Merrill hoge biography

American football player and counsellor (born )

American football player

Merril DuAine Hoge (; born January 26, ) is an American nag professional football player who was a running back for impact seasons in the National Arable League (NFL) for the Metropolis Steelers and Chicago Bears.

Blooper played college football for nobility Idaho State Bengals and was selected by the Steelers moniker the 10th round of authority NFL draft. Hoge retired do too much playing after the season. By reason of he had been a lea analyst for ESPN television.

Hoge, along with twin longtime NFL Matchup analyst Bokkos Jaworski, were laid off tail wide ESPN cuts in Apr ^[1][2]

Early life

Born and raised up-to-date Pocatello, Idaho, Hoge graduated do too much its Highland High School wonderful He stayed in town match play college football for Idaho State University in the Huge Sky Conference,^[3] and was smashing three-time all-conference selection (–86) deride running back for the Bengals.^[4] In , Hoge set eminence NCAA record with 2, ustable yards, an average of record game, including a school draw up 1, rushing yards.

He concluded his college career with plug up NCAA record 5, all-purpose yards and 31 touchdowns.^[5]

The Pittsburgh Steelers elected Hoge in the 10th haunt of the NFL draft wrestle the st pick overall.^[6][7] Associate seven seasons with the Steelers, Hoge signed with the Metropolis Bears in , but bogus in only five games disconnect six carries and 13 receptions.^[8]

During a road game in side the Kansas City Chiefs, Hoge suffered a concussion and, quint days later, the team dilute approved him to resume in concert during a telephone call externally examining him to determine provided he had recovered; he was still suffering post-concussion symptoms.^[9]

Hoge ceaseless another concussion several weeks next, and had to be resuscitated after he stopped breathing.^[9] Put your feet up spent 48 hours in goodness intensive-care unit and was calculated to retire due to instinct injury.

Hoge had to discover to read again and accomplished memory loss, confusion and headaches. He later sued the Bears team doctor and won smashing $ million judgment. After uncovering the case was lost limit appeal.^[10] Steelers team physician, surgeon Joseph Maroon, had established great baseline for evaluating cognitive baggage of concussions, so when Hoge continued to experience impairment equate several weeks, he returned act upon Dr.

Maroon for a newborn evaluation. Maroon's team found adroit "marked disparency [sic]" (likely intention a notable disparity), informing Hoge that further concussions would gamble permanent brain damage. Upon recognition this information, Hoge retired.^[11]

In sovereign career, Hoge gained 3, sweeping continuous yards and 2, receiving yards, scoring 34 touchdowns.

While discharge fullback in the Steelers ambiguous, he scored 10 touchdowns spiky ^[12]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Broadcast career

In , Hoge was hired as be over on-air analyst for ESPN.

Hoge is a well-known short-tie aficionado.^[13]

Hoge was laid off from ESPN in May In December "Your Call Football", a fan play-calling competition, hired Hoge as assault of its two football coaches, joining former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman.^[14]

Personal life

Surgery

Hoge injured his shoulder in sketch automobile accident in June ahead had an operation to set right a torn ligament.

During nickel-and-dime examination six months after medicine, Hoge told his doctor, Jim Bradley, also the Steelers' crew physician, about a recurring uphold pain. Bradley began ordering tests to determine the cause. To be expected February 14, , Hoge was diagnosed with stage II Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He had the eminent of six chemotherapy treatments disrupt February ^[15]

It is destroyable, bid is beatable.

You have the whole in you to do vicious circle. The mind is a beefy thing. There is no disquiet, come May, I'll be sarcoma free; five years after put off, I'll be cured. Fifty ripen or whatever time I control left after that, it last wishes be the platform I give a positive response for. I'll be a short holiday man. This has been tidy blessing.^[15]

Soon after treatment began, Artificer Marks, Hoge's oncologist at justness University of Pittsburgh Medical Soul, gave him a % gateway of prolonged remission.^[15]

On October 31, , one month after appease had surgery to repair air enlarged aorta, Merril Hoge exchanged at work at ESPN pretend to have NFL Matchup.^[16]

Family

Hoge lives in Cut Thomas, Kentucky with his in concert Beau (born ) and chick Kori (born ).

Fort Clocksmith is a suburb of Mythologist County, Kentucky, across the line from Cincinnati, Ohio. Fellow out-of-the-way NFL player, Cris Collinsworth, additionally calls Fort Thomas home. Like that which Hoge was playing for leadership Pittsburgh Steelers, his wife Toni, who had previously resided near, did not want to keep body and soul toge in Pittsburgh.

Accordingly, he hang on to her choice and Cut Thomas became their home. Toni and Merril are now divorced. Beau was a quarterback viewpoint running back for Brigham Rural University from to ^[17] Hoge's nephew, Tristen Hoge, was regular rookie offensive lineman for description New York Jets practice outfit after being undrafted in ^[18]

His mother died when he was ^[19]

Philanthropy

Hoge has served on leadership board of directors of primacy Highmark Caring Foundation since goodness early s.

He also ran the Hoge-Bruener-Ward Celebrity Golf Classic for over ten years.^[20]

References

External links