Mark Bruener is a career quality starter — a tight end whose body of work places Bruener in the top half of all players at the position historically. The Knox model values sustained contribution over flash, and Bruener's career arc reflects exactly that kind of reliable professional-grade performance.

TEHOU#87ACT

Mark Bruener

Top 33% all-time TEsHigh-End Starter🏆 Clutch · +26% playoffs 🌅 Early Bloomer · 2000Two-Way Profile

Height6'4"

Weight253 lb

BornSep 16, 1972

Age53

CollegeWashington See College Stats

Rookie yr1995

Draft1995 · Rd 1, Pick 27 · PIT

Archetype Intelligence

High-End StarterExplore archetypes →

A quality tight end with a above-average career — a legitimate starter who contributed meaningfully across their career.

Career Value · VORP

VORP 63 · #1762 · Above Average

Worth 63 points of value above a freely-available replacement tight end — top 39% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 6 of 10 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +10.5 on average.See board →

Seasons above replacement

6 cleared

4 replaced

Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit

Replacement

the KC-H bar

→

Seasons over

cleared the bar

+10.5

Avg surplus

peak +16

6 seasons × ~10.5 surplus ≈ VORP 63

Combined Season Grid

The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at once—no tab hopping.

3 grids split in one view

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Receiving									Defense													Advanced (EPA)
Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D	Tkl	Solo	Ast	TFL	QBHits	Sk	Dis	Int	PD	FF	FR	TD	Sfty	Pass EPA	Rush EPA	Rec EPA	Pass AirYd	Rec AirYd
1995	—	PIT	13	—	48	26	238	3	54.2%	9.2	5.0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1996	—	PIT	12	—	24	12	141	0	50.0%	11.8	5.9	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1997	—	PIT	16	—	30	18	117	6	60.0%	6.5	3.9	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1998	—	PIT	16	—	33	19	157	2	57.6%	8.3	4.8	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999	—	PIT	13	—	34	18	176	0	52.9%	9.8	5.2	—	6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	-9.3	0	0
2000	—	PIT	16	—	34	17	192	3	50.0%	11.3	5.6	—	11	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2000	—	WAS	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2000	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4.3	0	0
2001	—	PIT	8	—	19	12	98	0	63.2%	8.2	5.2	—	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2.1	0	0
2002	—	PIT	10	—	18	13	66	1	72.2%	5.1	3.7	—	4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2002	—	JAX	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	2	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2002	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.3	0	0
2003	—	PIT	2	—	2	2	1	1	100.0%	0.5	0.5	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2003	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.8	0	0
2004	—	HOU	4	—	4	4	52	0	100.0%	13.0	13.0	—	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2004	—	TEN	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2004	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3.8	0	0
2005	—	HOU	2	—	2	2	22	0	100.0%	11.0	11.0	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2005	—	ARI	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2005	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1.1	0	0
2006	—	HOU	8	—	9	9	62	2	100.0%	6.9	6.9	—	4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2006	—	TEN	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	2	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2006	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3.8	0	30
Career		—	127	—	257	152	1,322	18	59.1%	8.7	5.1	—	—	7	7	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	7.0	0	30

Career EPA7.0·7 receiving·0.9/season

Receiving

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D	VAL
1995	23	PIT	13	—	48	26	238	3	54.2%	9.2	5.0	—	—	11.7
1996	24	PIT	12	—	24	12	141	0	50.0%	11.8	5.9	—	—	6.6
1997	25	PIT	16	—	30	18	117	6	60.0%	6.5	3.9	—	—	13.7
1998	26	PIT	16	—	33	19	157	2	57.6%	8.3	4.8	—	—	9.3
1999	27	PIT	13	—	34	18	176	0	52.9%	9.8	5.2	—	6	5.5
2000	28	PIT	16	—	34	17	192	3	50.0%	11.3	5.6	—	11	8.4
2001	29	PIT	8	—	19	12	98	0	63.2%	8.2	5.2	—	5	2.8
2002	30	PIT	10	—	18	13	66	1	72.2%	5.1	3.7	—	4	3.8
2003	31	PIT	2	—	2	2	1	1	100.0%	0.5	0.5	—	1	—
2004	32	HOU	4	—	4	4	52	0	100.0%	13.0	13.0	—	2	0.8
2005	33	HOU	2	—	2	2	22	0	100.0%	11.0	11.0	—	1	—
2006	34	HOU	8	—	9	9	62	2	100.0%	6.9	6.9	—	4	3.3
Career			120		257	152	1,322	18	59.1%	8.7	5.1	—	—	65.9

Defense

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tkl	Solo	Sk	Dis	FR
2000	28	WAS	1	—	1	1	0.0	0.0	—
2002	30	JAX	2	—	2	2	0.0	0.0	—
2004	32	TEN	1	—	1	1	0.0	0.0	—
2005	33	ARI	1	—	1	1	0.0	0.0	—
2006	34	TEN	2	—	2	2	0.0	0.0	—
Career			7		7	7	—	—	—

Advanced (EPA)

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Pass EPA	Rush EPA	Rec EPA	Rec AirYd
1999	27	—	—	—	—	—	-9.3	0
2000	28	—	—	—	—	—	4.3	0
2001	29	—	—	—	—	—	2.1	0
2002	30	—	—	—	—	—	0.3	0
2003	31	—	—	—	—	—	0.8	0
2004	32	—	—	—	—	—	3.8	0
2005	33	—	—	—	—	—	1.1	0
2006	34	—	—	—	—	—	3.8	30
Career					—	—	—	30

KV-H Anatomy

KV-H 54 · Solid

A solid career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 54 of 100, era-normalized against rec yds/g peers across 10 scored seasons.

