Before turning pro, American football running back Mark Ingram had an outstanding college career at the University of Alabama. He was the first Alabama Crimson Tide player to win the Heisman Trophy, the highest award in college football.
Since joining the New Orleans Saints in 2011, the talented player has remained in top form, winning his first Pro Bowl selection in 2014 and another in 2017.
Mark Ingram Bio
Mark Valentino Ingram Jr. was born on December 21, 1989, in Hackensack, New Jersey. His parents are Shonda and Mark Ingram Sr. He grew up with 3 younger sisters: Malia, Mia, and Miya. Mark attended the first 3 years of high school at Grand Blanc Community High School and later moved to Flint Southwestern Academy for his final year. Ingram was a starter throughout high school, and for his outstanding achievements, he won the Saginaw Valley MVP and Area Player of the Year awards. He was also voted All-State Player of the Year in his graduation season.
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Ingram’s college career with the Alabama Crimson Tide soccer team spanned 3 years from 2008 to 2010, scoring 12 quick touchdowns in 14 appearances in his first season, which was also a school record.
His second season (2009) at the Tides is undoubtedly his breakout season in which he set several new records. In December 2009 he won the coveted Heisman Trophy, making him the first University of Alabama player to achieve this feat. As he was several years younger than 20, Ingram was the youngest Heisman winner at the time and the third sophomore in a row to win the trophy. He finished the season with 1,658 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, with another 334 receiving yards with three touchdowns, for which he was unanimously named All-American of the first team. In January 2010 Ingram led the team in equal parts to win the 2010 Citi BCS National Championship Game, for which he was named Offensive MVP.
Mark Ingram’s junior season was not so spectacular, ending it with 875 rushing yards on 158 carries with 13 touchdowns and 282 receiving yards on a touchdown. Ingram gave up his senior season and signed up for the 2011 NFL Draft on January 6, 2011. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints as the 28th overall candidate in the first round.
NFL Career
In his rookie season, Mark Ingram was limited to only 10 runs for the Saints due to a toe injury. He finally ended the season with 474 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. In the following two seasons, Ingram did not see much improvement as he scored 602 yards with five stormy touchdowns in 2012 and ended the season with 386 stormy yards and one stormy touchdown in 2013 due to injury.
Mark Ingram finally overcame his initial struggles in the 2014 NFL season when he came out of scrimmage with career-hungry 1,109 yards (964 stormy yards and 145 receiving yards), a feat for which he received his first Pro Bowl selection. After a less impressive 2015 season, the talented player returned to his victories in 2016 and ended his career with a career-high of 1,043 rushing yards. He also had 319 receiving yards and a total of 10 touchdowns.
Ingram significantly improved his performance in the 2017 season and ended his career with a career-high of 1,124 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns, 58 receptions, and 416 receiving yards. He helped the Saints win their fourth NFC South title by also winning his second Pro Bowl selection.
Mark Ingram was suspended for four games on May 8, 2018, for violating the league’s Performance Enhanced Drug Policy (PED).
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Height, Weight, and Body Measurements
Mark Ingram is 175 cm (5 feet 9 inches) tall and has a bodyweight of 98 kg (215 lb). Because of his size and running style, Ingram fits perfectly into the Saints’ offensive backfield.
Mark Ingram Wife, Dad, and Family
Like the NFL star himself, Mark Ingram’s father was a professional athlete in his heyday. Before turning pro in 1987, Mark Ingram Sr. played college football as a wide receiver for Michigan State University. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft, and just like his son, Ingram Sr. was the 28th player to be drafted, making the Ingrams the first father-son duo to be drafted with the same selection of their respective draft classes.
Among other highlights of his own NFL career, Mark Ingram Sr. won the Super Bowl XXV (1990) with the New York Giants. He retired from the game in 1996.
Mark Ingram Jr. is married to fitness model Chelsea Peltin-Brown. She also holds a degree in broadcast journalism from California State University, Northridge.
After several years together, Mark Ingram and Chelsea Peltin-Brown announced their engagement in July 2016. The couple sealed the marriage on April 3, 2017, after which they left for their honeymoon on the small tropical island of the Maldives. Together they have 3 children; daughters Mila and Myla and a son named Mark Valentino Ingram III.
