Stefen Wisniewski

Last updated

Stefen Wisniewski
Stefen Wisniewski 2019 (cropped).jpg
Wisniewski with the Chiefs in 2019
No. 61
Position: Guard
Center
Personal information
Born: (1989-03-22) March 22, 1989 (age 35)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:305 lb (138 kg)
Career information
High school: Central Catholic
(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
College: Penn State
NFL draft: 2011  / Round: 2 / Pick: 48
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:139
Games started:106
Player stats at NFL.com

Stefen David Wisniewski (born March 22, 1989) is a former American football guard and center. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Penn State. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Contents

College career

Wisniewski became the first Penn State Football student-athlete to be named an ESPN Academic All-American three times, having been a first team selection in 2008, 2009, and 2010. [1] He became Penn State's 95th first team All-American at the conclusion of the 2010 season. [2] Prior to the 2011 NFL Draft, Wisniewski was regarded as one of the top center prospects available. [3]

Professional career

Oakland Raiders

Wisniewski playing for the Raiders in 2014. Stefen Wisniewski.JPG
Wisniewski playing for the Raiders in 2014.

The Oakland Raiders selected Wisniewski in the second round with the 48th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. [4] His uncle, Steve Wisniewski, was an 8-time Pro Bowl guard for the Raiders and was selected in the second round (29th overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft. Wisniewski elected not to wear his uncle's No. 76, stating that he wished to create his own legacy with his college No. 61 instead. [5]

He signed with the Raiders shortly before the beginning of the 2011 training camp. [6]

At the beginning of the 2011 season, coach Hue Jackson named Wisniewski the Raiders' starting left guard, placed between Samson Satele at center and Jared Veldheer at left tackle. On opening day of the 2011 NFL season, the offensive line cleared the way for 190 rushing yards and a victory over the Denver Broncos.

Wisniewski was named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for Week 3 of the 2011 NFL season, after the Oakland offensive line cleared the way for 234 rushing yards and allowing only one sack against the New York Jets. His lead block on a pivotal fourth-quarter touchdown run gave Oakland a two-score lead. [7] In January 2012, Wisniewski was named to the Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie team for his outstanding rookie season as starting left guard. Wisniewski helped pave the way for the NFL's 7th ranked rushing attack and anchored an offensive line that only allowed 25 sacks, tied for 3rd best in the NFL. With the departure of Samson Satele to the Indianapolis Colts in the 2012 offseason, Wisniewski became the Raiders' starting center.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Wisniewski signed a one-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on April 18, 2015. [8] He started all 16 games at center for the Jaguars in 2015. [9]

Philadelphia Eagles

On April 4, 2016, Wisniewski signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. [10] On March 10, 2017, he signed a three-year contract extension with the Eagles. [11] Wisniewski played in 14 games and started 11 in the 2017 NFL season. The team went 13–3 and earned a first round bye. The Eagles defeated both the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings to reach Super Bowl LII. The Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41–33 to win their first Super Bowl. [12]

In 2018, Wisniewski entered the season as the starting left guard, but was then benched in Week 5 in favor of Isaac Seumalo. He started the final three weeks of the regular season after Seumalo was sidelined with a pectoral injury.

On March 11, 2019, the Eagles declined the team option on Wisniewski's contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. [13] On May 13, 2019, Wisniewski re-signed with the Eagles. [14] He was released during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019. [15]

Kansas City Chiefs

On October 9, 2019, Wisniewski was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. [16] He won his second Super Bowl championship when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV by a score of 31–20. [17]

Pittsburgh Steelers

On March 26, 2020, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Wisniewski to a two-year, $2.85 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $375,000. [18] He joined his hometown team as a potential replacement for the retiring left guard Ramon Foster. [19] He started at right guard in the Steelers' 2020 season opener against the New York Giants, as regular starter David DeCastro was injured. Wisniewski suffered a chest injury in the game and was placed on injured reserve on September 18, 2020. [20] He was activated on November 4, 2020, but then waived three days later. [21] [22]

Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)

On November 24, 2020, Wisniewski was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad. [23] He was elevated to the active roster on December 5 and 12 for the team's weeks 13 and 14 games against the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins, and reverted to the practice squad after each game. [24] [25] He was promoted to the active roster on December 19, 2020. [26]

Retirement

On August 26, 2021, Wisniewski announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons. [27]

Personal life

Wisniewski comes from an athletic family; his father Leo Wisniewski played four seasons for the Colts as a nose tackle, while his uncle Steve Wisniewski was an eight-time Pro Bowl guard with the Raiders and served as the team's assistant offensive line coach in 2011. He played in the 2007 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Wisniewski is a Christian. [28]

Related Research Articles

The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League (NFL). The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The two expansion teams were slotted into the two remaining divisions that previously had only four teams : the AFC Central (Jaguars) and the NFC West (Panthers).

