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. John and Lynn share their enthusiasm for helping the broken, homeless and hungry. "A good place to learn how to operate a business should be in your own back yard where people know you," said John Offerdahl, a linebacker for the Miami Dolphins from 1986 to 1993. It gets amazingly close to the adrenaline rush I received from smacking a running back on the goal line or hearing a coach Shula half-time pep talk., I was born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin in 1964.

This keeps me excitingly nervous for tomorrow. All items can be packaged to go or eat in. Instead of displacing Krauss, Offerdahl was moved to the left inside linebacker position upon his return. John and Lynn Offerdahl are no strangers to filling the stomachs of hungry Weston residents. [10] Western Michigan University retired his jersey number in 1995 and inducted Offerdahl into its Hall of Fame a year later. One thing that sets Offerdahl's Off-The-Grill apart from other fast-casual restaurants is our just-grilled, all-day, great food! Higgs looks worried. Lynn transferred to another school in the same town.

In 1995, Offerdahl merged with three other bagel retailers to form Einstein Bros. Bagels, a national chain. I was invited to go to a CRU (Campus Crusades) meeting and it was there I first caught a glimpse of my future wife. The next 5 years I earned Pro-Bowl honors and finished my 8-year NFL career in 1994. In 1989, during the middle of my football career, I married my wife Lynn, and we put together a business plan to start a bagel store. "This is the aiming time, not the firing time," says Offerdahl of the expansion plans as he lunches on a small salad and a few slices of fruit. Lynn was born in Michigan. The couple set out to develop tasty alternatives to junk food by working with a nutritionist from Florida International University. He's reticent to talk about the time he gives, or the 6,000 bagels he donated in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. Western Michigan University retired his jersey number in 1995 and inducted Offerdahl into its Hall of Fame a year later. According to Katie Sharp and Louis Bien of SB Nation, Offerdahl while not alone as an athlete-turned restaurateur is one of only a few to focus on healthy food. [4][5], While at WMU, Offerdahl recorded 694 career tackles, a school record. WMU noticed Offerdahl while scouting his teammate Jerry Quaerna. Offerdahls Off-The-Grill (www.offerdahls.com), Walgreens Gridiron Grill-Off Food, Wine & Music Festival (www.gridrongrilloff.com), and Home Team Advantage Restorative Housing (www.htadvantage.org). The Offerdahls are often on the premises, sometimes bringing their three children, Ali, 6, Drew, 5, and Jameson, 2. WebOFFERDAHL'S OFF-THE-GRILLis the creation of former Miami Dolphins linebacker John Offerdahl and his wife Lynn. [5][16], In 1990, while still playing for the Dolphins, Offerdahl opened a bagel store, Offerdahl's Bagel Gourmet, in Weston, Florida. [5], In 1993, while recovering from a bicep injury during the preseason, Offerdahl and four others rescued an elderly couple whose car was knocked into a pond after being hit by another car. Offerdahl said he and his wife, Lynn, are thinking about opening more shops. WebJohn Offerdahl and his wife Lynn have pledged their likeness, time, talents and treasure in an effort to positively impact South Florida. He was selected for the Pro Bowl and was named a second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press after recording 130 tackles, two sacks, and an interception in 15 games. Former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula died Monday, May 4, at the age of 90. WMU noticed Offerdahl while scouting his teammate Jerry Quaerna.

The subject this night is "How to be sure you're a good Christian." The Dolphins did not have a first-round pick, making Offerdahl their first selection of the draft, and the draft's 52nd overall. The 1990 season is considered one of Offerdahl's best. My mother taught furniture refinishing (she called herself jokingly, a professional stripper!). [15], In October 2013, Offerdahl was added to the Dolphins' Ring of Honor, an honor roll permanently displayed inside of the team's stadium. [17] According to Katie Sharp and Louis Bien of SB Nation, Offerdahl while not alone as an athlete-turned restaurateur is one of only a few to focus on healthy food. WebJohn Offerdahl was born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, on August 17, 1964, to Arnold and Irene Offerdahl. Offerdahl spent the first 81 days of the 1989 season, his fourth in the league, in a contract holdout. I majored in biochemistry.

