Quick Facts
AquariusBiography
Max Tuerk (January 27, 1994 – June 20, 2020) was an American football center. He played college football at USC. He was a first-team all-conference selection in the Pac-12 in 2014.
Early years
A native of Trabuco Canyon, California, Tuerk attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School, where he was a two-way lineman and helped the team win the CIF Pac-5 and CIF Division I state titles in 2011. He also participated in track & field. Regarded as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Tuerk was listed as the No. 7 offensive tackle prospect in his class. His father, Greg Tuerk, played tight end for Brown University.
College career
In his true freshman year at USC, Tuerk emerged as the starting left offensive tackle for USC's final five regular season games of 2012 after serving as an often-used back earlier in the season. When he got his first start at Arizona, he became the first-ever USC true freshman to start at left tackle (and the first to start at tackle since Winston Justice in the last 12 games of 2002). Tuerk was named Freshman All-American by College Football News.
Professional career
San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers
Tuerk was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round, 66th overall, in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Tuerk was suspended the first four games of the 2017 season for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. After being reinstated from suspension on October 3, 2017, he was released by the Chargers. He was re-signed to the Chargers practice squad on October 26, 2017.
Arizona Cardinals
On November 6, 2017, Tuerk was signed by the Arizona Cardinals off the Chargers' practice squad.On December 24, 2017, Tuerk made his one and only appearance in a regular-season game: the Cardinals beat the New York Giants, 23–0.
On April 12, 2018, Tuerk was released by the Cardinals.
Death
On June 20, 2020, Tuerk died while on a hike with his family.