View source for Mark Brunell

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1970)}}
{{distinguish|Mark Bruener}}
{{For|the British engineer|Marc Isambard Brunel}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image        = Brunell8.jpg
| name         = Mark Brunell
| caption      = Brunell with the [[Washington Redskins]] in 2006
| number       = <!-- 8, 11-->
| current_team = Detroit Lions
| position     = Quarterbacks coach <!-- [[Quarterback]] --> 
| career_position     =qb
| career_number       =8, 11
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1970|9|17}}
| birth_place  = [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| height_ft    = 6
| height_in    = 1
| weight_lbs   = 215
| high_school  = [[St. Joseph High School (Santa Maria, California)|St. Joseph]] {{nowrap|([[Santa Maria, California]])}}
| college      = [[Washington Huskies football|Washington]] (1988–1992)
| draftyear    = 1993
| draftround   = 5
| draftpick    = 118
| pastteams    = * [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|1993}}–{{NFL Year|1994}})
* [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] ({{NFL Year|1995}}–{{NFL Year|2003}})
* [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|2004}}–{{NFL Year|2007}})
* [[New Orleans Saints]] ({{NFL Year|2008}}–{{NFL Year|2009}})
* [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2011}})
| pastcoaching = * [[Providence School]] (2012)<br/>Assistant coach
* [[Episcopal School of Jacksonville]] (2013–2020) <br> Head coach 
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|2021}}–present) <br> Quarterbacks coach
| highlights   = * [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XLIV|XLIV]])
* 3× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1997 Pro Bowl|1996]], [[1998 Pro Bowl|1997]], [[2000 Pro Bowl|1999]])
* [[List of National Football League season passing yardage leaders|NFL passing yards leader]] (1996)
* [[Jacksonville Jaguars#Pride of the Jaguars|Pride of the Jaguars]] 
* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[1991 Washington Huskies football team|1991]])
* 2× Second-team [[List of All-Pac-12 Conference football teams|All-Pac-10]] ([[1990 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team|1990]], [[1992 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team|1992]])
* [[Rose Bowl MVP]] ([[1991 Rose Bowl|1991]])
* [[Rose Bowl Game#Rose Bowl Hall of Fame|Rose Bowl Hall of Fame]] (2015)
| statlabel1   = [[Passing attempts]]
| statvalue1   = 4,640
| statlabel2   = [[Passing completions]]
| statvalue2   = 2,761
| statlabel3   = [[Completion percentage]]
| statvalue3   = 59.5%
| statlabel4   = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue4   = 184–108
| statlabel5   = [[Passing yards]]
| statvalue5   = 32,072
| statlabel6   = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue6   = 84.0
| pfr          = BrunMa00
}}
'''Mark Allen Brunell''' (born September 17, 1970) is an American professional [[American football|football]] coach and former [[quarterback]] who is the [[quarterbacks coach]] for the [[Detroit Lions]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He previously played in the NFL for 19 seasons, most notably with the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]]. For his accomplishments in Jacksonville, he was inducted to the [[Jacksonville Jaguars#Pride of the Jaguars|Pride of the Jaguars]] in 2013.

Brunell played [[college football]] for the [[Washington Huskies football|Washington Huskies]] and was selected by the [[Green Bay Packers]] in the fifth round of the [[1993 NFL draft]]. After two seasons, Brunell was traded to the expansion Jaguars for their inaugural 1995 season. Within their second season, he helped the team obtain the franchise's first winning record, playoff berth, postseason victory, and [[AFC Championship Game]] appearance. Brunell went on to guide Jacksonville to four consecutive playoff runs within their first five seasons, making them the first NFL expansion team to do so, and clinched the franchise's first division title in 1999 en route to a second AFC Championship appearance. He also received three [[Pro Bowl]] selections with the Jaguars.

Following his 2004 departure from Jacksonville, Brunell played for the [[Washington Redskins]], [[New Orleans Saints]], and [[New York Jets]] until retiring in 2011. With the Saints, he was part of the team that won the franchise's first [[Super Bowl]] title in [[Super Bowl XLIV]], where he served as a backup and holder. Since retiring, he has pursued a coaching career and became the Lions' quarterbacks coach in 2021.