Sometime around 9:30 p.m., he'll head home to his wife, Lynn, and 8-month-old daughter Alexandra. What is your greatest accomplishment professionally and personally? After listening to our passionate pleas, Charlie told us to come back in 1 week after he had more time to think about it. WebOFFERDAHL'S OFF-THE-GRILLis the creation of former Miami Dolphins linebacker John Offerdahl and his wife Lynn. Coach Glen Borland at Fort Atkinson, WI; Coach Jack Harbaugh at Western Michigan University; and Coach Don Shula at the Miami Dolphins! In 1986, I was defensive captain and starting inside linebacker for all 16 games and was voted Pro-Bowl and NFL Rookie of the Year. John Offerdahls income source is mostly from being a successful . He listens to Mike and Elaine Reeder discuss problems at the stores. Some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. I stayed at WMU for four years from the 1982 through 1985 seasons and majored in biomedicine. I was in the NFL!!!! Bottom line, in a world that puts value on performance, I try too hard to put value on people and I am VERY THANKFUL my performance is not the basis by which I am judged! He has four older sisters, Mary, Ruth, Susan, and Sarah. He smiles at that memory. She can look hot in a dress and still carry my 250# frame piggyback! "Every store of ours has been next to a Publix, because we thought it would be a good draw. In 2000, John & Lynn decided to open a new and improved version of Offerdahls by expanding the menu and developing a new concept in fast-casual dining OFFERDAHLS OFF-THE-GRILL! He started every game over that time. One thing that sets Offerdahl's Off-The-Grill apart from other fast-casual restaurants is our just-grilled, all-day, great food! Some off day. An inside linebacker, he played college football at Western Michigan University, before being selected by the Miami Dolphins in 52nd pick of the 1986 draft. After making a name for himself with the Dolphins, the couple decided to open a restaurant. The quartet is heading to the Miami Herald, where a group of personalities are gathering to record a theme song for the hurricane relief cause. 22 NFL legends team-up with 22 top chefs from South Floridas finest restaurants to vie for fans as they eat, drink and vote on their favorite Grill-Off recipes Saturday, November 10th from 1:00pm 4:30pm! Sometime around 9:30 p.m., he'll head home to his wife, Lynn, and 8-month-old daughter Alexandra. As the founder of the Walgreens Gridiron Grill-Off Food, Wine & Music Festival Presented by UHealth Clinics at Walgreens, John brings the ultimate celebrity culinary competition for charity to life each year In South Florida. [7] In his final season with the Dolphins, Offerdahl received the Ed Block Courage Award, [22] an NFL-wide award for humanitarian work. The couple opened their first Offerdahl's Bagel store nine years ago in the city, then expanded to nine other locations in Broward County before selling their chain in 1995. Lynn got her masters in fine art. The marriage at the time was described by a friend: A person married to a Stephens in Arkansas is pretty much like somebody who might be married to a Rockefeller in New York.. Sports Illustrated wrote: Shula and Stephens smooch in public, hold hands at the dinner table and nibble off each others plates. Stephens pushed her husband to be more adventurous and to try things that he hasnt done before, like dancing to rock n roll, zipping around in her boat and snorkeling., One of Shulas friends said: Its great to see a guy his age in love and able to express it. While still playing, Offerdahl opened a chain of bagel restaurants called Offerdahl's Bagel Gourmet, before selling the franchise in 1995. He joined the 1972 undefeated team and 24 other players as a member of the Ring. Walgreens Gridiron Grill-Off Food, Wine & Music Festival Presented by UHealth Clinics at Walgreens is an event where Celebrity, Competition & Charity COLLIDE! One Saturday while selling programs at a football game, she ran into John's older sisters. From fine-dining restaurant grills, to neighborhood backyard bbqs, to game-day tailgate fanatics people live life off the grill. ", Browne drives quickly downtown. 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. Prices range from 99 cents for a bagel with butter, honey or jam, to $5.29 for a Chinese chicken salad wrap sandwich. This year, were working with Broward College to offer $50,000 in scholarships to develop people educationally and lift their incomes towards self-sufficiency and homeownership victory. You Gol Darn Fricken BETTER BE! It is a stark and impressionable reminder in life; you better get nervous about the things that matter. He graduated in 1951 with highest honors as a chemical engineer and was a member of Tau Beta Pi. Providing Homes Restoring Lives. Shula was 63 when they married and Stephens was 48. You are a person of influence. Charlie motioned to the package and we tore it open.

Around 8 p.m., the Bible study begins. We want to be known as great tasting, portable, and by the way, nutritious food.". South Floridas highly anticipated grilling competition, teams up chefs from high-end restaurants with Miami Dolphin legends to tackle the grill, serving deliciously creative food perfectly paired with wine or a signature cocktail for a cause. On the flip side, know the things that dont matter as much and enjoy them you dont have to be a pro in every game!

