarro] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211132538/http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/football/articles/2004/12/14/a_giant_among_us/ |date=February 11, 2007 }}, ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', December 14, 2004, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> His wife attended [[Seton Hall Law School]] for one year, but later transferred to [[Harvard Law School]], where she achieved a degree in [[Law]],<ref name="cut"/> and is currently a teacher of European History and constitutional law at [[St. John's Preparatory School (Danvers, Massachusetts)|St. John's Preparatory School]]. After his retirement they lived in [[Naples, Florida]] for three years.<ref name="Golf"/> They currently reside in [[Boxford, Massachusetts]], near Bavaro's hometown of [[Danvers, Massachusetts|Danvers]].<ref name="Goode"/> After his playing career, Bavaro worked as a [[Trader (finance)|sales trader]] for an equity block-trading firm, where he traded large blocks of stocks for institutions and [[hedge fund]]s.<ref name="Goode"/> He pursued a career in this field at the suggestion of his former Giants teammate [[Phil McConkey]], who worked for the same company as Bavaro.<ref name="Goode"/> In 2007, Bavaro was appointed Vice President of DesignCentrix, a premiere Chicago exhibit house.<ref>[http://www.pr.com/press-release/39693 Mark Bavaro Named VP New Business DesignCentrix] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203158/http://www.pr.com/press-release/39693 |date=September 27, 2007 }}, pr.com, May 23, 2007, accessed May 24, 2007.</ref> Bavaro is also an avid [[golf]]er who considers the sport his favorite pastime.<ref name="Golf"/>

Throughout his life Bavaro has displayed a humble, low-key, [[blue collar]] personality. During the 1986 season, when he emerged as a Pro Bowler, ''[[The New York Times]]'' columnist [[Frank Litsky]] described him by saying, "[h]e is a man of few words, even with teammates. Although he earned $90,000 plus an $85,000 signing bonus last year and will make $125,000 plus incentives this year, he lives a Spartan life. He drives a Chevrolet. His everyday wardrobe features jeans and sneakers. He is humble to a fault."<ref name="jeans"/> Bavaro is also an [[anti-abortion]] activist and was one of 503 people arrested during an anti-abortion rally in 1988.<ref name="activist">[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE4DC1438F937A35756C0A96E948260 SPORTS PEOPLE; Bavaro Arrested] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123220134/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE4DC1438F937A35756C0A96E948260 |date=January 23, 2008 }}, ''The New York Times'', May 4, 1988, accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> During his NFL career and since his retirement Bavaro has done work as a member of the ''LifeAthletes'' organization which promotes abstinence;<ref>[http://www.lifeathletes.org/0008/members/bavaro_mark.asp Mark Bavaro Life Athletes Biography], lifeathletes.org, accessed January 12, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927122056/http://www.lifeathletes.org/0008/members/bavaro_mark.asp |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref> Bavaro was [[vice chairman]] of the group during his playing career.<ref name="activist"/> He also befriended and followed the career of [[Denver Broncos]] tight end [[Daniel Graham]] who idolized Bavaro as a child.<ref>Reiss, Mike. [http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/08/17/these_tight_ends_are_tight/ These tight ends are tight] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065139/http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/08/17/these_tight_ends_are_tight/ |date=March 4, 2016 }}, ''The Boston Globe'', August 17, 2006, accessed March 21, 2007.</ref> Bavaro’s son Lucas also played football being a top player for Dartmouth college.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Wicked Local Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts |url=https://subscribe.wickedlocal.com/restricted |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=subscribe.wickedlocal.com}}</ref>

In 2008, Bavaro published his first novel, ''Rough & Tumble'' ({{ISBN|978-0-312-37574-4}}), a novel describing the fictional life of Dominic Fucillo in the [[NFL]] and the trials and tribulations he faced while playing football.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://us.macmillan.com/roughtumble |title=Macmillan |access-date=August 30, 2016 |archive-date=September 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930163012/http://us.macmillan.com/roughtumble |url-status=live }}</ref>

There is a street named after Bavaro in his hometown of Danvers.<ref name=":0" />

== See also ==
* [[History of the New York Giants (1979-1993)]]

== References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Sources ==
* Faust, Gerry, Heisler, John, and Valdiserri, Roger. ''Gerry Faust's Tales From The Notre Dame Sideline'', Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. 2004 {{ISBN|1-58261-399-0}}
* Faust, Gerry and Love, Steve. ''The Golden Dream'', Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. 1997 {{ISBN|1-58261-608-6}}

== External links ==
* [https://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F50716FE3B5F0C718DDDA90994DE484D81 Interview with ''The New York Times'' Frank Litsky in 1986]

{{Giants1985DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XXI}}
{{Super Bowl XXV}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bavaro, Mark}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Winthrop, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Suffolk County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:American football tight ends]]
[[Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:New York Giants players]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:Catholics from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Danvers, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Essex County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]