Walk the Plank

Walk the Plank takes takes you beyond motivation into the psyche of a man who "willed" himself to excellence through a relentless desire to get the most out of himself. Legendary Chicago Bear safety Doug Plank said "Yes" to every opportunity and in so doing, he became an example to millions when his Chicago Bear defensive coach, Buddy Ryan, named the famous "46 Bear defense" after him and his number. In this book, Doug teaches you how to achieve great goals by learning to overcome obstacles and reach the upper limits of your genetic potential. In adopting what he calls the "46 Attack Mindset," he challenges you to use your influence and work to make the last thing you ever do - the greatest thing you ever do.

A 2018 inductee into the Mike Ditka Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame, Doug Plank's story is an improbable one. From the tiny town of Irwin, Pennsylvania, Doug played in three Rose Bowls for Ohio State University before becoming a 12th round draft choice of the Chicago Bears. Few gave him a chance to succeed at the professional level, but Doug had cultivated a mindset and work ethic that helped him become an NFL starting safety in his rookie season. That year, he led the Bears in tackles and was soon to be labeled one of the legendary "Hit Men" with his partner at safety, Gary Fencik. In Walk the Plank, Doug explains what he calls the "46 Attack Mindset." He shows you how to always bring your "A game" in order to overcome obstacles and accomplish more than you ever believed possible. Named after Doug and his number, the famous Bear 46 defense helped propel Chicago to a Super Bowl championship in 1986. The competitive intensity that Doug displayed has continued beyond his playing days and contributed to success in both coaching and business. In this book Doug will challenge you to always do more and shock your system. By learning how to suppress his survival instincts, Doug was able to take his mind and body to levels that allowed him to reach the upper limits of his genetic potential. He shows you how you can do the same. Finally, Doug will dare you to use the life you have been given to the very end. Can you make the last thing you ever do your greatest? Using the influence that you have, Doug suggests that you can.

After playing in three Rose Bowls under legendary coach Woody Hayes at Ohio State University, Doug Plank was drafted in the 12th round by the Chicago Bears. Considered one of the hardest hitting safeties to ever play, Doug spent his entire eight-year NFL playing career with the Bears. He became the first Bears rookie to lead the team in tackles. The only other rookie to accomplish that task since Plank was Brian Urlacher, a new member of the NFL Hall of Fame. Plank was a favorite of Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan for his hard hitting and aggressive style, such that Ryan named his defense the "46 defense" after Plank's jersey number and his central position in the defense. His hard hitting style took a physical toll and he retired just before the Bears reached their peak in 1985. Plank and his teammate Gary Fencik were dubbed "The Hit Men," a fact referenced by Fencik in 1985's Super Bowl Shuffle music video. Many years after his playing days, Plank is still receiving honors. He was recently voted by ESPN Chicago as the fifth toughest Chicago Bear of all time. In addition, he was inducted into the Mike Ditka Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame in 2018. After football, Plank became a franchisee of the Burger King Corporation, operating multiple restaurants. In addition, in 1995 he began working as a football analyst and worked for Fox Sports, the Arizona Cardinals, the Arizona State Sun Devils, the University of Arizona Wildcats, and the Arizona Rattlers. In 1996, the "Bearman" became the unofficial mascot of the Chicago Bears, and he wears Plank's 46 jersey. Since 2001, Plank has worked as a football color analyst on national radio broadcasts for Sports USA Media and Westwood One. Until the current ranking system became effective in 2014, Plank was a voter in the weekly Harris Interactive College Football Poll, ranking the top 25 college football teams in the nation. In 2001, Plank began his coaching career as a defensive coordinator in the Arena Football League. For three seasons, he worked under former Dallas quarterback Danny White. In those three seasons, the Arizona Rattlers played in three consecutive ArenaBowls. In 2004, Plank was hired by Arthur Blank to be head coach of the Georgia Force, an Arena Football team he owned in addition to the Atlanta Falcons. Plank was named the AFL's Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007, leading Georgia to the playoffs in every season. In 2005, his first year, he led them to ArenaBowl XIX. In Plank's first four years as an AFL head coach, he won more games in that period than any other coach in the history of the AFL. In 2008, he was a seasonal assistant on the Atlanta Falcons staff. That year, the Falcons played in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs. In 2009 he served as the assistant defensive backfield coach for the New York Jets under head coach Rex Ryan, the son of Plank's former defensive coordinator, Buddy Ryan. The 2009 Jets defense led the NFL in fewest total yards allowed, fewest points allowed, and fewest TD passes allowed. That season, the Jets played in the AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts. In 2010, Plank became a football program assistant at Ohio State. The Buckeyes earned a share of the Big 10 title with an 11–1 record and beat Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. On August 31, 2011, Plank became head coach of the AFL's Philadelphia Soul. In Plank's first year, the Soul compiled a regular season record of 15–3 after going 6–12 the previous year. The Soul played in ArenaBowl XXV against the Arizona Rattlers. The Soul established new franchise records in wins, scoring, rushing, and defensive takeaways in 2012. On September 5, 2012, Plank became head coach of the 4-14 Orlando Predators of the AFL. After losing the first five games of the 2013 season, Orlando rebounded to make the playoffs before losing in the first round. Plank then retired from coaching to pursue broadcasting and business opportunities.