Each Tuesday features a 2 p.m. meeting with Lynn and the top three employees of their bagel business. Ultimately its the grit that makes people successful, said John. As with his rookie year in college, he impressed the coaching staff early in the preseason; he was named the starter 10 days after joining training camp, and had twice as many tackles as any of his teammates after the first three preseason games. Some off day. One thing that sets Offerdahl's Off-The-Grill apart from other fast-casual restaurants is our just-grilled, all-day, great food! [23] He is the chairperson of the National Christian Foundation of South Florida. YES!

pic.twitter.com/VV6gDGjNHL, Joe Horrigan (@JoeHHOF) November 9, 2017. She was named the Arkansas Citizen of the Year in 1990 by March of Dimes for her charity work. It's not easy, but you have a great platform.". Can you share a story? Offerdahl, who was offered a split scholarship to attend Western Michigan by then-head coach Jack Harbaugh, had to learn how to adapt to the collegiate life rather quickly. John spent two weeks looking for her, then another year getting up the nerve to touch her. The Miami Herald reports that Offerdahl lived next door to Bernice Novack, an 86-year-old woman who was murdered in 2009. I was then inducted into the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame in 2013. [11] His third season was the first in which he played in all 16 games. Like most of working-class America, Offerdahl, 28, awoke at 7:30 a.m. From his home in Fort Lauderdale, Offerdahl made it to the training camp by 9. We have estimated "Well, no," says Browne, who in her position has to be careful not to anger players or alienate the Dolphins-loving public. It is our dream to create a fast-casual grill concept that gives fans the right choice to be more in life with not only their food decision but with the impact their decisions make in the community. The highlight, the Grand Grill-Off Food & Wine Festival, is Saturday afternoon, November 10th, where 22 Dolphin Legends team-up with 22 top chefs to vie for Fan as the EAT, DRINK & VOTE on their favorite Grill-Off recipes. For us, it was food and football, said John. [9] 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.

Offerdahl, who was offered a split scholarship to attend Western Michigan by then-head coach Jack Harbaugh, had to learn how to adapt to the collegiate life rather quickly. [7], Offerdahl was named a third-team All American by the Associated Press in 1984,[8] and second-team All American in 1985. The award emphasized her work to help students with learning disabilities after she led a fundraiser for a national learning center at the University of the Ozarks in Arkansas. John and his wife Lynn established the Offerdahl Hand Off Foundation in 2012 to help families become self-supportive by providing housing and educational resources, including the Broward College Offerdahl Scholarship. From Sunday's game, in honor of Rams' loss protecting 1972 Dolphins' distinction as only Perfect Season in NFL history. "We like being out there. I thought about going to chef school then ended up getting married. "We're people people," Lynn Offerdahl said. Wow! We offer whole food options like grains and greens, and signature recipes that give people options that make fans feel great and perform at their best. We thought there must be other people just like us.". "Every store of ours has been next to a Publix, because we thought it would be a good draw. The proceeds for the entire weekend benefit Offerdahls Hands-Off Foundation and its mission to Feed the Needs of Those in Crisis along with funding Broward College merit-based scholarships. In 2000, he started a second franchise, Offerdahl's Cafe Grill. It was pre-game warm-ups and I was stretching with the team in the end zone. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. MIAMI The weight room at the Miami Dolphins' training camp at St. Thomas University is a simple, overcrowded place. He is the chairperson of the National Christian Foundation of South Florida. The sisters played matchmaker but forgot to get Lynn's last name. Pretty cool! "We are partners in life, as well as in business," he said. We work in our store. In October 2013, Offerdahl was added to the Dolphins' Ring of Honor, an honor roll permanently displayed inside of the team's stadium. John Offerdahl said he and wife make a good team. Shula was a longtime NFL coach who holds the most regular season and total wins in the leagues history and also holds the record of being the only head coach to ever lead an undefeated NFL team the 1972 Dolphins. Shula is survived by his wife, Mary Anne, and his five children, Dave, Donna, Sharon, Anne and Mike. Conversing with Author and Speaker Virginia Gigi Graham Tchividjian is like being transported to a cozy cottage in the mountains of North Carolina, where mother From child evangelist to international missionary. The small back has cartoon superhero muscles and a Mighty Mouse voice. Proceeds from ticket sales will support the Offerdahl Scholarship Fund as well as scholarships at Broward College, where every person who is determined to change their life through the pursuit of higher education is afforded that opportunity. 2400 N. Federal Hwy. He said he was intimidated because I was a year older than him.". How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world? His mother was a teacher, first of art and later of furniture refinishing. See all. The couple have three children, Alexandra, Drew, and Jameson. John Arnold Offerdahl (born August 17, 1964) is a restaurateur and former professional American football player. [5][6] Offerdahl was taken to reinforce a struggling Dolphins defense, which held the 23rd-overall rank in the previous season. Offerdahl's Caf Grill is now called Offerdahl's Off the Grill. For two years, Offerdahl and four other men (none teammates) have gotten together each Tuesday to discuss their lives and Christianity. "I'm not too good at taking care of cars," he says, grinning. One thing that sets Offerdahl's Off-The-Grill apart from other fast-casual restaurants is our just-grilled, all-day, great food! View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Lighthouse Point, FL 33064. Our product offering is unique and grilled fresh for or breakfast, lunch and dinner. Getting folks to change their habits isn't easy, however. By 6 p.m., Offerdahl is off to catch a quick dinner and take part in an "Accountability Group." Through her research, Lynn Offerdahl said she learned that 85 percent of Americans die of diseases related to poor eating. According to our Database, He has no children. Thats what we want to be for others. He started every game over that time. Out came a shining, new bagel toaster with a note of support and our first dollar in sales! "He was so shy it took him a year before he held my hand or kissed me," Lynn says. Jackson Stephens was said to be worth $380 million at the time, and through the settlement, Mary Anne kept their home on Indian Creek Island, Florida, and received $1 million a year for the rest of her life. In-depth Interviews with Authorities in Business, Pop Culture, Wellness, Social Impact, and Tech. [15] 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. He has four older sisters, Mary, Ruth, Susan, and Sarah.