==Early life==
Brunell was the starting quarterback for the [[St. Joseph High School (Santa Maria, California)|St. Joseph High School Knights]] of [[Santa Maria, California]], in the 1985, 1986, and 1987 seasons. Brunell led his team to two [[Central Coast Athletic Association|league championships]] and one appearance in the CIF Central Section finals.

As a senior with SJHS, he completed 172 of 323 passes for 2,376 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaged 36.3 yards per punt, and added nine rushing touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 6, 1988 |title=Brunell in Shrine game |pages=B-3 |work=San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune}}</ref>

==College career==
Brunell signed with the [[University of Washington]] out of high school in 1988, joining a highly touted recruiting class that included future fellow NFL players [[Lincoln Kennedy]] and [[Steve Emtman]].

Brunell saw his first action in his redshirt freshman year, and took over the starting duties in his sophomore season in [[1990 Washington Huskies football team|1990]]. Brunell's abilities as a run-pass combo quarterback flashed potential from his first start. In his third start, Brunell led the Huskies in a 31–0 romp over a highly ranked [[1990 USC Trojans football team|USC]] team, which established the Huskies of the early 1990s as a potential force in [[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-10]] football. While Brunell continued to develop throughout his first season as a starter, the Huskies climbed in the rankings. An early-season loss to the eventual national champion [[1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team|Colorado]] and a late-season 25–22 loss to [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]] were the only setbacks for what, by season's end, was a dominant Husky team. With the Huskies crowned Pac-10 champions, Brunell played his best game yet in the [[1991 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]] and was named the game's MVP as Washington coasted to a 46&ndash;34 win over [[Big Ten Conference]] champion [[1990 Iowa Hawkeyes football team|Iowa]]. After building a 39&ndash;14 lead after three quarters, Washington heavily substituted with reserves; the Hawkeyes scored twenty points in the fourth quarter.

Though the Huskies finished the season ranked 5th in the [[Associated Press]] poll, one poll crowned them national champions. Irrespective of their final ranking, the Huskies, with Brunell's star rising, seemed set to soar to even loftier heights in 1991. Brunell was expected to lead the Huskies in 1991, but a devastating knee injury in the annual Husky spring game would sideline Brunell and cast the Husky hopes for a national championship run in doubt. Brunell, however, was capably replaced by [[Puyallup, Washington|Puyallup]] native [[Billy Joe Hobert]], and the University of Washington went on to win their first two games in Brunell's absence. Though Brunell was not yet fully recovered, he returned months ahead of schedule to action in Washington's third game in 1991. Brunell received a standing ovation upon his return in the 56–3 victory over [[Kansas State Wildcats football|Kansas State]].

Brunell would be given an opportunity to lead series on a part-time basis in the remainder of Husky games as the season progressed, typically at least one drive in each 2nd quarter in addition to the second half. The 1991 Washington team defeated every regular-season opponent with most games providing plenty of playing time for younger and backup players.

On January 1, 1992, Brunell played a small role (throwing a touchdown pass to [[Mario Bailey]]) in Washington's second straight Rose Bowl victory, this time over [[1991 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]]. Washington finished the season ranked first in the coaches poll, winning the National Championship, and 2nd in the Associated Press poll, behind undefeated [[1991 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami]].

In [[1992 Washington Huskies football team|1992]], with two successful quarterbacks returning (Hobert and Brunell), Brunell was unable to wrestle the starting QB spot away from Hobert and as such contributed in a limited role during their first eight games (all wins). However, during the week of November 2, 1992, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' ran an exposé on Washington football wherein current starter Hobert was implicated in actions seemingly in violation of [[NCAA]] rules. As a result, Hobert was immediately suspended and Brunell was thrust back into the starting role for the Huskies. Now a senior, Brunell steered the devastated Huskies to one win in their last three regular-season games. The Huskies, however, again won the Pac-10 and Brunell started his second Rose Bowl game, this time against Michigan.

In 2015, Brunell was inducted into the [[Rose Bowl Game#Rose Bowl Hall of Fame|Rose Bowl Hall of Fame]].

