Alonzo Spellman

High school career

While attending Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey, Spellman starred in both football and basketball. Spellman stood 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall and weighed approximately 250 pounds (110 kg). As a senior, in football, he won USA Today All-America honors and was named the New Jersey Player of the Year.

College career

Spellman was a three-year starter and team captain at The Ohio State University.

Chicago Bears

Spellman was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round (22nd overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft and was one of the youngest defensive lineman ever selected, at 20 years old. He started all but one game in his first five seasons in the league, recording a total of 30 sacks. In 1994, he was second on the team with 7 sacks. In 1995, he was second on the team with 8.5 sacks. He led the team with eight sacks in 1996. After the season, his rookie contract expired and the Jacksonville Jaguars offered him a four-year $12 million contract that was matched by the Bears.

He injured his shoulder in 1997 and experienced some off-field incidents. He was waived after he refused to leave his publicist's house for eight hours until being arrested by the police.

Dallas Cowboys

On July 28, 1999, after being out of football for a year, the Dallas Cowboys took a gamble and signed him as a free agent after he was diagnosed and received treatment for bipolar disorder. He was moved from defensive end to defensive tackle during training camp, and went on to register 16 starts, 22 quarterback pressures (led the team) and 5 sacks (tied for second on the team). The next year, he started 15 games, finishing with 30 tackles (18 solo) and 5 sacks (second on the team). During his time with the Cowboys he was a solid player, but never regained the previous form he showed with the Chicago Bears.

Detroit Lions

On August 12, 2001, he signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions. He was cut to make room for wide receiver Bert Emanuel on October 24.

Las Vegas Gladiators (AFL)

On October 19, 2005, he was signed by the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League.

Post-NFL career

After a few years off from football, Spellman attempted to make a comeback but was unable to land a job with an NFL team. He ended up signing with the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League. Spellman recorded one sack in his first season with the Gladiators.

Spellman made his mixed martial arts debut on November 11, 2006, defeating Antoine Hayes by unanimous decision. The fight was part of XFO 13, "Operation Beatdown", and took place at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, IL.

Struggles with bipolar disorder

Spellman exhibited erratic behavior during his time with the Bears. The first public incident occurred in March 1998 when Spellman became enraged when a doctor was late for an appointment. He pulled a telephone off of a wall and threatened suicide. Complicating matters, Spellman had access to alcohol and a firearm and by this time weighed approximately 300 lbs (136 kg). Authorities were called in, and friend and former teammate Mike Singletary persuaded Spellman to check into a hospital. Spellman shortly left the hospital of his own accord.

Spellman was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but refused to take medication, instead becoming increasingly reliant on illicit drugs and alcohol. This led to even more erratic behavior and run-ins with the law. These problems, along with his refusal to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his injured shoulder led to Spellman's release by the Bears.

Spellman started taking medication and successfully managed his disorder during his time with the Cowboys and Lions. However, after his NFL career ended, Spellman stopped taking his medication and again ran into problems with the law. Most notably, he had a manic episode on July 23, 2002 in which he disrupted a flight from Cincinnati to Philadelphia. Spellman initially suggested that the flight was going to crash, then became verbally abusive to other passengers and threatened members of the flight crew. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing. Spellman was released, but then damaged property at his brother's home and was taken to a psychiatric hospital. He was later arrested on charges of interference with a flight crew. Although doctors confirmed that he had bipolar disorder, Spellman was determined to be legally sane and spent 18 months in federal prison.

In interviews with ESPN, Spellman has said he now knows how important it is to take the medication for his disorder. He had hoped to return to the NFL, but his age and history presented significant barriers to a comeback. He is now "100 percent into" mixed martial arts.

Spellman was arrested again on January 29, 2008, leading authorities on a pursuit after being involved in an apparent altercation at a Tulsa, Oklahoma convenience store. The chase ended after three of the tires on Spellman's car were deflated by spike strips and pepper-spray pellets were fired after Spellman refused to get out of the vehicle. In June 2012, Spellman was released from prison after pleading no contest to ten counts of eluding police officers on the 2008 charge.

Spellman was arrested again on November 2, 2015, after a motor vehicle stop for several outstanding warrants. After being taken into custody he was found in possession of marijuana. He was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and turned over to another jurisdiction for the warrant.