"David didn't make the team, but when he came back he said John really wanted to talk to me and wanted me to call right away," she says. The players read the newspaper and trade stories. "I thought we were supposed to leave at 11," Offerdahl says sheepishly. I have been very fortunate to NEVER have had a coaching change in my entire football career!

They do this by taking advantage of unique government incentives to donate and rehab low-income housing. I love the restaurant industry because the competition is so intense, and the consumer trends are ever changing. Unlike most Americans, Offerdahl is spending the early part of his day getting worked on instead of working out. Lynn was a diver at Western Michigan. Dont shirk. Its our people and our products. "It's a big seller," Offerdahl says. After his workout, Offerdahl will contribute time to charity, then to his blooming bagel business, then to his religion. *A family-friendly Pit Masters BBQ Competition, sanctioned by the Florida BBQ Association, has been added this year from 12 5 p.m. on Saturday, showcasing the talent and passion of 40 pit masters who will bring their rigs and smokers from across the Southeast to compete for a grand champion trophy and more than $10,000 in cash prizes. John and Lynn started Home Team Advantage to address the low-income housing crisis through a unique approach that brings together community and church partners to provide the services and relationship support some families need to achieve self-sufficiency and homeownership. I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing former NFL Miami Dolphins Legend Linebacker, John Offerdahl.

John Offerdahl's net worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Offerdahl ambles out of the locker room around 11:05 a.m. Higgs and Paige get on him for being too dressed up ("These are my Christmas clothes," Offerdahl says, and as it turns out, he's not joking) and for being late. On Sunday, the competition heats up with an American Cornhole League (ACL) Cornhole Tournament in which 128 doubles teams competing for cash and fame. He also received the Nat Moore Community Service Award, a Miami Dolphins-specific award for community engagement, in 1989, 1990, and 1993. The two met at a New Years Day party in 1992 on Indian Creek Island, Florida, at golfer Ray Floyds home. The Miami Herald reports that Offerdahl lived next door to Bernice Novack, an 86-year-old woman who was murdered in 2009. We began to see that homelessness, hunger and brokenness is a big problem, and its not just about throwing money or things at people which often ends up hurting them.. Shula became Stephens fourth husband, and Shula was a widower after his first wife, Dorothy Bartish, died of breast cancer in 1991. Some off day. Im living my dream. John and his wife Lynn established the Offerdahl Hand Off Foundation in 2012 to help families become self-supportive by providing housing and educational resources, including the Broward College Offerdahl Scholarship. On another night, he and Lynn will be at Bible study with other players and their wives and girlfriends. Thank you, John, for giving so much to those in need! MiamiDolphins.com, Fast Casual Magazine Lynns closest restaurant experience was dipping donuts at her college dorm. Offerdahl's bagels eventually was sold and merged with Einstein Bros. Bagels. My first Monday night football game, I was the starting inside linebacker and defensive captain for the Miami Dolphins. (pinch me please!) Offerdahl is shy and uncomfortable with any kind of image of him as a saint in shoulder pads. She's in charge of operations and personnel. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Just-Grilled, All-Day, GREAT!. Here he is at MDC's @MiamiFilmFest with his wife, Mary Anne. They will also donate the first $50,000 to the Broward College Foundation to support its Offerdahl Scholarship Fund. One week later, we arrived in Charlies office to greet a package on his desk. The Two Married on October 16, 1993, After Having Both Been Previously Married Getty Mary Anne and Don Shula at the NFL Alumni Player of the Year Awards on February 2, 2007.