===College statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="9"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
|-
! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! AY/A !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD
|-
! [[1989 NCAA Division I-A football season|1989]] !! [[1989 Washington Huskies football season|Washington]]
| 3 || 6 || 12 || 50 || 57 || 4.8 || -2.8 || 0 || 2 || 56.6 || 4 || 12 || 3 || 0
|-
! [[1990 NCAA Division I-A football season|1990]] !! [[1990 Washington Huskies football season|Washington]]
| 11 || 118 || 253 || 46.6 || 1,732 || 6.8 || 6.5 || 14 || 8 || 116.1 || 105 || 444 || 4.2 || 10 
|-
! [[1991 NCAA Division I-A football season|1991]] !! [[1991 Washington Huskies football season|Washington]]
| 8 || 26 || 44 || 59.1 || 333 || 7.6 || 7.3 || 4 || 2 || 143.6 || 13 || 25 || 1.9 || 1
|-
! [[1992 NCAA Division I-A football season|1992]] !! [[1992 Washington Huskies football season|Washington]]
| 11 || 109 || 189 || 57.7 || 1,301 || 6.9 || 6.5 || 5 || 4 || 120.0 || 68 || 197 || 2.9 || 8
|-
! colspan="2"|[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mark-brunell-1.html Career] !! 33 !! 259 !! 498 !! 52 !! 3,423 !! 6.9 !! 6.4 !! 23 !! 16 !! 118.6 !! 190 !! 678 !! 3.6 !! 19
|}

==Professional career==
{{nfl predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 1
|       weight = 206
|         dash = 4.70
|    ten split = 1.63
| twenty split = 2.73
|      shuttle = 4.19
|   cone drill = 
|     vertical = 30 1/2
|     broad ft =
|     broad in =
|        bench = 
|     arm span = 32 1/4
|    hand span = 9 1/8
|    wonderlic = 22<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/article/20100310/SPORTS/812035220 |title=Wonderlic scores of 2010 NFL starting quarterbacks and NFL draft QB prospects |website=palmbeachpost.com |access-date=October 19, 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|         note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Combine Results: Mark Brunell QB Washington |url=http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Mark&l=Brunell&i=24122 |access-date=December 28, 2018 |website=nflcombineresults.com |archive-date=December 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230030005/http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Mark&l=Brunell&i=24122 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

===Green Bay Packers===
The [[Green Bay Packers]] selected Brunell in the fifth round (118th overall) of the [[1993 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1993 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1993/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030130727/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1993/draft.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Brunell was the fourth quarterback drafted in 1993 and was the second quarterback drafted from Washington after [[Billy Joe Hobert]] was selected in the third round (58th overall) by the [[1993 Los Angeles Raiders season|Los Angeles Raiders]]. This became only the second time two quarterbacks were drafted from the same school in the same draft.<ref>{{cite web |title=Some little-known facts about quarterbacks in the draft |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d810c5eff/article/some-littleknown-facts-about-quarterbacks-in-the-draft |access-date=December 29, 2018 |website=NFL.com |last=Brandt |first=Gil |date=June 11, 2009 |archive-date=December 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229220714/http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d810c5eff/article/some-littleknown-facts-about-quarterbacks-in-the-draft |url-status=live }}</ref> It was speculated that Brunell's fall to the fifth round was due to fears that he might not be able to adapt to the pro game.<ref name="focus"/>

Brunell entered training camp as a backup quarterback and competed to be the primary backup against [[Ty Detmer]]. Brunell and Detmer ended up alternating as the primary backup quarterback, behind [[Brett Favre]], throughout 1993 and 1994. As a rookie, Brunell did not appear in any games.

On October 20, 1994, Brunell made his professional regular season debut during a 13–10 [[overtime (American football)|overtime]] loss at the [[1994 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] in Week 8. Brunell entered the game during the second quarter after Brett Favre suffered a hip pointer. He immediately engineered a 49-yard drive that ended with his first career touchdown on a five-yard rush.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vikings D-feat Packers in OT; Favre Injured |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-10-21-9410210114-story.html |access-date=December 29, 2018 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=October 21, 1994 |archive-date=December 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230030043/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-10-21-9410210114-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Brunell finished the game completing 11 of 24 pass attempts for 79 passing yards and was held without a touchdown pass or interception.

