Background
Maryland was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where he played high school football at Whitney Young High School.
Maryland was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where he played high school football at Whitney Young High School.
He played defensive tackle for ten seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Cowboys first overall in the 1991 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes.
He was not highly recruited and the only major college program to offer him a scholarship was the University of Miami.
In 1989 he was named third team All-American. As a senior in 1990, he registered 96 tackles and 10½ quarterback sacks for the Hurricanes.
Prior to his graduation from Miami, Russell was inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, the highest honor bestowed by the university. Maryland was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and to the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
Dallas Cowboys
He was the first overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft, by the Dallas Cowboys, after the initial Number.
1 prospect Raghib Ismail decided to sign with the Toronto Argonauts. After the New England Patriots failed to sign Ismail, the Cowboys attempted to do so by trading for the first overall pick, sending the Patriots Eugene Lockhart, Ron Francis, David Howard, a 1991 first round pick (#11 Pat Harlow) and a 1991 second round pick (#41 Jerome Henderson). Maryland started as a rookie defensive tackle and from the beginning showed the relentless motor and effort that he would be known foreign
In 1993 he was named to his only Pro Bowl.
Oakland Raiders
In 1996 he signed as a free agent with the Oakland Raiders and played for the team until the end of the 1999 season when he was waived. Green Bay Packers
In 2000 he was signed as a free agent by the Green Bay Packers where he played only one year.
During his 10-year career he started 140-of-154 games, had 375 tackles, 24.5 sacks and forced nine fumbles. NFL stats
He played on two national championship teams in college and three Super Bowl championship teams in his NFL career.