Mark Cohen (American footballer)

Mark Cohen (born 1970 in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom) is a former British American football wide receiver that played in the British, Danish, German and Finnish leagues, and also the World League of American Football in 1995. He is widely considered one of the best players in British history.[1]

Mark Cohen
No. 1
Position:Wide Receiver
Personal information
Born:1970 (age 49–50)
Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
Career information
College:University of Birmingham
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • 2 x National Champion
  • 1993 Birmingham Bulls Rookie of the Year
  • 1994 Birmingham Bulls Offensive Player of the Year
  • 1994 Birmingham Bulls Coaches' Player of the Year
  • 2006 Coventry Cassidy Jets Coaches' Player of the Year
  • 2008 Coventry Cassidy Jets Offensive Player of the Year
  • 2009 Coventry Cassidy Jets Offensive Player of the Year
  • 2010 Coventry Cassidy Jets Players' Player
  • BritballNow Hall of Fame
  • Birmingham Bulls Hall of Fame

Playing career

Early Years

Although, the first game Cohen saw was the Birmingham Bulls against the Nottingham Hoods, he began his career as an 18 year old for the Sutton Royals, based in Sutton Coldfield[2] after being invited by Royals running back Lee Wright.[3]

In 1990, he left to join the Redditch Arrows, and after impressing there, moved to his hometown team, the Birmingham Bulls in 1991.[4]

Birmingham Bulls

The first of Cohen's three stints at the Bulls was short lived. He found playing time scarce, largely due to a number of leading receivers, including Mike Price, standing ahead of him on the depth chart. After one season, he left to join the Coventry Jaguars.[5]

He returned to the Bulls in 1993 and was selected as Rookie of the Year.[6] In 1994, he led the Bulls in receptions and yards, and was selected to play for the London Monarchs in the World League of American Football, which would later be known as NFL Europe.

In 1995, he was part of the national championship team that defeated the London Olympians 34-30 in Solihull,[7] scoring a 50+ yard touchdown.[8]

Cohen made a second appearance in a national championship game against the Olympians in 2000, but despite scoring three touchdowns on the day, the Bulls were defeated 34-26.[9]

Before leaving the Bulls in the early 2000s, he set team records in total points, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, and was inducted into the team Hall of Fame.[10]

Coventry Jets

His first year at the team then known as the Coventry Jaguars was in 1992, after leaving local rivals, the Birmingham Bulls, to play under head coach Gerry McManus. During his time, he scored a receiving touchdown against his former team.[11] However, after one season he returned to the Bulls.

After a long career at the Bulls, Cohen returned to the Jets in 2005, and during his first season back, totalled 1,246 receiving yards and 33 receiving touchdowns, which remains a British record for a single season.[12]

In 2007, he was again on the losing side of a national championship game. Cohen scored another touchdown, thrown by quarterback Tim Spaull, but that was the Cassidy Jets' only score of the day, falling 14-6 to the London Blitz at the Don Valley Stadium.[13]

In 2008, the Cassidy Jets got revenge, and Cohen got his second national championship, defeating the London Blitz 33-32 at the Keepmoat Stadium.[14]

2009 saw yet another Jets-Blitz final at the Keepmoat Stadium, and Cohen scored Coventry's lone touchdown of the day, thrown by former Blitz quarterback, Stuart Franklin. The Jets fell 26-7.[15]

After a career spanning 22 years, Cohen retired as a member of the Jets, and was awarded Players' Player of the Year in his final season.[16]

London Monarchs

Cohen was selected to play for the London Monarchs during the 1995 season.[17]

Europe

Cohen has played for the Herlev Rebels and Copenhagen Towers of the Danish National Ligaen, the Hanau Hawks of the German Football League and the East City Giants of the American Football Association of Finland.

International career

Cohen is one of the most capped player in GB Lions history with 12 appearances[18] and made his debut in a 22-0 win against Ireland in 1995, where he scored a 28-yard touchdown from Sheffield Spartans quarterback Ian Ure.

Cohen was instrumental in the GB Lions' 1997 European Nations Championship run, scoring a go-ahead 41 yard touchdown from Stuart Franklin in the dying seconds.[19]

Cohen was selected for the final time against France in 2008, 13 years after his first call up.[20]

Coaching career

In 2006, Cohen was selected by head coach Phil DeMonte as a wide receivers coach for Team Ireland.[21]

In 2010 and 2011, Cohen spent time as wide receiver coach and assistant offensive co-ordinator for former team, the Birmingham Bulls.[22][23]

Honours & Records

Cohen holds a number of team and national records.

  • Most Receptions in British History
  • Most Receiving Yards in British History
  • Most Receiving Touchdowns in British History
  • Most Receiving Touchdowns (Single Season) in British History
  • Most Total Points – Birmingham Bulls
  • Most Receptions – Birmingham Bulls
  • Most Receiving Yards – Birmingham Bulls
  • Most Receiving Touchdowns – Birmingham Bulls
  • Most Receiving Touchdowns – Coventry Jets

Personal life

Mark Cohen lives in Birmingham, and was married in 2007.[24]

Cohen is a fan of the San Francisco 49ers.[25]

Cohen was convicted of conspiracy to commit arson but found not guilty of two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent. [26]

gollark: By UK, I mean Unknown Kplacewithweirdtimezones.
gollark: 8086.
gollark: Certainly.
gollark: I live in some weird places.
gollark: !time <@319753218592866315>

References
  1. Who were the greatest?
  2. "The first game I actually saw here was a Birmingham Bulls game against the Nottingham Hoods."
  3. "I remember a friend of mine, Lee Wright, who played running back for Sutton Royals asking if I fancied playing American football."
  4. "After a decent season with the Arrows, he joined the Birmingham Bulls in 1991"
  5. "How and when did you come to play..."
  6. Team Accolades
  7. Britball Finals Pre-2014
  8. "That was the first time I’d actually scored on a 50+ touchdown against them"
  9. Britball Finals
  10. Britball legends join the stampede
  11. "as well as scored against Birmingham in a friendly"
  12. Offense Records
  13. "2007, 23rd September, London Blitz 14-6 Coventry Jets"
  14. "2008, 21st September, Coventry Jets 33-32 London Blitz"
  15. LONDON BLITZ CROWNED BRITBOWL XXIII CHAMPIONS
  16. American Football: Biggs named Player of the Year
  17. "he was selected to play for the London Monarchs in the 1995 season"
  18. Allstars WR
  19. "playing against Madrid for GB and scoring the winning touchdown also holds fond memories."
  20. 2008 GB Lions
  21. Team Ireland Coaching Squad Announced
  22. Britball Legends Join The Stampede
  23. The Stampede Keeps Growing
  24. "What's next for Mark Cohen?"
  25. Who are the NFL and NCAA College teams you support?
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