Brunell became a [[restricted free agent]] after the [[1994 NFL season]] and received a contract offer from the [[Philadelphia Eagles]], who had just hired former Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator [[Ray Rhodes]] as their new head coach.<ref name="trade">{{cite web |title=Jags Snag Mark Brunell from Green Bay for 2 Picks |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/416647/JAGS-SNAG-MARK-BRUNELL-FROM-GREEN-BAY-FOR-2-PICKS.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001062926/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/416647/JAGS-SNAG-MARK-BRUNELL-FROM-GREEN-BAY-FOR-2-PICKS.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 1, 2018 |access-date=December 28, 2018 |website=DesertNews.com |last=Newberry |first=Paul |date=April 22, 1995}}</ref> Rhodes hired former Green Bay Packers’ wide receivers coach [[Jon Gruden]] to be the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator and worked out a trade to acquire Brunell. Brunell was reluctant to accept the five-year contract offer from the Philadelphia Eagles as he did not want to spend his twenties as a backup quarterback behind [[Randall Cunningham]].<ref name="focus">{{cite web |title=AFC FOCUS: Mark Brunell |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/08/30/afc-focus-mark-brunell/5e7f420b-0f32-4b73-acc1-3999c46047ae/?noredirect=on |access-date=December 29, 2018 |newspaper=Washington Post |last=Shapiro |first=Leonard |date=August 30, 1996 |archive-date=December 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219193904/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/08/30/afc-focus-mark-brunell/5e7f420b-0f32-4b73-acc1-3999c46047ae/?noredirect=on |url-status=live }}</ref> The Packers and Eagles agreed on the terms of a trade, but were unable to finalize the deal after Brunell declined to sign a long-term deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Too Old Friends and Packers Meet Sunday as the Eagles Play the Jaguars. Just like Old Times for Detmer, Brunell |url=https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1997-10-09-3178284-story.html |access-date=December 29, 2018 |website=Mcall.com |date=October 9, 1997 |last=Larimer |first=Terry}}</ref>

===Jacksonville Jaguars===
On 21 April 1995, in the first trade in the history of the new [[Jacksonville Jaguars]], the franchise traded third (66th overall) and fifth round (170th overall) picks in the [[1995 NFL draft]] to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for Brunell.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jacksonville Acquires Brunell from Packers |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/04/21/Jacksonville-acquires-Brunell-from-Packers/8280798436800/ |access-date=December 29, 2018 |website=UPI.com |date=April 21, 1995 |archive-date=December 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229220721/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/04/21/Jacksonville-acquires-Brunell-from-Packers/8280798436800/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Brunell to a three-year contract.<ref name="trade"/> Brunell started 13 games in 1995, completed 201 out of 346 passes, for 2,168 yards, with 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He also rushed for 480 yards.
[[File:MarkBrunell95.jpg|thumb|Brunell warming up before the Jaguars first game in 1995]]

During his years in [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], Brunell was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] three times, in 1997, 1998, and 2000 and awarded the Pro Bowl [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]] in the 1997 game. With Brunell starting, the Jaguars won an AFC Central Division title and became the first NFL expansion team to make the playoffs three times in its first four seasons of play. The furthest he led the team was to the 1996 AFC Championship Game, which they lost to the [[New England Patriots]]. They returned again in 1999, but would lose to the Tennessee Titans.

Brunell was benched in favor of [[Byron Leftwich]] following halftime of the third game of the [[2003 Jacksonville Jaguars season|2003]] season. It would be the final time Brunell took the field as a member of the Jaguars. As a starter since their inaugural season, Brunell left the team holding all of the [[List of Jacksonville Jaguars records|Jacksonville Jaguars passing records]].

In December 2013, Brunell was inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars, the team's Hall of Fame equivalent.

===Washington Redskins===
He was traded to the [[Washington Redskins]] prior to the [[2004 Washington Redskins season|2004]] season.

During the 2004 season, limited by a hamstring injury, Brunell struggled and would be benched midseason for backup quarterback [[Patrick Ramsey]].  Ramsey's play towards the end of that season and following pre-season would lead to a quarterback controversy where Brunell would be benched going into the 2005 season. This would change in 2005 after Ramsey suffered an early season injury that thrust Brunell back into the starter's role.

In 2005, Brunell played much better and led the team to a 10&ndash;6 record and a playoff victory over the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]. He finished third in the 2005 [[NFL Comeback Player of the Year]] awards.

