Carl Zander

American football player (born 1963)

Carl August Zander, Jr (born April 12, 1963) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL) from 1985 to 1991. Selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL draft, he was a member of the Bengals' starting lineup in Super Bowl XXIII. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, where he was a captain of the Vols' 1984 squad.

Zander played high school football at West Morris Mendham High School under long time coach Richard Attonito. During his senior year in 1980, he played fullback, linebacker and punter. He rushed for 1,178 yards and 26 touchdowns on offense, registered 167 tackles (110 solo) on defense, and averaged 41 yards per punt, with a long of 83 yards, on special teams. He received All State honors at the end of the season.

Zander joined the Tennessee Volunteers in 1981, part of a signing class that included Alvin Toles, Reggie McKenzie, Raleigh McKenzie, Johnnie Jones, and Alan Cockrell. Though bothered by injuries during his sophomore season in 1982, he nevertheless picked up 35 tackles (20 solo) and recovered a fumble. Zander's breakout season came during his junior year in 1983, when he registered 129 tackles (67 solo), second on the team only to Alvin Toles' 135. He had 20 tackles (7 solo) in the Vols' opening loss to Pittsburgh, 13 tackles (8 solo) in Tennessee's 41–34 win over Alabama, and 19 tackles in the Vols' 13–10 loss to Ole Miss. In Tennessee's 7–0 win over Rutgers, which took place at Giants Stadium in Zander's home state of New Jersey, he had 16 tackles (7 solo), and shared "Player of the Game" accolades with Reggie White. As part of a linebacker corps that included Toles, Reggie McKenzie, and Dale Jones, Zander registered a team leading 167 tackles, including 102 solo tackles, a sack and 3 tackles for loss, during his senior year in 1984. He also had an interception, forced 3 fumbles, and broke up 6 passes. He had 16 tackles in Tennessee's 24–24 tie against Army, and had a season high of 22 tackles in the Vols' 17–12 loss to Kentucky. In Tennessee's 28–27 loss to Maryland in the 1984 Sun Bowl, he had a team leading 20 tackles, and received the game's "Most Valuable Lineman" award. He was named All SEC by SouthSports. During his career at Tennessee, Zander registered 342 tackles (195 solo), including a sack and 5 tackles for loss, as well as 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 9 batted down passes. As of 2012, his 167 tackles in 1984 remains the team's 5th highest single season total, and the highest since the 1970s.

Zander was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round (43rd overall pick) of the 1985 NFL draft, one of three Tennessee linebackers (the other two being Reggie McKenzie and Alvin Toles) drafted that year. During his seven seasons with the Bengals, he played in a total of 106 games, and was a starter in 94. He recorded 8 sacks, 3 interceptions and 7 fumble recoveries (which he returned for a total of 99 yards). By the 1989 season, he was the Bengals' defensive signal caller, relaying the play from the coaches to the other players on the field, and modifying it as necessary to respond to the offensive formation. Zander was in the starting lineup for the Bengals' 20–16 loss to San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIII. He had three tackles in the game. Zander contemplated retiring in March 1991 after the Bengals offered him a contract he considered insufficient, and missed the first two games of the season, but played during the remaining 14 games.