Mark Tuinei

Mark Pulemau Tuinei (March 31, 1960 – May 6, 1999) was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. Known as a "gentle giant", his career lasted for 15 years (1983–1997) and his ability to protect quarterback Troy Aikman and to run-block for running back Emmitt Smith helped them win Super Bowls in 1992, 1993, and 1995 and the NFC East Division in 1985 and 1992-96. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995.

Early life
Tuinei was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Nanakuli, Hawai'i and attended Punahou School in Honolulu and graduated the year before Barack Obama. He was Hawaii Prep Lineman of the Year as a senior, a state shot put champion and an all-star basketball player.

College career
Tuinei played for two seasons at UCLA where he started at defensive tackle as a sophomore, finishing fifth on the team in tackles. As a junior he transferred home to the University of Hawaii, but was nagged by injuries his senior year and played in only seven games.

He was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame.

His brother Tom Tuinei was an All-Western Athletic Conference defensive tackle at University of Hawaii and played for the Detroit Lions and the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos.

Professional career
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Tuinei signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 1983 as a rookie free agent and made the team as a defensive tackle.

In 1985, the Cowboys needed help at the offensive line and like defensive tackles Blaine Nye and Pat Donovan before him, he was switched to offensive tackle.

He played several spots along the offensive line until 1987, when he became a full-time starter at left tackle.

Tuinei helped protect Hall of Fame QB Troy Aikman and helped paved the way for Hall of Fame RB Emmitt Smith to become the NFL all time leading rusher.

Although he was just one of those unsung players that goes out and does their job, teammates admired Tuinei for his ability and toughness. He suffered knee injuries most of his career, yet he would play a total of 195 games.

He was a key member on one of the best offensive lines in NFL history, helping the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX and the NFC East Division in 1985 and from 1992 to 1996. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995.

Knee problems ended his career after the 1997 season, when Larry Allen took over for him at left tackle.

Tuinei, is tied with Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Bill Bates for the most seasons in a Cowboy uniform—with 15.

He is considered to be one of the greatest offensive tackles in the Cowboys franchise history.

Death
In May 1999, Tuinei was found unconscious in his car and pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital in the Dallas suburb of Plano. He had been planning to return to Punahou School as offensive line coach. The autopsy revealed that Tuinei died of a lethal combination of heroin and a form of the drug ecstasy. His death was ruled an accident. Upon the release of the autopsy, Plano police chief Bruce Glasscock was quoted as saying that it was Tuinei's first experience with heroin. Glasscock did not elaborate how that determination was made.

"What you had was a 39-year-old male, 6'5", in excess of 300 pounds, a healthy individual, took one shot of heroin and basically dropped dead as a result," Glasscock said during his press conference regarding Tuinei.

The four individuals who worked for the drug ring that provided Tuinei with the lethal dose of heroin were later sentenced in Sherman, Texas. Julian Solis Perez and Andres Milan were sentenced to eleven-year prison terms and Favian Ramos a twelve-year sentence. Jesus Carbajal received a life sentence. The men were charged, tried and convicted for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.