Brunell's most prolific moment in the 2005 season was during Week 2, when he completed two long passes to wide receiver [[Santana Moss]] for two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter to defeat the [[Dallas Cowboys]] on Monday Night Football, 14&ndash;13.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Archer |first1=Todd |title=Unlucky 13: Crazy losses for Cowboys |url=http://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4688047/a-look-at-13-inventive-losses |website=ESPN |date=December 12, 2011 |access-date=July 30, 2018}}</ref>

On September 24, 2006, Brunell broke the NFL record for most consecutive completions in single game when he completed his first 22 passes against the [[Houston Texans]]. Brunell also set the [[Washington Redskins|Redskins]] franchise record for highest completion percentage in a single game (88.9%). The previous record was held by [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] quarterback [[Sammy Baugh]] for 66 years (87.5%).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Richman |first1=Michael |title=The Redskins Encyclopedia |date=2009 |publisher=Temple University Press |page=229}}</ref>
On November 13, 2006, after winning only three of their first nine games of 2006, Brunell was benched in favor of [[Jason Campbell]], Washington's 2005 first round draft pick.

===New Orleans Saints===
On March 13, 2008, Brunell was signed by the [[New Orleans Saints]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/03/bye_bye_brunell.html |title=Bye, Bye Brunell |newspaper=The Washington Post |author=Jason Reid |date=March 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007172525/http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/03/bye_bye_brunell.html |archive-date=October 7, 2008 }}</ref> As the Saints have not issued number 8 since [[Archie Manning]] retired, Brunell changed his jersey number to 11, the only time in his career he would wear a jersey number besides his customary number 8.

[[File:Saints Victory Parade 2010.jpg|thumb|right|As backup quarterback behind [[Drew Brees]] (#9),  Brunell (next to [[Chase Daniel]] (#10)) won his first Super Bowl title after the 2009 season with the [[New Orleans Saints]]]]
He entered the 2008 season as the backup to [[Drew Brees]], appearing in just two games. In 2009, he appeared in all 16 games as the holder on the Saints place-kicking unit, and saw his first playing time at quarterback in three years during a week 17 loss to the [[Carolina Panthers]], as the Saints had already clinched homefield advantage and rested starter [[Drew Brees]], as well as many other starters. Although he played little for the Saints, he was noted for his role as a veteran advisor to the Saints' starting quarterback, [[Drew Brees]].<ref name="Cimini">Rich Cimini, [https://www.espn.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5418068 "Jets sign veteran QB Brunell"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219192539/https://www.espn.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5418068 |date=December 19, 2024 }}, [[ESPN.com]], July 28, 2010.</ref>

During the Saints playoff run on January 24, 2010, Brunell was the holder on the 40-yard field goal kicked by [[Garrett Hartley]] in overtime against the Minnesota Vikings in the [[NFC Championship Game]] to send the New Orleans Saints to the team's first ever Super Bowl. On February 7, 2010, for the Super Bowl, Brunell served as the backup QB behind Drew Brees, and the holder for Garrett Hartley. Brunell and Hartley's role as the kicking unit helped the Saints convert some critical kicks, going 3 for 3 on three long field goals (46 yards, 44 yards, 47 yards), and an extra point, to score a total of 10 points in the first three quarters, helping keep the score close going into the fourth quarter, with the Saints down by only one point (16–17). The Colts would never score again, as the momentum shifted the Saints way. Brunell earned  his first and only Super Bowl ring with the New Orleans Saints when the team won its first franchise championship by defeating the [[Indianapolis Colts]] 31–17 in [[Super Bowl XLIV]].

===New York Jets===
Brunell was a free agent after the 2009 season, and did not re-sign with the Saints.  On July 28, 2010, he signed a two-year deal to play for the [[New York Jets]].<ref name="Cimini"/> Brunell completed his first pass for the Jets on October 3 against the Buffalo Bills.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/boxscore;_ylt=AgcdCGmpl1aOEZwzJI3BJIIisLYF?gid=20101003002 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724144837/http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/boxscore;_ylt=AgcdCGmpl1aOEZwzJI3BJIIisLYF?gid=20101003002 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 24, 2012 |title=NY Jets at Buffalo Box Score |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date=October 3, 2010 |access-date=November 18, 2010 }}</ref> In the last regular game of the 2010 season, while filling in for starting quarterback [[Mark Sanchez]], Brunell threw his first scoring pass since 2006, a 17-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 15 seconds left in the opening half. He then went on to throw a second scoring pass for 52 yards to Braylon Edwards in the second half. Brunell sat on the bench as the Jets made it to the AFC Championship but eventually lost to the Steelers 24–19.

