Editor’s note: Professional athletes often get a bad rap. A handful of chowderheads make headlines on a regular basis for getting arrested or committing other bad deeds. Those incidents often overshadow the good works and interesting careers being pursued by current and former players outside their respective games. We’re planning to make a semi-regular feature out of recognizing some of these former football stars for the contributions they make to society when they leave the spotlight. Here is the first of those profiles.

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In 1983, the Denver Broncos traded quarterback Mark Herrmann, offensive lineman Chris Hinton and a first round pick the following year to the Baltimore Colts for John Elway. The trade turned out to be a highway robbery that helped make the Broncos competitive for years into the future.

But it was not the only steal the team made that year. In the 12th round — a round that does not even exist any more — the club selected Karl Mecklenburg, a linebacker from the University of Minnesota.

Though he was drafted late, Mecklenburg always figured he’d make it. And he did, playing playing 12 years in the NFL, amassing 79 sacks, six Pro Bowls and three First-Team All Pro nominations.

Mecklenburg played in three Super Bowls and has been named to the Broncos Ring of Fame and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. But his time in the public eye did not end when his NFL career did in 1994. He’s taken on the role of motivational speaker. He helps run a foundation aimed at getting kids to read. And he’s an active member of the Broncos’ alumni.

Mecklenburg shared some thoughts with Zoneblitz this week on his NFL past and his present.

Zoneblitz: You recently wrote a book, Heart of a Student Athlete: All Pro Advice for Competitors and Their Families. What’s in the book and why did you write it?

Mecklenburg: Heart of a Student Athlete is my response to all the coaches, parents, and athletes who have asked me what it takes to get to the next level. I believe that success is overcoming obstacles on the way to your dreams. The book gives the six keys to success that I used to rise from a college walk-on and the 310th pick of the NFL draft to a 12 year NFL career that included 3 Super Bowl and 6 Pro Bowl appearances. Heart of a Student Athlete has won 3 National Literary Awards. For more information go to www.studentathlete.us

Zoneblitz: I see at your bio that you’ve done some other writing for magazines and in books in the past – is being an author part of your current and future plans?

Mecklenburg: My desire as a motivational speaker and author is to inspire long term positive change in teams and individuals. The long term piece is tough as a speaker. The written word allows people to go back and relive the stories and the lessons that they teach. If I’m going to continue to reach people in large numbers for the long term writing will always be a part of my plan.

Zoneblitz: You also have the REACH Foundation. What does this organization support?

Mecklenburg: REACH is an acronym for Rewarding Experiences for All Children. My wife Kathi and I started REACH six years ago in an effort to focus on the challenges young people face today. We have a reading program in the Denver Public Schools elementary schools called Reach for a Book.

We challenge and incentivize the students to read 100 minutes a week outside of class. Saturday we will be holding this year’s Top Readers Luncheon at Invesco Field. The top three readers from each school and their parents as well as the teachers from the top reading classrooms will come to be honored, rewarded, and recognized for their achievements. Nationally 90 percent of high school dropouts quit because they can’t read. The dropout rate in Denver Public Schools is 50 percent. For more info, check out www.karlmecklenburg.net.

Zoneblitz: What else keeps you busy these days?

Mecklenburg: Kathi and I have our 13 year old son Jeff at home so we go to his baseball games and boy scouts, help with homework, and drive him here and there. I try to stay in shape and still love to hunt and fish.

Zoneblitz: At what point during your NFL career did you start preparing for your post-NFL life?

Mecklenburg: I always felt that I needed to give full attention to my NFL job or I wouldn’t have it for long. There was time to figure out what was next once I retired. That said, I believe that many players don’t realize that the most valuable asset they can develop during their NFL career is a solid reputation and the good will of their community.

Zoneblitz: You were a 12th round pick but I read that you felt confident you were going to make it all along. When did you feel you had made it and what allowed you to do so?

Mecklenburg: The first preseason game we played in 1983 was against our division rival Seattle. Due to an injury to my elbow I had just been switched from nose guard to defensive end. Somehow I got to play for a quarter against Seattle’s starting tackle Ron Essink and despite my injury and new position I got two sacks and forced a fumble. Dan Reeves named Elway (1st pick in 1983) as the offensive player of the game and me (310th pick in 1983) as the defensive player of the game.

Zoneblitz: I found you, in part, through the Denver Broncos alumni page on Facebook. Do you stay closely involved in the NFL?

Mecklenburg: I find Facebook and LinkedIn to be a great way to correspond with lots of people all at once. I do follow football and other sports. I will always be a Bronco. When I give my teamwork and leadership presentations it helps to have some up to date examples and there are plenty of them in the NFL.

Zoneblitz: Do you miss the game?

Mecklenburg: I was so fortunate to make a living playing a game I loved to play. The thing I miss most about football is the adrenalin. It took me a long time to find anything that came close to the adrenalin rush of taking the field at Mile High Stadium. Speaking comes close. I take the stage and perform at high level. My game plan changes depending on the client and their needs. When my presentation is over I evaluate and adjust. In many ways speaking is like football without the injuries.

Zoneblitz: Who were some of the opponents you most respected and why?

Mecklenburg: The NFL is full of quality people. More often than not it’s character, perseverance, and courage that allow a person to rise above the crowd and make it in the NFL. Those aren’t the characteristics that make headlines so I think many people have been misled into thinking we are all egomaniacs and criminals. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I had and still have great respect for most of the men I played with and against.

Zoneblitz: We read a lot these days about retired NFL players who are struggling with their health. How are you doing and is this an issue in which you have been involved?

Mecklenburg: I have had 16 football related surgeries and multiple concussions. Some days are better than others. As a player representative for the Broncos I fought with Union Head Gene Upshaw about the health insurance issue for years. He felt that he was responsible for the active players while they were playing and that was all.

I felt that he was responsible for the active players through their lifetime, not just the average 3.5 years of an NFL career. Most retired players are uninsured and uninsurable. Many of the long-term medical effects of an NFL career are just now being studied. There is no reason other than shortsightedness and greed that the NFL doesn’t have health insurance for retired players.