Mark Sanchez May Play Football on the East Coast, but He's a Southern

WORDS: KRISTIE BERTUCCI PHOTOS: BRIAN McGEE

ark Sanchez may play football on He linked up with us here at DUB Magazine, the East Coast, but he’s a Southern via a mutual friend, to help him add a few things M California boy at heart. Currently to the Jeep and give it a little more swag. Although residing in Philadelphia, PA, for the season as he left most of the mods up to DUB, he did choose the backup quarterback for the Eagles, the fan the Arctic digital camo pattern for the wrap. “It’s favorite Sanchez loves to soak up Cali rays during unique and looks great. My nephew, Nico, thinks the off-season in his Jeep Wrangler JK. We spent it looks like something out of Minecraft.” He also the day with USC’s former quarterback before the requested new rims and tires, and went with set current NFL season and learned that despite all of TIS 535B wheels and Nitto Trail Grappler tires. the fame, he’s a humble, laid-back guy who loves Another highlight for Sanchez is the Smittybilt the beach, his dog and his Jeep. front winch, which he mentions can pull him or “The Jeep is great; It’s a cross between someone else out “of a jam on the beach.” a convertible and a pickup for me,” Sanchez Completely blown away when he first saw his explains. “It’s a great ride for living at the beach in upgraded Jeep, it’s become his daily driver when California because the weather is always nice and I he’s in Cali, especially when he’s heading to off- can keep the top down. I have a chocolate English season training and workouts or to have a chill day Labrador, Oso, that rides with me and he loves it. at the beach. “It really went from a basic Jeep to a I’m usually driving around with a bag of footballs California beach machine,” he admits. “The audio and other training equipment and the Jeep makes was completely upgraded and it looked much it easy to throw my gear in the back and take off.” better lifted with the upgraded tires and rims.”

74 | DUB MAGAZINE 2015 The Jeep is great; It’s a cross between a convertible and a pickup for me. It’s a great car for living at the beach in California because the weather is always nice and I can keep the top down.”

DUB MAGAZINE 2015 | 75 downs, completions and completion percentage. I’d like to improve on those achievements and do whatever it takes to get to the playoffs. I’ve been one win away from a Super Bowl two times now. It’s been right there in front of me. I really want an opportunity to play in and win a Super Bowl. That’s what drives me every day.

What do you do in the off-season to get away from the pressures of playing in the NFL? Best case scenario, the off-season doesn’t start until mid February – that means we are playing in the Super Bowl. But generally speaking, I try to take some time off right at the beginning of the off-season to get away and decompress a little bit. The season is all focus and grind, so when you get a chance for a break, it feels good to blow off a little steam and relax.

How’s playing college football different from best players on their college team. That means, the NFL? there are no soft spots out there; everyone you College is different because all of the guys on face was an all-star or All-American player. You the team are pretty much the same age and are have to step up your game and preparation going through very similar experiences. In the becomes critical to your success because the NFL, guys are at various stages of life and in their talent level and speed are so elevated. careers. Take a look at any NFL locker room and you have young rookies that are single, wide- What can fans expect from you this season? eyed and in their early 20s. At the same time, I’m going to compete to be the quarterback for you have 10 year veteran players, who are married this team and help us win as many games as with kids and playing for their third team. Not possible. It was a new offense for me last year, everyone is at the same stage in their lives and, but I feel that I was able to grow in the system as a quarterback, it is your job to bring everyone and now I’m ready to succeed in Coach Kelly’s up- together and create a unified group that can tempo offense. The goal is simple, win. We have succeed together. to stack up enough wins to get into the playoffs. Then there is the speed and overall ability of For me personally, it will be to build off of last the players themselves. When you think about it, year. We set franchise records on offense last the guys on the field in the NFL were the absolute year, including points scored, passing yards, first

76 | DUB MAGAZINE 2015 I really like the ocean and I try to get down to the beach as much as possible during the off- season. My dad has always taken us fishing and I try to get out on the water with him during the off-season. I love to fish, both with rod and reel and spear fishing. This summer we traveled to Cabo San Lucas with my dad and won a marlin tournament, which was a lot of fun. I also go hunting with my dad and my brothers when we can all get some time off.