Sustained

career value

×.6

Peak

best 3 seasons

×.4

×1

Longevity

career length

Blend 53.8 × longevity 1 = KV-H 54· confidence 95%

What builds the career mark of 51

On-field 35.1

Availability 15.9

On-field production Staying available

Season-by-season quality (era-relative rec yds/g)

1995bestavg 482006

All-Time Standing

how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position

Depth

of 100

Reached 10% of the all-time Receptions leader — a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.

10% of the all-time Receptions leader10

0 categories ≥25% of the all-time leader0

0.88 EPA/season over 8 seasons50

A 0–100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data — career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence — so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite ≥ 85 · Strong ≥ 65 · Solid ≥ 45 · Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 88%.

Career Aging Trajectory

vs. position group average · KV-H basis

Amber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average tight ends aging curve. Group peak age: 25. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).

Playoff vs Regular Season

🏆 Playoff Performer

Yards / Reception: 8.7 regular season → 11.0 playoffs (2 playoff seasons)

+26%

vs reg season

Postseason Career

5 playoff games

Receiving

Tgt9Rec2Yds22Ctch%22.2%Y/R11.0Y/Tgt2.4

College Stats

WashingtonCollege listed; stat table pending import

College stats are not imported for this profile yet.

StatVault has the verified college attribution (Washington), but no parsed college box-score table is present in this profile artifact. The section stays here so every profile has a consistent college-stats landing point without fabricating unavailable rows.

Reference Graph

Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters — every name is linked.

1995 Draft Class· this player went #27

#17Tyrone WheatleyRB #18Napoleon KaufmanRB #20Luther EllissDT #21Rashaan SalaamRB #22Tyrone PooleDB #23Ty LawCB #24Korey StringerOT #26Devin BushFS #28Derrick BrooksOLB #29Blake BrockermeyerOT #32Craig NewsomeDB #33Matt O'DwyerG #34Terrance ShawCB #35Anthony CookDE #36Shawn KingDE #37Cory RaymerC

Franchise Succession

the room, before and after

Mark inherited the Pittsburgh Steelers TE room from Jonathan Hayes (1994–1996), and handed it to Heath Miller (2005–2015).

Mike Mularkey 1989–1991Adrian Cooper 1991–1993Jonathan Hayes 1994–1996Mark Bruener 1995–2003Heath Miller 2005–2015Matt Spaeth

Similar Players

Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0–100%).

Movementderived from season history

2006final season
Last recorded season with HOU
2004team change
Joined HOU (from PIT)
1995draft
Drafted by PIT — Round 1, Pick 27

Athletic & Unique Profile

verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts

6'4" / 253 lb

Frame

Knox

StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works →

Historical Knox · KV-H

Era-normalized career quality — z-scored against 10-season peers. See all →

peak 58

Season Report Cards· KV-H era-normalized per season

B1995

C+1996

C+1997

C+1998

C+1999

C+2000

C2001

D2002

F2004

D2006

Availability

Career durability — games played vs. scheduled, across 12 seasons.

63%

Era Translator

Rec Yds translated to the 2025NFL — each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.

Season	Actual Rec Yds	Rec Yds/G	→ 2025 Rec Yds	→ 2025 /G
1995	238	18.3	550+312	32.3
1996	141	11.8	426+285	25.1
1997	117	7.3	301+184	17.7
1998	157	9.8	335+178	19.7
1999	176	13.5	378+202	22.2
2000	192	12	280+88	16.5
2001	98	12.3	249+151	14.6
2002	66	6.6	81+15	4.8
2004	52	13	195+143	11.4
2006	62	7.8	102+40	6

Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats, nflverse:player_stats_def, nflverse:draft_picks, nflverse:advanced-epa (CC-BY 4.0), wikipedia:season-stats (CC-BY-SA, facts-only) · multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle · updated 6/18/2026

Career Value · VORP

63 career value over replacement — #1762 all-time of 4,642. 6.3/season above a replacement-level TE.

Draft OutcomeMiss ↓

Pick #27 (Rd 1) · PIT · 1995 · -0.9 vs expected KV-H

54actual

54.9 expected · Δ−0.9

Fan Rating

Rate Mark Bruener — All-Time

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Archetype Intelligence

Career Value · VORP

Combined Season Grid

Receiving

Defense

Advanced (EPA)

KV-H Anatomy

All-Time Standing

Career Aging Trajectory

Postseason Career

Receiving

College Stats

Reference Graph

Top Teammates

1995 Draft Class· this player went #27

Franchise Succession

Similar Players

Movementderived from season history

Athletic & Unique Profile

Knox

Era Translator