The highest-ever NFL draft pick to come out of Canada will be in Saskatoon for the Huskies Football Foundation’s Dogs’ Breakfast.
Former NFL offensive lineman Tony Mandarich will be the guest speaker at the 2018 edition of the breakfast, which raises money for football scholarships to the University of Saskatchewan.
Mandarich, born and raised in Oakville, Ont., played college football at Michigan State University.
He was drafted to the NFL second overall by the Green Bay Packers in 1989.
Widely viewed as one of the best prospects ever to come out of college, Mandarich ultimately had a troubled career in the NFL.
He was released after three injury-plagued seasons with the Packers. He later admitted in 2008 that he’d been using steroids in college and that he developed addictions to alcohol and painkillers while playing for the Packers.
After leaving the NFL in 1992, Mandarich turned to drugs and alcohol. Utlimately, his family intervened and he checked into rehab before returning to the NFL in 1996 with the Indianapolis Colts. Clean and sober, Mandarich was able to contribute with the Colts, starting 16 games in 1997. A shoulder injury forced Mandarich to retire in 1998.
After football, Mandarich went on to a brief career as a television analyst before moving to Arizona in 2005, where he started his own advertising business.
He also authored a book, titled My Dirty Little Secrets — Steroids, Alcohol & God.
The 2018 Dogs’ Breakfast runs May 3 at Prairieland Park.