Known as a "gentle giant", his career lasted for 15 years (1983–1997) and his ability to protect quarterback Troy Aikman and to run-block for running back Emmitt Smith helped them win Super Bowls in 1992, 1993, and 1995 and the NFC East Division in 1985 and 1992–96.
He was named the Hawaii Prep Lineman of the Year as a senior, won the state shot put championship and was an All-Star basketball player on the same team as Barack Obama.
[2] As a junior, he transferred back home to the University of Hawaiʻi, but was suspended for the year, after being indicted on assault charges that led to spending three months in prison.
However injuries to Kevin Brooks and Don Smerek early in the season, forced him to split time between the defensive and offensive lines.
In 1990, during a season that experienced a number of players being juggled around the offensive line, Tuinei remained a solid foundation at left tackle, by starting all 13 games he played, and missing 3 contests with a sprained right knee he suffered against the New York Jets.
In 1991, he suffered a groin injury that forced him to miss 4 games, returning to the starting lineup against the Houston Oilers, to help Emmitt Smith lead the NFL in rushing.
He was forced to sit out the game, but was able to return against the Los Angeles Raiders, contributing to Smith earning his second consecutive NFL rushing championship.
In 1994, he suffered back spasms in the first quarter against the Washington Redskins, that required him to spend 2 nights in the hospital and miss the Arizona Cardinals game.
The next year suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee in a preseason game against the New England Patriots, which eventually required offseason surgery.
Tuinei was a key member of the Cowboys offensive line, helping the team win Super Bowl XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX, along with the NFC East Division in 1985 and from 1992 to 1996.
[5] "What you had was a 39-year-old male, 6'5", in excess of 300 pounds, a healthy individual, took one shot of heroin and basically dropped dead as a result", Glasscock said during his press conference regarding Tuinei.
[9] Mark's brother, Tom, was an All-WAC defensive tackle at the University of Hawaii, before playing for the Detroit Lions and the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos.
In 1982, Mark Tuinei had a small role as a Samoan college student in the episode "Italian Ice" of the TV series Magnum, P.I.