Part 7/9:
Once those steroids were out of the picture, Mandarich’s physical capabilities diminished dramatically, exposing the reality of his true talent—or lack thereof. Once lauded for his power and nastiness on the field, he found himself a mere shell of his former self.
A Triumphant Return, Yet a Lingering Shadow
Remarkably, after five years out of the league, Mandarich earned a second chance with the Indianapolis Colts. At 31, he started all 16 games in one season, demonstrating that he had, beneath it all, the raw talent to play NFL football. However, the tarnish of his past decisions loomed large; his story was two-fold—shrouded in both shame and redemption.