John Offerdahl

John Arnold Offerdahl (born August 17, 1964) is an American former professional football player who spent his entire eight-year career as a linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos, before being selected by the Dolphins with the 52nd pick of the 1986 NFL draft.

While at WMU, Offerdahl set school records in tackles and recovered fumbles, making the All Mid-American Conference first-team his last three years, the Associated Press All American third-team his junior year, and the All American second-team his senior year. In his professional career, Offerdahl was selected for the Pro Bowl in each of his first five years in the league, and was a two-time All-Pro; in 1986 as a second-team selection and in 1990 as a first-team selection.

While still playing, Offerdahl opened a chain of bagel restaurants called Offerdahl's Bagel Gourmet, before selling the franchise in 1995. In 2000, he started a second franchise, Offerdahl's Cafe Grill.

Early life John Offerdahl was born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, on August 17, 1964, to Arnold and Irene Offerdahl. His mother was a teacher, first of art and later of furniture refinishing. He has four older sisters, Mary, Ruth, Susan, and Sarah.

After graduating from Fort Atkinson High School, Offerdahl received a partial football scholarship by Western Michigan University, the only Division I team to make him an offer. WMU noticed Offerdahl while scouting his teammate Jerry Quaerna. The scholarship became a full scholarship after Offerdahl impressed the coaching staff in early practices. Offerdahl stayed at WMU for four years – from the 1982 through 1985 seasons – and majored in biomedicine. He started every game over that time.

While at WMU, Offerdahl recorded 694 career tackles, a school record. In addition to the career record, he set the school's single-season record with 192 tackles during his sophomore year. He led the Mid-American Conference in tackles his sophomore, junior, and senior years, and was second in the conference his freshman year. He also forced 17 fumbles during his time at WMU, recovering a school record of 8.

Offerdahl was named a third-team All American by the Associated Press in 1984, and second-team All American in 1985. He made the all-conference first-team in each of his last three years, and was the conference Defensive Player of the Year in his senior year. Western Michigan University retired his jersey number in 1995 and inducted Offerdahl into its Hall of Fame a year later. The Dolphins did not have a first-round pick, making Offerdahl their first selection of the draft, and the draft's 52nd overall. He also shared the Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association's Defensive Rookie of the Year Award with the San Diego Chargers' Leslie O'Neal.

In his second season, which was shortened by a players' strike, Offerdahl was limited to nine starts due to injury. Despite the reduction in playing time, he recorded sacks and was invited back to the Pro Bowl.

The 1990 season is considered one of Offerdahl's best. Continuing at left inside linebacker, Offerdahl started all sixteen regular-season games, leading the team in tackles and contributing a sack and an interception for a 28-yard return, the longest in his career. He was invited to a fifth consecutive Pro Bowl and was named a first-team All-Pro. Between 1991 and 1993, he played in 6, 8, and 9 regular-season games respectively, although in all but one of those games he was a starter. Returning to the right inside linebacker position, he recorded sacks in each of the 1991 and 1992 seasons, and none in 1993.

Business ventures In 1990, while still playing for the Dolphins, Offerdahl opened a bagel store, Offerdahl's Bagel Gourmet, in Weston, Florida. It would become the first of 10 locations. In 1995, Offerdahl merged with three other bagel retailers to form Einstein Bros. Bagels, a national chain. He stayed with the company for just over a year as the Vice President of Operations for Florida, and was a member of the board until 1997.

In 2000, he again entered the restaurant business, opening Offerdahl's Café Grill, a chain of casual restaurants. As of December 2015, there are six Offerdahl's Café Grill locations; four in Broward County and one in each of Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Offerdahl's bagels eventually was sold and merged with Einstein Bros. Bagels. Offerdahl's Café Grill is now called Offerdahl's Off the Grill.

Personal Offerdahl lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with his wife, Lynn. The couple have three children, Alexandra, Drew, and Jameson. an NFL-wide award for humanitarian work. He also received the Nat Moore Community Service Award, a Miami Dolphins-specific award for community engagement, in 1989, 1990, and 1993. He is the chairperson of the National Christian Foundation of South Florida. He holds an annual charity event in Pompano Beach, Florida, called the Gridiron Grill-off Food, Wine, & Tailgate Festival.

In 2009, Offerdahl and his son approached two men acting suspiciously outside of the house of neighbor Bernice Novack; the men fled and Offerdahl and his son were unable to catch them. Novack was later murdered; it is believed that one of those two men was the killer and that Offerdahl's intervention foiled a first attempt at Novack's life.