NFL CAREER – After being acquired by the Saints via trade in the 2015 offseason, Max Unger has anchored the middle of the New Orleans line for the past three seasons, starting all 47 contests he's appeared in at center and serving as a team captain in 2016 and 2017. Originally a second round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2009, Unger has been named a first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2012 and is a two-time Pro Bowler. The Hawaii native has opened all 114 games he has played in since 2009.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Acquired by the New Orleans Saints from the Seattle Seahawks, 3/10/15; Re-signed by the Seahawks to a multi-year extension, 7/25/12; Placed on Reserve/Injured by the Seahawks, 9/14/10; Signed by the Seahawks to a four-year contract, 7/29/09; Selected in the second round (49th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Seahawks.
HONORS – 2013: Pro Bowl; 2012: Pro Bowl (starter), Associated Press first-team All-Pro, CBSSports.com second-team All-Pro.
2017 – The only member of the line to open all 16 regular season games and both postseason contests at the same position and voted by his teammates as an offensive team captain…Anchored the middle of a line that blocked for an offense that gained 391.2 yards per game, good for second in the National Football League…Blocked for RB duo of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, who gained a combined 3,094 total yards from scrimmage, a total by a duo ranked second all-time since 1978…Vs. New England, Sept. 17, played in and started 100th career regular season game…Blocked for an offense that gained 149 yards rushing at Carolina, Sept. 24…Vs. Detroit, Oct. 15, blocked for an offense that gained 193 yards rushing…Blocked for an offense that gained 485 total net yards at Green Bay, Oct. 22…Vs. Chicago, Oct. 29, blocked for an offense that gained over 100 yards rushing for third straight week…Blocked for an offense that gained 298 yards rushing, third-highest in team history, and a team-record 20 rushing first downs and six rushing TDs at Buffalo, Nov. 12…Vs. New York Jets, Dec. 17, blocked for an offense that gained 416 yards. 2016 – Handled starting center duties for all 15 games he appeared in, missing contest at Tampa Bay (foot). Voted by his teammates as a team captain. Part of a line that blocked for an offense that gained 426.0 yards per game, good for first in the NFL…In opener vs. Oakland, Sept. 11, blocked for an offensive unit that gained 507 total net yards…Vs. Atlanta, Sept. 26, blocked for a unit that gained 523 total net yards…at Kansas City, blocked for an offense that gained 463 total net yards…Against his former team, Seattle, Oct. 30, blocked for a 102 yard rushing game by Tim Hightower…Blocked for an offense that gained 248 yards rushing, the highest total by the club since 1990, as part of a 571 total net yard effort…Blocked for an offensive unit that gained 555 total net yards, including 209 on the ground vs. Los Angeles Rams, Nov. 27…at Arizona, blocked for a unit that gained 130 yards on the ground…In finale at Atlanta, 1/1/17, blocked for a unit that had 473 total net yards, including 132 yards rushing. 2015 – Handled starting center duties as only member of offensive line to open all 16 games. Part of a line that blocked for an offense that gained 403.8 total net yards per game, second in the NFL. The offense's 310.6 total net passing yards per game was the best mark in the league…Vs. New York Giants, Nov. 1, helped block for an offense that did not surrender a sack and gained 608 total net yards, third-highest in team history. 2014 – Started six regular season games at center for the NFL's top-ranked rushing offense and missed 10 contests with leg and foot injuries. Blocked for Marshawn Lynch, who rushed for 1,000 yards for the fourth-consecutive season and 13 rushing touchdowns. Returned for postseason and played in all three playoff contests, helping team average 152 rushing yards per game. 2013 – Started 13 games at center and was selected to the Pro Bowl in helping Lynch to a third-consecutive 1,000 yard season and 12 rushing touchdowns. Started all three playoff games including a win in Super Bowl XLVIII. 2012 – Started all 16 regular season games as well as both postseason contests at center, helping lead Lynch to his second consecutive 1,000-yard season on the ground. Seattle's ground game ranked third in the league with 2,579 yards. Named Associated Press first-team All-Pro and voted starting C for the NFC in the Pro Bowl. 2011 – Started 15 games, missing contest at Cleveland, Oct. 23, and helped pave the way for Lynch to become Seattle's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2005. 2010 – Started the opener vs. San Francisco, Sept. 12, at right guard before suffering a season-ending toe injury and was placed on reserve/injured, Sept. 14. 2009 – Became first Seahawks rookie lineman to start all 16 games since Ray Roberts in 1992. Opened first 13 games at right guard before transitioning to center for the final three contests.
COLLEGE – Started 51 consecutive games at Oregon and earned All-Conference each season, including being named a first-team All-Pac-10 selection twice…Was also named to several All-American teams…Earned those accolades at both left tackle (2005-2006) and center (2007-2008) during his career…As a senior in 2008, Unger started all 13 games, including 11 at center…The Ducks led the Pac-10 and finished second in nation with an average of 280.08 yards per game rushing…They also led the league in scoring (41.92 ppg., seventh in the country) and total offense (484.85 ypg.).
PERSONAL – Attended Hawaii Preparatory (Honaunau, Hi.) Academy, playing for Head Coach Tom Goodspeed…Was ranked among the nation's top 50 guards by Rivals.com as a senior in 2004…Did not start to play organized football until ninth grade, but in only his second season, Unger was named as a member of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's 2002 second-team All-State squad…Playing on both sides of the ball during his last two years, he received first-team All-Big Island interscholastic Federation honors both times…Born Maxwell McCandless Unger on April 14, 1986 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
