2002: (Receiving) 13 RECs for 66 YDs, 1 TD - 5.1 AVG. 0 FUMs.
2002 Marked another solid year for Mark until a knee injury in December left him once again unable to finish the season. Serious microsurgery on the injury leaves his status for 2003 in doubt. As always, he was an important part of the Steelers running game, helping Jerome Bettis and Amos Zereoue to 100-yard rushing games during the season.

Bruener was a first round pick (out of Washington) for the Steelers in 1995 and began the season as a starter. Since then he has been an integral part of the running game with his aggressive blocking and leadership. He is considered one of, if not the best, blocking tight ends in the NFL.

Bruener suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in November 2001 but was fully recovered and returned as the starting tight end for the Steelers in 2002. Mark has also impressed the local Pittsburgh sports media with some work he did with the local sports newscasts during his injury in the 2001 season.

Bruener finished his college career setting Washington's record for career catches by a tight end with 90 and ranked eighth overall in career receiving with 1,012 receiving yards (third highest for a tight end). He was selected first-team All-America by Newspaper Enterprise Association as a junior, second-team All-America by UPI, and was named to the PAC 10 All-Conference squad.