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United States Doug Plank has transitioned from a renowned NFL player and coach to a successful entrepreneur, broadcaster, and motivational speaker.
Doug Plank became a National QSR franchisee with management experience, operating a total of twenty individual Burger King restaurants across three states over a twenty-year period. This included utilizing his real estate, contractor, loan origination, and insurance licenses.
From 2010 to 2023, Doug Plank worked as a national radio broadcaster for NFL and NCAA football, providing color analysis for their broadcasts.
Beginning in 1995, Plank worked as a football analyst for Fox Sports.
Plank has worked as a football analyst for the Arizona Cardinals.
Plank has worked as a football analyst for the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Plank has worked as a football analyst for the University of Arizona Wildcats.
Plank has worked as a football analyst for the Arizona Rattlers and later became a defensive coordinator for the team in the Arena Football League.
Doug Plank has utilized and advocates for The Trust’s health and wellness resources, including brain and body assessments, which help former players transition to life after football.
Douglas Walter Plank was born on March 4, 1953, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He attended Norwin High School, excelling in baseball, basketball, and football. His baseball batting average of .526 remained a school record for over three decades, and he was named MVP of the WPIAL’s Foothills Conference in football following his senior season. Plank then played college football at The Ohio State University from 1971 to 1974, contributing to three Big Ten Championships and participating in three Rose Bowls under coach Woody Hayes. While primarily a reserve player, his performance against Northwestern in Chicago caught the attention of a Chicago Bears scout, leading to his professional football career.
Plank was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 12th round of the 1975 NFL draft. He played his entire eight-year NFL career with the Bears, becoming an instant starter and the first rookie to lead the team in tackles. Known for his aggressive and hard-hitting style, he was a favorite of defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, who named the famous “46 defense” after Plank’s jersey number. This defense, designed by Ryan after Plank’s jersey, emphasized pressure on the quarterback with six defensive linemen and numerous blitzes, utilizing physical safeties like Plank to cover receivers and stop the run game. Though Plank retired in 1983, the “46 Defense” was famously used by the Bears in their 1985 Super Bowl victory. After his NFL tenure, Plank played one season in the USFL for the Chicago Blitz in 1984 before retiring from professional football.
Following his football career, Plank transitioned into business, becoming a franchisee for Burger King Corporation. He successfully operated twenty individual restaurants across three states over a two-decade period. His entrepreneurial endeavors were supported by various licenses he acquired during his playing off-seasons, including real estate and loan origination licenses. Plank also entered the world of broadcasting, serving as a football analyst for Fox Sports, the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State Sun Devils, University of Arizona Wildcats, and the Arizona Rattlers. From 2010 to 2023, he worked as a football color analyst for NFL and NCAA national radio broadcasts with Sports USA Media. His coaching career began in 2001 in the Arena Football League (AFL) as a defensive coordinator, leading to head coaching roles where he earned two AFL Coach of the Year awards (2005, 2007) and guided teams to multiple ArenaBowl appearances. He also held coaching positions with the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets in the NFL, and was a program assistant at Ohio State.
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