Mat Mendenhall
Matthew Mendenhall was a professional football player for the Washington Redskins.
After being drafted, Mendenhall started for two seasons for the Redskins. At the end of his second professional season, he helped the Redskins win Super Bowl XVII (1983). But his career was short-lived. Reports indicate he entered a treatment center for alcoholism, explaining, “I had some personal problems that needed to get taken care of.”
He rejoined the Redskins during the eighth week of the 1983-1984 season; however, he remained on the injured reserve list so he never played. The Redskins signed him for another season, but setbacks with his elbow led him to surgery. During the 1984 Redskins training camp with the rookies, nine days before the veterans were due to report, Mat’s elbow began to swell up. He separated from the team on August 1, 1984. His career was over.
He also had another incident with alcohol two weeks later that resulted in his arrest, a fine, and entrance into an alcohol safety program. He has maintained a low profile since then.
At Brigham Young University, Mat was 1st Team All-WAC and an honorable mention All-American. He also experienced a ruptured appendix before his senior year that led to a second abdominal surgery.
