Mark Steven Bortz (born February 12, 1961) is an American former professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
player who was a
guard
Guard or guards may refer to:
Professional occupations
* Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault
* Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street
* Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning
* Prison gu ...
for the
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
of the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL). He played
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for the
Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the Bears in the
1983 NFL draft
The 1983 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1983, at the New York Sh ...
.
Professional career
The Bears' 1983 draft class is regarded as one of the best all-time; providing 7 starters, including 3 for the offensive line - Bortz, fellow guard
Tom Thayer, and tackle
Jim Covert. When interviewed about the draft class for nfl.com, Coach
Mike Ditka
Michael Keller Ditka ( ; born Michael Dyczko; October 18, 1939) is an American former professional American football, football player, coach, and television commentator. During his playing career, he was UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year, UPI NFL R ...
stated that Bortz was a converted defensive player, with great feet, and he formed part of a solid offensive line.
A two-time
Pro Bowl
The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (since 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's All-star, star players.
The format has changed ...
er, Bortz won a
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the annual History of the NFL championship, league championship game of the National Football League (NFL) of the United States. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966 NFL season, 1966 (with the excep ...
as a member of the 1985
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
. He also holds the record for most playoff appearances by a Bear with 13.
Personal life
On March 7, 2013, a two-story house belonging to Bortz in
Liberty, Illinois burned down. Firefighters had attempted to save the house, but the house was fully engulfed in flames by arrival.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bortz, Mark
1961 births
Living people
American football offensive linemen
Iowa Hawkeyes football players
Chicago Bears players
National Conference Pro Bowl players
People from Pardeeville, Wisconsin
Players of American football from Wisconsin