Mark Sanchez was drafted with the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft by the New York Jets after a successful college career at the University of Southern California.
The Jets quarterback led the team to the AFC Championship game in each of his first two NFL seasons. Sanchez led the Jets to an 8-8 season in 2011 and missed the playoffs for the first time in his career. The Jets quarterback threw 26 touchdowns, 18 interceptions and had six rushing touchdowns.
Sanchez, who's been featured on several magazine covers, was the fourth rookie quarterback in NFL history to win his first playoff games and he sports an impressive 4-2 playoff record.
Sanchez was born and raised in Southern California and attended Mission Viejo High School. He was the top quarterback in the nation coming out of high school in 2005. Sanchez decided to attend the University of Southern California and became the starting quarterback his junior year. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and entered the NFL draft in 2009.
Sanchez was the first quarterback picked in the first round by the Jets since 2000, when New York picked Chad Pennington with the 18th overall pick. Sanchez signed a five-year contract worth $50 million, with a promised $28 million, on June 10, 2009.
