Mark Ingram II

Mark Ingram II
Executive Office of the President · Public domain · source
Name	Mark Ingram II
Birth date	August 21, 1989
Birth place	Hackensack, New Jersey
Height	5 ft 9 in
Weight	215 lb
Position	Running back
College	Alabama
Nfl debut	2011
Teams	New Orleans Saints; Baltimore Ravens; Houston Texans

Mark Ingram II Mark Ingram II is an American former professional American football running back who played in the National Football League from 2011 to 2021. A product of Saginaw High School (Michigan) and the University of Alabama, he won the Heisman Trophy and helped lead Alabama to a national championship before being selected in the 2011 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Over a decade-long career he earned Pro Bowl selections, a Super Bowl championship with the Baltimore Ravens, and became one of the most productive backs of his era.

Early life and high school

Ingram was born in Hackensack, New Jersey and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, where he attended Saginaw High School (Michigan). At Saginaw he excelled in football as a tailback and also participated in track and field and basketball, attracting attention from major college programs including Michigan State University, Ohio State University, University of Miami (Florida), and University of Michigan. His senior season featured standout rushing performances against Saginaw Arthur Hill High School and regional rivals, earning statewide recognition such as Michigan High School Athletic Association honors and invitations to elite prospect showcases and all-star games.

College career

Ingram enrolled at the University of Alabama, joining the Alabama Crimson Tide football program under coach Nick Saban. He emerged as a primary back in Saban’s offense, contributing to Crimson Tide rosters that won multiple SEC Championship Game titles and the 2009 Bowl Championship Series national title. In his junior season Ingram produced career-high rushing totals and garnered national attention during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, culminating in winning the 2009 Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award while leading Alabama to a dominant victory in the January 2010 BCS National Championship Game. He faced and overcame injuries and depth-chart competition from teammates such as Mark Barron and Trent Richardson, before declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft.

Professional career

Ingram was selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and signed a rookie contract to play in the highly competitive NFC South division against rivals like the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His rookie year coincided with league controversies surrounding the Saints, but Ingram became a feature of the offense alongside quarterbacks Drew Brees and running backs such as Pierre Thomas. Over his tenure in New Orleans he set franchise records, posted multiple 1,000-yard seasons, and was named to the Pro Bowl. After nine seasons with the Saints he signed with the Baltimore Ravens for the 2020 season, teaming with quarterback Lamar Jackson and veteran runners like Gus Edwards. With Baltimore he won Super Bowl LVI roster recognition and contributed in postseason play, before finishing his career with a stint at the Houston Texans where he provided veteran depth behind backs such as David Johnson and Dameon Pierce.

Playing style and statistics

Ingram combined a compact, powerful frame with vision, balance, and pass-protection acumen, traits that made him effective between the tackles and in short-yardage situations. Coaches compared his downhill running to earlier short-yardage specialists and praised his ability to catch passes out of the backfield in Sean Payton- and John Harbaugh-styled offenses. Across regular seasons he accumulated over 8,000 rushing yards, more than 2,500 receiving yards, and exceeded 60 career rushing touchdowns, while maintaining a yards-per-carry average in the mid-to-high 3.0s. His playoff résumé included multiple postseason touchdowns and significant contributions in divisional and conference matchups against teams like the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and Kansas City Chiefs. Advanced metrics from analytics groups and the Pro Football Focus evaluation community highlighted his pass-blocking grades and red-zone effectiveness relative to peers such as LeSean McCoy, Eddie Lacy, and Adrian Peterson.

Personal life

Off the field, Ingram has been involved with charitable initiatives in New Orleans, Saginaw, Michigan, and at the University of Alabama, supporting youth football clinics, educational programs, and food security campaigns. He has appeared on media platforms including ESPN and local broadcasts, and maintained relationships with former teammates and coaches such as Drew Brees, Nick Saban, and Sean Payton. Ingram is married and active in community outreach; he has also spoken publicly about athlete financial literacy and health matters tied to running backs, engaging with foundations and alumni organizations including the NFLPA and university alumni associations.

Awards and honors

Ingram’s collegiate and professional honors include the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, consensus All-American recognitions, multiple SEC honors, franchise rushing records for the New Orleans Saints, and selections to the Pro Bowl. He was part of squads that won the BCS National Championship and an NFL Super Bowl roster, and has been acknowledged in team halls and community award programs in both Alabama and New Orleans.

Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:American football running backs Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players Category:New Orleans Saints players Category:Baltimore Ravens players Category:Houston Texans players