Frank Edgar Cornish IV (September 24, 1967 - August 22, 2008) was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Minnesota Vikings, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at UCLA and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1990 NFL Draft. He is the son of former Chicago Bears player, Frank Cornish Jr..

Early years

Cornish attended Chicago's Mount Carmel High School where he played as a middle linebacker as a freshman. The next year he was moved to the defensive line and eventually to the offensive line.

He accepted a scholarship to play for the University of California, Los Angeles. As a redshirt freshman he became a starter at guard for the last four games of the 1986 season, after Jim Alexander fractured his hand. The next year he was named the starting center. He was a three-year starter (35 games) at center and was voted the team’s offensive MVP in 1989. He earned first-team All-American honors in 1989 and was a second-team selection the previous year.

Professional career

San Diego Chargers

Cornish was selected in the sixth round (143rd overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft. He started all 16 games at center as a rookie. The next year he suffered a sprained ankle in minicamp, that allowed Courtney Hall to pass him on the depth chart and he was relegated to a backup role.

Dallas Cowboys (first stint)

The Dallas Cowboys signed him as a Plan B free agent on April 1, 1992. In Super Bowl XXVII, Cornish and his father became the first father-son combination to have appeared in a Super Bowl (his father played in Super Bowl VI).

In 1993, starting center Mark Stepnoski suffered a knee injury in the 13th game of the season against the Minnesota Vikings that required surgery. Cornish replaced him in three games, until he was passed on the depth chart by John Gesek for the Playoffs and Super Bowl XXVIII.

Minnesota Vikings

He was signed to a one-year contract by the Minnesota Vikings on July 11, 1994. He played sparingly and saw time as a long snapper.

Dallas Cowboys (second stint)

On November 21, 1994, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys to provide depth on the offensive line.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On August 5, 1995, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars for their inaugural season. After being allowed to carry 56 players during the first three games of the season, the team was forced to reduce its roster to 53 on September 18 and released Cornish who only played on special teams.

Philadelphia Eagles

On November 21, 1995, he signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Personal life

Cornish died of heart disease in his sleep at his home on August 22, 2008. Cornish lived in Southlake, Texas (near Dallas) with his wife Robin, who is a registered nurse in the Dallas area, and their five children (three daughters and two sons). His father Frank Cornish, Jr. played in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]