28 Facts About Marco Rivera

Marco Anthony Rivera was born on April 26,1972 and is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.

Marco Rivera played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Marco Rivera helped his team win 3 conference titles, while making almost 300 tackles, 16 sacks and 6 interceptions.

Marco Rivera accepted a football scholarship from Penn State University from 1992 to 1995.

Marco Rivera earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in both his junior and senior seasons.

Marco Rivera earned his Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice from Penn State in 1995.

Marco Rivera was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1996 NFL draft.

In 1997, Marco Rivera was allocated to the Scottish Claymores of the World League and started all ten games, helping his team finish third in the league in total offense.

Marco Rivera was named honorable-mention All-World League by Pro Football Weekly.

Marco Rivera returned to Green Bay and saw action in 14 regular season games, primarily on special teams as a member of the field goal and extra point units and on kickoffs.

Marco Rivera was inactive for the Packers first two contests before seeing action in the club's final 14 games as well as all three playoff contests.

In 1998, Marco Rivera started 15 of 16 regular season games at the left guard spot after winning the job in training camp over another ex-Claymore, Joe Andruzzi.

Marco Rivera started the Packers NFC Wild Card playoff game at San Francisco.

In 1999, Marco Rivera started all 16 games for the first time in his career, playing the entire season at right guard after successfully making the transition from the left side where he had started the year before.

In 2000 and 2001, Marco Rivera started 32 consecutive games at right guard for the three straight seasons.

In 2002, Marco Rivera raised his game to a higher level in his fifth season as a starter with a performance that earned him his first career Pro Bowl selection.

In 2003, Marco Rivera battled through a knee injury that he suffered late in the preseason and went on to start all 16 games for the fifth straight year.

Marco Rivera was named as a starter on the NFC Pro Bowl squad after serving as a backup for his initial appearance in the NFL's annual all-star game in 2002.

Marco Rivera was a second-team All-Pro selection of the Associated Press and Football Digest as well as being named to the All-NFC team as selected by Pro Football Weekly.

In 2004, Marco Rivera was the anchor on the Green Bay offensive line, Marco Rivera completed his seventh straight season as a starting guard.

In starting all 16 regular season games, plus the playoff contest against Minnesota, Marco Rivera earned the starting guard spot on the NFC Pro Bowl squad for a second straight season and was named to the All-NFC squad by Pro Football Weekly.

Marco Rivera was named to the 2011 class of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

Marco Rivera signed a five-year, $20 million contract with a signing bonus of $9 million.

Marco Rivera injured his back during an offseason workout while running on a treadmill and underwent microdiscectomy surgery to repair a herniated disc.

Marco Rivera recovered in time for training camp and the regular season, but suffered a sprained neck injury against the Washington Redskins in week 15 and would miss the final two games.

On June 7,2007, Marco Rivera was released due to serious back problems and eventually retired.

Marco Rivera played in 155 games starting a total of 141, while registering 12 tackles and 3 fumble recoveries as an offensive lineman.

Marco Rivera spent time as a volunteer coach with the Miami Dolphins, under two of his previous coaches from the Cowboys and Packers.