After one season with the Jets, he was released on July 29, 2011.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mehta|first=Manish|title=Jets release backup QB Mark Brunell|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2011/07/jets-release-backup-qb-mark-brunell|work=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=July 29, 2011}} {{Dead link|date=November 2011|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> He was re-signed two days later at a reduced salary.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://online.wsj.com/article/APbd20530099b1471ba77f50cb013d1c12.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716121625/http://online.wsj.com/article/APbd20530099b1471ba77f50cb013d1c12.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2012|title=Jets sign Brunell, Bryan and 3rd-rd pick Ellis|agency=Associated Press|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=July 31, 2011|access-date=August 2, 2011}}</ref>

In April 2012, Brunell stated that he would like to play another season if the opportunity presented itself, contradicting a report from the ''[[Florida Times-Union]]'' that he was ready to retire.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2012/04/free-agent-quarterback-mark-brunell-has-no-plans-to-retire-yet | location=New York | work=Daily News | title=Free agent quarterback Mark Brunell has 'no plans to retire yet'}}</ref>

===Legacy===
When [[Washington Redskins]] [[quarterback]] [[Jason Campbell]], who played quarterback for the team after Brunell, was asked what player he learned the most from in his career, Campbell said it was Mark Brunell.  Campbell said "a nice tribute about how the man he replaced helped him become a better person off the field."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/28/AR2008102803548_3.html?sid=ST2008102803737&s_pos= |title=So, What Did You Bring for Show and Tell? Wise, Mike. Washington Post, October 29, 2008 |work=Washingtonpost.com |date=October 29, 2008 |access-date=September 17, 2010 |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111154222/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/28/AR2008102803548_3.html?sid=ST2008102803737&s_pos= |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2012, Football Nation ranked Brunell the twenty-ninth best quarterback of the post-merger era.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.footballnation.com/content/top-100-qbs-since-the-merger-40-21/15546/ |work=Football Nation |title=Top 100 Modern Era Quarterbacks 40-21' |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030200111/http://www.footballnation.com/content/top-100-qbs-since-the-merger-40-21/15546/ |archive-date=October 30, 2012 }}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
=== Regular season ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| style="width:3em;"| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
! colspan="2"| Sacked
! colspan="2"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Sck !! SckY !! Fum !! Lost
|-
! [[1993 NFL season|1993]] !! [[1993 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 0 || 0 || — || colspan="16"|{{abbr|DNP|Did not play}}
|-
! [[1994 NFL season|1994]] !! [[1994 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 2 || 0 || — || 12 || 27 || 44.4 || 95 || 3.5 || 0 || 0 || 53.8 || 6 || 7 || 1.2 || 1 || 2 || 16 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[1995 NFL season|1995]] !! [[1995 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| 13 || 10 || 3–7 || 201 || 346 || 58.1 || 2,168 || 6.3 || 15 || 7 || 82.6 || 67 || '''480''' || '''7.2''' || '''4''' || 39 || 238 || 5 || 2
|-
! [[1996 NFL season|1996]] !! [[1996 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 9–7 || '''353''' || '''557''' || 63.4 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''4,367''' || style="background:#cfecec;"| 7.8 || 19 || '''20''' || 84.0 || '''80''' || 396 || 5.0 || 3 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 50 || 257 || '''14''' || 3
|-
! [[1997 NFL season|1997]] !! [[1997 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| 14 || 14 || 9–5 || 264 || 435 || 60.7 || 3,281 || 7.5 || 18 || 7 || '''91.2''' || 48 || 257 || 5.4 || 2 || 33 || 189 || 4 || 2
|-
! [[1998 NFL season|1998]] !! [[1998 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| 13 || 13 || 10–3 || 208 || 354 || 58.8 || 2,601 || 7.3 || 20 || 9 || 89.9 || 49 || 192 || 3.9 || 0 || 28 || 172 || 3 || 2
|-
! [[1999 NFL season|1999]] !! [[1999 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| 15 || 15 || '''13–2''' || 259 || 441 || 58.7 || 3,060 || 6.9 || 14 || 9 || 82.0 || 47 || 208 || 4.4 || 1 || 29 || 174 || 6 || 1
|-
! [[2000 NFL season|2000]] !! [[2000 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 7–9 || 311 || 512 || 60.7 || 3,640 || 7.1 || 20 || 14 || 84.0 || 48 || 236 || 4.9 || 2 || 54 || 289 || 7 || 3
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] !! [[2001 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| 15 || 15 || 6–9 || 289 || 473 || 61.1 || 3,309 || 7.0 || 19 || 13 || 84.1 || 39 || 224 || 5.7 || 1 ||style="background:#cfecec;"| '''57''' || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''387''' || 8 || 3
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] !! [[2002 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| 15 || 15 || 6–9 || 245 || 416 || 58.9 || 2,788 || 6.7 || 17 || 7 || 85.7 || 43 || 207 || 4.8 || 0 || 34 || 210 || 5 || 2
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] !! [[2003 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| 3 || 3 || 0–3 || 54 || 82 || '''65.9''' || 484 || 5.9 || 2 || 0 || 89.7 || 8 || 19 || 2.4 || 1 || 9 || 46 || 1 || 0
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] !! [[2004 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| 9 || 9 || 3–6 || 118 || 237 || 49.8 || 1,194 || 5.0 || 7 || 6 || 63.9 || 19 || 62 || 3.3 || 0 || 15 || 105 || 6 || 3
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] !! [[2005 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''16''' || 15 || 9–6 || 262 || 454 || 57.7 || 3,050 || 6.7 || '''23''' || 10 || 85.9 || 42 || 111 || 2.6 || 0 || 27 || 213 || 11 || '''6'''
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] !! [[2006 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| 10 || 9 || 3–6 || 162 || 260 || 62.3 || 1,789 || 6.9 || 8 || 4 || 86.5 || 13 || 34 || 2.6 || 0 || 12 || 92 || 5 || 1
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] !! [[2007 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| 0 || 0 || — || colspan="16"|{{abbr|DNP|Did not play}}
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 New Orleans Saints season|NO]]
| 2 || 0 || — || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[2009 New Orleans Saints season|NO]]
| 4 || 1 || 0–1 || 15 || 30 || 50.0 || 102 || 3.4 || 0 || 1 || 44.0 || 4 || -12 || -3.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 2 || 0 || — || 6 || 12 || 50.0 || 117 || '''9.2''' || 2 || 1 || 86.8 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 7 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| '''16''' || 0 || — || 1 || 3 || 33.3 || 27 || 9.0 || 0 || 0 || 67.4 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Total !! 176 !! 151 !! 78–73 !! 2,754 !! 4,625 !! 59.5 !! 32,072 !! 6.9 !! 184 !! 108 !! 84.0 !! 513 !! 2,421 !! 4.7 !! 15 !! 389 !! 2,388 !! 76 !! 29
|}

