Who is Mark Pattison? Meet the former NFL WR who reached the summit of Mount Everest

Mark Pattison may have played just three seasons in the NFL, but it's what he has done off the field that's truly remarkable. His transition from an NFL wide receiver to rock climber led him on a quest to reach seven summits around the world. Although his trip was grueling, it was the journey that really made it worthwhile.

Mark Pattison's journey from the NFL to Mount Everest

Mark Pattison was drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders in the seventh round of the 1985 NFL Draft out of the University of Washington. Pattison played in just 18 games across three seasons in the NFL, one season with the Raiders and then two seasons with the New Orleans Saints.

After his career in the NFL, Mark Pattison decided to take on a new challenge. He is now an executive with Sports Illustrated and dabbles in a little philanthropy. After his playing career, Mark Pattison became an avid rock climber. In 2013, he started his journey to reach the seven summits, the highest peaks on each of the seven continents.

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Pattison climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in 2013, and in 2014, he climbed Mount Elbrus in Russia. The following year, Pattison climbed Mount Kosciuszko in Australia and Aconcagua in Argentina in 2016.

With just three summits remaining, Pattison climbed Denali in 2018 in Alaska and then in 2019, scaled Vinson Massif in Antarctica.

Each of the climbs requires extensive training of the mind and body as the climber needs to know what to expect in terms of air quality and elevation. On May 23, 2021, Mark Pattison made his seventh and final climb of the journey, reaching the peak of Mount Everest in Nepal.

Pattinson's journey was fueled by his daughter's battle with epilepsy. He works with the "Higher Ground" organization to raise awareness and money for those suffering from epilepsy. Mark Pattison raised $56,000 on his climb.

NFL Films documented Mark Pattison's journey and his climb up Mount Everest, which will be featured in a documentary that will be shown on NFL 360 in the fall of 2021.

In addition to his work at Sports Illustrated, rock climbing and his philanthropy, Mark Pattison also hosts his own podcast, "Finding Your Summit," which interviews celebrities and other athletes about their personal struggles in life.

Although Mark Pattison spent just three years in the NFL, his last eight years, spent reaching the highest peaks in the world, have had the most impact.

About the author

Bethany Cohen is an NFL writer at Sportskeeda, with a rich prior 15-year experience in the sports writing industry, primarily covering the MLB and MiLB. She majored in Communications from the University of South Florida and has previously worked for top companies such as Examiner.com and Legends on Deck.

Bethany owes her NFL allegiance to the Pittsburgh Steelers owing to their long-standing tradition and competitiveness. She is a fan of old stalwarts such as Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris and would love to watch them in the 1970s if she manages to get her hand on a time machine. She also acknowledges the greatness of modern icons like T.J. Watt for his desire to continuously improve despite being on top. She admires coaches Mike Tomlin and Andy Reid for their longevity and success.

The ace reporter credits her knowledge and love for the sport to be her biggest reporting strengths. Prior fact-checking is a big component of her process and she always scours through additional sources to ensure complete accuracy in her content.

Super Bowl XLIII, when the Steelers won the the grand prize after Santonio Holmes’ epic catch in the end zone with just seconds left on the clock is etched in Bethany’s memory forever. When she is free of her professional commitments, she likes to attend sports events and music concerts.

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Edited by Colin D'Cunha