I’m not sure if I’d consider myself a foodie, but I love eating at great restaurants. I’ve been around some great restaurants while playing in New York/New Jersey and Philadelphia. I have an appreciation for the way a chef puts together a restaurant concept and then delivers a great meal and an experience for the customer. I’ve had a chance to meet and eat with some great chefs like Jose Garces, Mario Batali, Bruno Serato, Michael Mina and my friend from Nobu that recently passed away, Shin Tsujimura. Then I get back home and get started with my training. I think most folks would be surprised at how much work goes into the off-season. I do a lot of preventative maintenance work on my body to help avoid injury and I build strength that can be lost over the course of a season. I also I also try to train with teammates for about a they were great people who loved the Trojans and work a lot on my core, using specialized workouts week during the off-season; usually a few weeks had embraced me as the USC quarterback. There and yoga. At the same time, I watch all of the before training camp. We get together to watch were a couple of Jets fans that took on the same tape from the previous season to evaluate the film and work on the field to gain some continuity look while I was in New York. They wore luchador good and the bad. It makes for pretty long days on the more technical pieces of the offense. masks and held the “Viva Sanchez” signs as well. that sometimes run about 12 hours. Before you know it, it’s time to report to camp I know my mom met them at a few of the games and chase that Lombardi trophy one more time. and had a blast. TECH SPECS: JEEP WRANGLER JK What’s the craziest/weirdest fan story? Then there was a time on vacation that I came WHEELS & TIRES There have been lots of interesting encounters across some Jets fans on a remote beach in • 20x9 TIS 535B wheels with fans. I remember back at USC that there Mexico. I was on vacation, but still throwing and • 285/55R20 Nitto Trail Grappler tires was a strong contingent of Hispanic fans that training on the beach. I was going through my SUSPENSION would come to games in luchador gear with “Viva workout on an out-of-the-way beach that you • Pro Comp 2.5” Suspension Lift Sanchez” signs. They would wear luchador masks could only reach by boat. There were very few and cheer like mad men at the Coliseum. I had a tourists there and even fewer American tourists. ARMOR & PROTECTION chance to meet them after one of our games and Then, out of nowhere as I was going through • Smittybilt XRC Front Bumper • Smittybilt XRC Rear Bumper • Smittybilt XRC Rock Sliders

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78 | DUB MAGAZINE 2015 my workout, a young boy and his father walked up and said, “Hey, aren’t you Mark Sanchez?” I looked up and laughed because I didn’t think anyone would ever spot me working out at such a remote location. Turns out they were big Jets fans from New York also on vacation. We took a couple of pictures and I threw a few passes to the young guy. They were great people.

We heard that you do a lot of charity work, which foundations do you support and can you detail why they’re so important to you? I enjoy working in the community, especially with young people. In Philadelphia I’m part of Community Monday, and each week we collaborate with a local organization to support young people. I’ve had an opportunity to meet some great kids through Children’s Hospital Philadelphia, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Philadelphia Horticultural Society and Eagles Youth Partnerships. In California, I’ve had a longstanding relationship with Danny Hernandez and the Hollenbeck Youth Center in East Los Angeles. I connected with the HYC during my USC days. Danny and the kids have always been so supportive of me and I’m proud to have been part of organization over the years. I also have worked with a number of charitable groups in Orange County, including Orangewood, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Caterina’s Club, Children’s Hospital Orange County and Food for Kids in Long Beach. I think it’s important to use any platform I’ve been blessed with to help others around me. Every time I’m in the community I’m inspired by the kids and it reminds me to keep a perspective on life and to truly value what is most important.

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