The quiet, reserved Kim Marks who works at her suburban desk is truly worlds apart from the aggressive defensive specialist who preys on opposing quarterbacks for the Chicago Force.
Even her boss admits it's hard to imagine Marks on the football field.
But that's her home to let out aggression and frustration.
"How I am on the field allows me to be how I am in the office," Marks said. "After a hard day of work, there's nothing like going to the field, getting physical and getting to let off some steamand I don't get yelled at, but rather, praised."
Marks started playing for the Force while in law school at DePaul University. She learned of the women's tackle football team while playing recreational basketball with former Force stars Pam Schaffrath, Angie Bandstra and Jessica McPeake.
They said she had to try out, that she'd be a natural in helmet and pads.
How true that turned out to be.
Her brother, Chris, played football in high school and then at Illinois State University. Now 33, he lives in Chicago. And her dad, Ricky, was Chris' football coach when he first started playing.
"There's nothing more exhilarating than being on the field, especially [delivering] a big hit," said Marks, who, during her first Force game ever, caused a fumble on a quarterback sackand the moment is still her most memorable.
Marks' most memorable off-the-field moment in years happened this past Maywhen she married her girlfriend, Tara, in New York.
They had been dating since last October after meeting through a mutual friend.
Marks made the proposal, and Force teammate Sami Grisafe wrote and sang their wedding song at the event.
Kim and Tara held a special party for their Chicago friends in late August, and Kim said she's still uncertain what they will do in October when they celebrate the anniversary of their first date.
THE STATS
Age: 31
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Job title: Senior corporate tax accountant, Schwak, Inc.
Hobbies: Basketball, softball, flag football in the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA)
Family: Married Tara Marks on May 26; step-daughter Maia, 13
Football position: Defensive linebacker
High School: Rich Central, class of 1999
College: University of North Dakota, class of 2004
Little-known fact: Competed in gymnastics for 10 years
Photos by Forman and courtesy of Marks