=== Playoffs ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD
|-
! [[1993 NFL season|1993]] !! [[1993 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 0 || 0 || — || colspan="16"|{{abbr|DNP|Did not play}}
|-
! [[1994–95 NFL playoffs|1994]] !! [[1994 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 1 || 0 || — || 3 || 11 || 27.3 || 25 || 2.3 || 0 || 0 || 39.6 || 4 || 26 || '''6.5''' || 0
|-
! [[1996–97 NFL playoffs|1996]] !! [[1996 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| '''3''' || '''3''' || '''2–1''' || '''56''' || '''100''' || 56.0 || '''674''' || 6.7 || 3 || '''4''' || 70.2 || '''16''' || '''87''' || 5.4 || 0
|-
! [[1997–98 NFL playoffs|1997]] !! [[1997 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| 1 || 1 || 0–1 || 18 || 32 || 56.3 || 203 || 6.3 || 0 || 1 || 62.4 || 3 || 4 || 1.3 || 0
|-
! [[1998–99 NFL playoffs|1998]] !! [[1998 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| 2 || 2 || 1–1 || 38 || 65 || '''58.5''' || 317 || 4.9 || '''4''' || 3 || 72.4 || 6 || 7 || 1.2 || 0
|-
! [[1999–2000 NFL playoffs|1999]] !! [[1999 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| 2 || 2 || 1–1 || 24 || 47 || 51.1 || 331 || '''7.0''' || 3 || 2 || '''77.5''' || 2 || 5 || 2.5 || 0
|-
! [[2005–06 NFL playoffs|2005]] !! [[2005 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| 2 || 2 || 1–1 || 29 || 52 || 55.8 || 283 || 5.4 || 1 || 1 || 69.6 || 8 || 18 || 2.3 || 0
|-
! [[2009-10 NFL playoffs|2009]] !! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[2009 New Orleans Saints season|NO]]
| 0 || 0 || — || colspan="16"|{{abbr|DNP|Did not play}}
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 0 || 0 || — || colspan="16"|{{abbr|DNP|Did not play}}
|-
! colspan="2"| Total !! 11 !! 10 !! 5–5 !! 168 !! 307 !! 54.7 !! 1,833 !! 6.0 !! 11 !! 11 !! 69.6 !! 39 !! 147 !! 3.8 !! 0 
|}

