Mark Ingram II
A powerhouse running back who delivered Alabama its first Heisman and then ground out a decade of NFL respect.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American football player·Birthday: December 21·Millennials
Biography
Mark Ingram II didn't just run; he imposed his will. At Alabama, under Nick Saban, he became the engine of a national championship offense, a compact force of balance and burst who broke the school's Heisman drought in 2009. Drafted by the New Orleans Saints, he brought that same relentless, chain-moving physicality to the pros, forming a legendary backfield duo with Alvin Kamara. His style was pure substance—head down, pads low, fighting for every hidden yard. Beyond the stats, his infectious energy and 'Big Truss' mantra made him a locker room pillar, culminating in a Pro Bowl season with the Baltimore Ravens that proved his enduring class.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Mark was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mark Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Mark's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2009 Heisman Trophy, the first for the University of Alabama.
- Rushed for 1,658 yards in his Heisman season, leading Alabama to the 2010 BCS National Championship.
- Earned three Pro Bowl selections (2014, 2017, 2019) and surpassed 10,000 career yards from scrimmage in the NFL.
- Won the 2010 Doak Walker Award as the nation's top collegiate running back.
Did You Know?
His father, Mark Ingram Sr., was a Super Bowl-winning wide receiver for the New York Giants.
He and his father are the first father-son duo to both win a Super Bowl and be first-round NFL draft picks.
He hosts a podcast called 'The Money Down' with his former Saints teammate Cameron Jordan.
“They said I was too slow, they said I was too small, they said I couldn't catch. I just kept grinding.”
