Mark Anthony Fields (born November 9, 1972) is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League. Fields played college football for Washington State University. He was selected in the first round (13th overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. He played six years in New Orleans, leading or coming close to the team lead in tackles. He later played one year with the St. Louis Rams before signing with the Carolina Panthers before the 2002 NFL season. However, before the start of the 2003 season, he learned he had Hodgkin's disease, and he was forced to sit the season out. Both he and linebackers coach Sam Mills were sources of inspiration for the team, who made it to Super Bowl XXXVIII before losing to the New England Patriots. Fields returned to play in t