==Coaching career==
===High school coaching===
Brunell was an assistant football coach at [[Providence School]] in [[Jacksonville, Florida]] in 2012.  In January 2013, Brunell became the new head football coach and program director at [[Episcopal School of Jacksonville]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130216015707/http://www.firstcoastnews.com/topstories/article/290774/483/Episcopal-School-names-former-Jaguar-quarterback-head-football-coach "Former Jaguars Quarterback Mark Brunell named head football coach at Episcopal School"], [[WJXX|firstcoastnews.com]], January 6, 2013.</ref> Episcopal went 2–8 in Brunell's first season,<ref name="Episcopal 2013">[http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/episcopal-eagles-%28jacksonville,fl%29/football-fall-13/schedule.htm Episcopal School of Jacksonville 2013 Football Schedule].</ref> then improved to 8–3 in 2014.<ref name="Episcopal 2014">{{Cite web |url=http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/episcopal-eagles-%28jacksonville,fl%29/football-fall-14/schedule.htm |title=Episcopal School of Jacksonville 2014 Football Schedule |access-date=March 22, 2015 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402103332/http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/episcopal-eagles-%28jacksonville,fl%29/football-fall-14/schedule.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Detroit Lions===
On January 28, 2021, Brunell was hired by the Detroit Lions as quarterbacks coach.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rothstein |first=Michael |date=January 29, 2021 |title=Detroit Lions add Mark Brunell, Duce Staley to coaching staff |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30799853/detroit-lions-add-mark-brunell-duce-staley-coaching-staff |access-date=January 29, 2021 |work=ESPN.com}}</ref>

===Head coaching record===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Episcopal School of Jacksonville|Episcopal School of Jacksonville Eagles]]
 | conf      = 
 | startyear = 2013
 | endyear   = 2022
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = 2013
 | name         = Episcopal School of Jacksonville
 | overall      = 2–8
 | conference   = 0–2
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = 2014
 | name         = Episcopal School of Jacksonville
 | overall      = 8–4
 | conference   = 0–2
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = 2015
 | name         = Episcopal School of Jacksonville
 | overall      = 6–5
 | conference   = 1–2
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = 2016
 | name         = Episcopal School of Jacksonville
 | overall      = 8–2
 | conference   = 1–1
 | confstanding = 1st
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = 2017
 | name         = Episcopal School of Jacksonville
 | overall      = 3–5–1
 | conference   = 0–0
 | confstanding = T–5th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = 2018
 | name         = Episcopal School of Jacksonville
 | overall      = 7–3
 | conference   = 1–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = 2019
 | name         = Episcopal School of Jacksonville
 | overall      = 10–2
 | conference   = 0–0
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = 2020
 | name         = Episcopal School of Jacksonville
 | overall      = 7–3
 | conference   = 0–0
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Episcopal School of Jacksonville
 | overall    = 51–32–1
 | confrecord = 3–7
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 51–32–1
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype = 
}}

==Personal life==
===Family===
Brunell is married and has a daughter, and three sons.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://neworleanssaints.com/Team/Roster/People/Mark%20Brunell.aspx |title=New Orleans Saints bio |access-date=December 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226073205/http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Team/Roster/People/Mark%20Brunell.aspx |archive-date=February 26, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055839/http://www.newyorkjets.com/team/roster/Mark-Brunell/302193ef-a2be-44cf-ac36-edfd91f73231 New York Jets profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180118121519/http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/roster/Mark-Brunell/BRU575022 New Orleans Saints profile]

{{NFL quarterbacks coach navbox}}
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| list = 
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{{"Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year}}
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}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brunell, Mark}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers players]]
[[Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players]]
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[[Category:Washington Huskies football players]]
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[[Category:High school football coaches in Florida]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
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[[Category:Sportspeople from Santa Maria, California]]
[[Category:American Christians]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions coaches]]
[[Category:St. Joseph High School (Santa Maria, California) alumni]]
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[[Category:Coaches of American football from California]]