Steve Wisniewski, nicknamed "the Wiz", is an American former professional football guard who played for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders, and later served as the team's assistant offensive line coach. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1989 NFL draft, but his playing rights were traded to the Raiders during the same draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Penn</span> American football player (born 1983)

Donald Ward Penn is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah State Aggies, and was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2006. Penn has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrelle Pryor</span> American football player (born 1989)

Terrelle Pryor Sr. is a former American football wide receiver and quarterback. Considered the most recruited high school football-basketball athlete in southwestern Pennsylvania since Tom Clements, Pryor was widely regarded as the nation's top football prospect of 2008 and was named "Junior of the Year" by Rivals.com. Pryor had originally hoped to be a two-sport athlete, as he was also one of the nation's most recruited high school basketball players, but he later chose football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodney Hudson</span> American football player (born 1989)

William Rodney Hudson is an American football center who is a free agent. He played college football at Florida State, and was a two-time All-American. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. He also played for the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelechi Osemele</span> American football player (born 1989)

Kelechi Keith Ayo Osemele is a former American football offensive guard. He played college football at Iowa State. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft, and was a rookie starter throughout the team's Super Bowl XLVII championship run that season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Bergstrom</span> American football player (born 1986)

Steven Anthony Bergstrom is a former American football center. He played college football at Utah, and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, and San Francisco 49ers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Williams (defensive tackle)</span> American football player (born 1989)

Brandon James Williams is an American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Ravens in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. He played college football at Missouri Southern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaac Seumalo</span> American football player (born 1993)

Isaac Seumalo is an American football guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Conley (American football)</span> American football player (born 1992)

Christian Conley is an American football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Georgia. He was selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs and has played in the NFL for the Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Nelson</span> American football player (born 1993)

Steven Nelson is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Oregon State, and was drafted in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He has also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaz Green</span> American football player (born 1992)

Chaz Green is a former American football offensive tackle. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida. He was also a member of the New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wendell Smallwood</span> American football player (born 1994)

Wendell Lynn Smallwood Jr. is a former American football running back. He played college football at West Virginia and was selected in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Smallwood was also a member of the Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl Joseph</span> American football player (born 1993)

Karl Myrthell Joseph is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at West Virginia and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Cleveland Browns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidney Jones (American football)</span> American football player (born 1996)

Sidney Jones IV is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaydon Mickens</span> American football player (born 1994)

Jaydon Mickens is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Washington, and signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Mickens won a Super Bowl title as part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lavert Hill</span> American football player (born 1998)

Lavert Hill is an American football cornerback for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Michigan. He helped Martin Luther King High School earn the 2015 Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 championship and played in the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was recognized as the Lockheed Martin Air Defender of the Year as the nation's top high school defensive back. As a junior at Michigan, he was a 2018 All-Big Ten first-team selection by both the coaches and media. He is the younger brother of Lano Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zach Gentry</span> American football player (born 1996)

Zach Gentry is an American football tight end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Dotson (American football)</span> American football player (born 1996)

Kevin Dotson is an American football offensive guard for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Mondeaux</span> American football player (born 1995)

Henry Mondeaux is an American football nose tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Oregon.

References

  1. ↑ "Penn State Again Leads Nation With Three First Team ESPN Academic All-Americans". Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. November 23, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Wisniewski Selected AFCA All-American". Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. November 29, 2010.
  3. ↑ "NFL Draft – 2011 C Draft Prospects". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  4. ↑ "2011 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Oakland Raider Draft Picks Get Their New Jersey Numbers". Silver and Black Pride. May 9, 2011.
  6. ↑ "2011 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Wisniewski Voted Rookie of the Week". Oakland Raiders. September 30, 2011.
  8. ↑ Sessler, Marc (April 18, 2015). "Jaguars, Stefen Wisniewski strike one-year deal". NFL.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Stefen Wisniewski 2015 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Eagles Sign G/C Wisniewski, G Tobin". Philadelphia Eagles. August 25, 2017. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017.
  11. ↑ Smith, Alex (March 10, 2017). "Wisniewski Returns On Three-Year Deal". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017.
  12. ↑ Jones, Lindsay H. (February 4, 2018). "Eagles dethrone Tom Brady, Patriots for first Super Bowl title in stunner". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  13. ↑ Alper, Josh (March 11, 2019). "Eagles won't pick up Stefan Wisniewski's option". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  14. ↑ McPherson, Chris (May 13, 2019). "Eagles bring back veteran G/C Stefen Wisniewski". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  15. ↑ "Eagles announce roster moves as team gets to 53-player limit". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  16. ↑ Williams, Charean (October 9, 2019). "Chiefs signing offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  17. ↑ Shook, Nick (February 2, 2020). "Chiefs rally once again to defeat 49ers, win SB LIV". NFL.com. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Spotrac.com: Stefen Wisniewski contract history". spotrac.com. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  19. ↑ Varley, Teresa (March 25, 2020). "Wisniewski brings experience to line". Steelers.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  20. ↑ Varley, Teresa (September 18, 2020). "Steelers make moves ahead of Sunday's game". Steelers.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  21. ↑ Varley, Teresa (November 4, 2020). "Steelers activate Wisniewski". Steelers.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  22. ↑ Varley, Teresa (November 7, 2020). "Steelers make additional roster moves". Steelers.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  23. ↑ Goldman, Charles (November 24, 2020). "Chiefs release CB Lavert Hill from practice squad to make room for OL Stefen Wisniewski". USAToday.com. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  24. ↑ Goldman, Charles (December 5, 2020). "Chiefs make several roster moves on Saturday". USAToday.com. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  25. ↑ Goldman, Charles (December 12, 2020). "Chiefs announce two roster moves on Saturday". USAToday.com. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  26. ↑ Goldman, Charles (December 19, 2020). "Chiefs announce flurry of roster moves on Saturday". USAToday.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  27. ↑ Shook, Nick (August 26, 2021). "Longtime OL Stefen Wisniewski calls it a career after 10 NFL seasons". NFL.com.
  28. ↑ Wisniewski, Stefen. "Chiefs lineman Stefen Wisniewski on trying season: 'God allowed it to test me, to bring Him glory'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.