Max Starks

On August 1, 2014, Starks signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He was released on August 25, 2014. He announced his retirement from professional football in January 2015.

Starks signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Chargers on May 21, 2013. He was released on August 30, 2013.

On September 18, 2013, he signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Rams; he was released on October 1, 2013.

He was released by the Steelers on July 28, 2011, but was later re-signed on October 5, 2011. After the season, he worked on the rehabilitation of a knee injury and said he hoped to return to the Steelers for the 2012 season. In July 2012, he announced on Twitter that he had re-signed with the Steelers. Starks started all 16 Steelers games in 2012.

On June 23, 2009, the Steelers signed Starks to a new four-year, $26.3 million contract. The deal included $10 million in guarantees.

Entering the 2007 season, Starks lost his starting job to Willie Colon; however, he played in all 16 games. He also started 4 games at the end of the season at left tackle in place of the injured Marvel Smith. On February 21, 2008, the Pittsburgh Steelers placed the transition tag on Starks. He signed his one-year, $6.85-million tender offer on April 19. He signed another one-year contract with the Steelers following their victory in Super Bowl XLIII.

While he was a Florida undergraduate, Starks was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in sociology in 2007.

In 2006, he traveled with Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bryce Fisher and Atlanta Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney on the USO Tour, traveling to United States military bases, a tradition begun by such NFL greats as Frank Gifford and Johnny Unitas. In 2005 Starks visited the USS Theodore Roosevelt at sea, along with members of the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff.

Starks was among the largest NFL players, standing at 6'8" and 370 pounds with size 19 shoes. Four other relatives of Starks have been professional football players. He was drafted in 2004, round three, pick 12, by the Steelers. He became a starter for the first time in the 2005 season for the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

Starks accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier and coach Ron Zook's Florida Gators football teams from 2000 to 2003. During his time as a Gator, he won a Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship ring (2000) and blocked for record-setting Gators quarterbacks Rex Grossman (2000–2002) and Chris Leak (2003). As a senior, Starks was a team captain and first-team All-SEC selection.

Starks was born in Orlando, Florida. He attended Orlando Christian School for sixth to eighth graders, where he played basketball and volleyball for the OCS Knights. As an eighth grader he wore size 16 shoes; when he had a difficult time finding shoes that fit, he borrowed shoes from NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, who played at the time for the Orlando Magic; Starks was a ball boy for the Magic at that time. Starks attended Lake Highland Preparatory School, a private prep school in Orlando. He is the only high school football player in the history of the Highlanders to become a pro athlete. He was one of the state's top offensive linemen in 1999, was named to Super Prep's, National Bluechips and Prep Star's high school All-America teams, and was a USA Today honorable mention All-American. He was a two-time all-conference selection in basketball.

Maximillian Weisner Starks IV (born January 10, 1982) is an American former college and professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played college football for the University of Florida. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and also played for the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, and Arizona Cardinals.

Ross Browner, who was a first-round selection in the 1978 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, started 36 of 43 games during his career. Browner was a two-time (1976, 1977) All-American defensive lineman at Notre Dame and won the Lombardi and Maxwell Awards. The Browner family as a whole is second to the Matthews Family with regard to NFL players in the family. Ross's brothers Joey Browner, Jimmy Browner, and Keith Browner all played in the NFL. Starks's cousin, Keith Browner, Jr., plays with the Houston Texans.