Rick DiBernardo

Richard Anthony DiBernardo (born June 12, 1964) is a former American football linebacker who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL).[1]

Rick DiBernardo
No. 56, 53
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1964-06-12) June 12, 1964
Redondo Beach, California
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
College:Notre Dame
Undrafted:1986
Career history
Career NFL statistics as of 1987
Games played:19
Games started:3
Fumble recoveries:2
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early life

DiBernardo was born on June 12, 1964, in Redondo Beach, California. He attended Edison High School, where he played football and basketball.[2] In his junior season, DiBernardo set an Edison basketball record with 17 field goals against Costa Mesa High School.[3]

As a senior, DiBernardo was named to the South team in the Orange County All-Star basketball game.[4] Edison football coach Bill Workman said DiBernardo "could start at every position on our team except quarterback and tailback and it would be very close at those positions".[2] Parade magazine named DiBernardo to their All-America team, where the magazine's editors selected the best high school football players in America to the honorary team.[5] USC, UCLA, Nebraska, Washington, and Notre Dame all tried to recruit DiBernardo to their football programs.[6] In the visit with Notre Dame, head coach Gerry Faust talked to him about the university's "unique" atmosphere, its high academic standards and the Irish tradition".[7] After he visited the university's campus, DiBernardo chose to attend Notre Dame.[8]

Collegiate career

DiBernardo graduated with majors in marketing and psychology.[6]

Professional career

DiBernardo was not selected by a team in the 1986 NFL Draft, where organizations choose athletes to play for their teams, but he later signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[6] The Buccaneers traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals for a twelfth-round draft pick in the following year's draft.[9] With the Cardinals, DiBernardo played as a reserve linebacker and as a long snapper on special teams.[6] He played in all 16 games that season, as the Cardinals finished with a 4–11–1 record.[1][10] After his first season in the NFL, DiBernardo considered retiring from the game and going back to Notre Dame for a master's degree. He instead decided to attend Cardinals' training camp, where he learned that Mike Morris had been signed as the St. Louis long snapper.[6]

" [The Rams] said come over to (Ram Camp at Cal State Fullerton) tomorrow. I was just saying, 'There is a God. He is listening.' This is the best thing that's ever happened to me. Friday was the greatest day ever."

DiBernardo on signing with the Rams[11]

On July 21, 1987, DiBernardo told Cardinals coach Gene Stallings he would be retiring from football, citing concerns about his job security. He showed an interest in a marketing or administration job.[6] On August 14, while he worked for a moving company, DiBernardo received a call from a marketing agency that offered a management position; he accepted.[11] Four hours later, the Los Angeles Rams offered him a tryout. DiBernardo signed with the Rams for "about minimum wage" as a reserve linebacker and long snapper.[11] He played in three games for Los Angeles, and had two fumble recoveries.[1] The Rams released DiBernardo along with nine other players in the beginning of September.[12]

Personal life

In 2008, DiBernardo worked as a mutual fund regional vice president in Orange County, CA and as a part-time college football referee.[13] He has three daughters with their mother Mollie.

He has a wonderful daughter named Katie.

AND a great stepdaughter, famous journalist Maeve.

References
  1. "Rick DiBernardo". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  2. Hamilton, Tom (September 9, 1981). "Rick DiBernardo Is Edison High School's Man for All Positions". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. (subscription required)
  3. "DiBernardo Sets Edison Mark". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. January 10, 1981. (subscription required)
  4. "Chang, DiBernardo Head South". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. May 14, 1982. (subscription required)
  5. McManis, Sam (January 29, 1982). "Dinner Can Wait at the DiBernardos". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. (subscription required)
  6. McCurdie, Jim (August 9, 1987). "Not a Snap Decision: After One Season as an NFL Bit Player, Former Edison Star DiBernardo Had Enough of Football". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company.
  7. DiGiovanna, Mike (February 3, 1982). "DiBernardo Chooses Notre Dame". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. (subscription required)
  8. Faust, Gerry; Love, Steve (2002). The Golden Dream. Sports Publishing LLC. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-58261-608-7.
  9. Zier, Patrick (April 14, 1987). "Tampa Bay gets Turk from Steelers". The Ledger. Halifax Media Group.
  10. "1986 St. Louis Cardinals". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  11. Ludovise, Barbie (August 18, 1987). "Rams Sign Ex-Edison Star DiBernardo". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company.
  12. "Transactions". Associated Press. September 2, 1987.
  13. Eichelberger, Curtis (November 25, 2008). "Football Ref Says Managing Money Prepares Him for Fans Catcalls". Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg L.P.
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