Mark Alan Royals (born June 22, 1965) is a former American football punter in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars. He played college football at Appalachian State University.
Early years
Royals attended Mathews High School, where he practiced football and baseball.
In football, he punted, kicked off and played multiple positions (cornerback, tight end, defensive end).
College career
Royals enrolled at Chowan Junior College. As a freshman, he contributed to the team winning the 1981 East Bowl Championship. As a sophomore, he received All-Conference honors.
Royals transferred after his sophomore season to Appalachian State University. He averaged 42.0 yards in three seasons as a starter.
He finished his college career with 6 school records: single-game punts (13 vs. The Citadel in 1985), single-season punts (85 in 1984), career punts (231), single-game punting yards (512), single-season punting yards (3,529 in 1984) and career punting yards (9,670).
In 2006, he was inducted into the Chowan Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was inducted into the Appalachian State University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Royals was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 1986 NFL Draft. On August 8, he was released before the start of the season, after not being able to pass incumbent Mike Saxon on the depth chart.
St. Louis Cardinals (first stint) On September 30, 1987, he signed as a replacement player with the St. Louis Cardinals, after the NFLPA strike was declared on the third week of the season. In the first strike game against the Washington Redskins, he made six punts for 222 yards (37-yard average). On October 9, he was released after starter Greg Cater crossed the picket line.
Philadelphia Eagles
On October 14, 1987, he signed as a replacement player with the Philadelphia Eagles, to help solve the kicking problems the team was having. He played in one game against the Green Bay Packers, hitting 6 punts for a 41.8-yard average. He was cut on October 19, at the end of the strike.
Phoenix Cardinals (second stint) On April 1, 1988, he went to training camp with the Phoenix Cardinals. On July 27, he was waived after not beating Greg Horne.
Miami Dolphins (first stint) In May 1989, he signed with the Miami Dolphins. On August 28, he was cut after not passing incumbent Reggie Roby on the depth chart.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (first stint) On April 24, 1990, he was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He made the team after beating out Chris Mohr. He had 72 punts (40.3-yard avg.) and received All-rookie honors from Football Digest.
In 1991, he hit 84 punts (40.3-yard avg.), while setting a then-franchise record with 22 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He had 6 punts for a season-best 46.8-yard average against the New Orleans Saints.
Pittsburgh Steelers
On March 15, 1992, he signed as a Plan B free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He ranked fifth in the AFC with a 42.7-yard average per punt.
In 1993, he made 89 punts (42.5-yard avg.) and had 22 punts of 50 or more yards. He led the AFC with 28 punts inside the 20 and just 3 touchbacks. He received AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in the ninth game against the Buffalo Bills, after hitting a 58-yarder and downing 3 punts inside the 20. He had a career-high 11 punts against the New England Patriots.
Royals is also known for a bad punt he kicked in the AFC wildcard game between the Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs on January 8, 1994. Near the end of the fourth quarter with Pittsburgh leading Kansas City by seven points, Royals failed to direct a punt towards a sideline, and instead, punted the ball forward directly towards the line of scrimmage. The punt was blocked and recovered by Kansas City. With 1:43 remaining in the fourth quarter and on 4th down, Kansas City quarterback Joe Montana threw a touchdown pass to receiver Tim Barnett. The ensuing PAT tied the game which then went into sudden death overtime. Kansas City kicker Nick Lowery eventually kicked the game winning field goal for the Chiefs eliminating the Steelers from the playoffs.
