Ryan Lilja

Last updated

Ryan Lilja
Ryan Lilja at Super Bowl XLIV.jpg
Lilja with the Colts during
Super Bowl XLIV in 2010
No. 65
Position: Center / Guard
Personal information
Born: (1981-10-15) October 15, 1981 (age 42)
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:290 lb (132 kg)
Career information
High school: Shawnee Mission (KS) Northwest
College: Kansas State
Undrafted: 2004
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:111
Games started:104
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at PFR

Ryan Matthew Lilja (born October 15, 1981) is a former American football center and guard. He played college football at Kansas State, and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004, and later played with them from 2010 to 2012. Lilja also played with the Indianapolis Colts from 2004 to 2009, with whom he won Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears.

Contents

Early life

Ryan and his brothers were raised in Kansas City. [1] Lilja attended Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and was a student and a letterman in football and golf. In football, he was a three-year starter.

College career

He was a two-year starter at Coffeyville Community College before he transferred to Kansas State University, where he was a two-year player who started 14 of 23 career games. Lilja was named to the second-team All-Big Twelve squad in 2003.

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs (first stint)

The Kansas City Chiefs signed Lilja as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2004 season. He was waived on September 5, 2004, [2] with the intention of signing him to the practice squad if he cleared waivers.

Indianapolis Colts

On September 6, 2004, Lilja was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts soon after the Chiefs waived him.

The Colts re-signed Lilja on February 19, 2008, to a five-year deal worth $20 million.

Lilja was released on March 8, 2010. [3] He started 59 of 66 games for them and two Super Bowls.

Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)

On March 16, 2010, Lilja re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. [4]

Denver Broncos

After announcing his retirement on December 31, 2012, Lilja agreed to terms to join the Denver Broncos on July 31, 2013. [5] He was released on August 31, 2013.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Baker</span> American football player (born 1978)

Jason Michael Baker is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football at Iowa. He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and Carolina Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'Anthony Batiste</span> American football player and coach (born 1982)

D'Anthony Batiste is an American football coach and former player who is the strength and conditioning assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He is a former offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals. He also was a member of the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League and the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings in the AF2. He played college football at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Ball</span> American football player (born 1985)

Lance Ball is a former American football running back. He was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at the University of Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Linkenbach</span> American football player (born 1987)

Jeffrey Scott Linkenbach II is a former American football guard. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Cincinnati and high school football at Margaretta High School in Castalia, OH.

Kellen Heard is a former American football nose tackle. He played college football at Texas A&M, then transferred to the University of Memphis with his last year of eligibility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayworth Hicks</span> American football player (born 1988)

Hayworth Hicks is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the Arena Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He played college football at Iowa State. He was also a member of the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Orlando Predators, Arizona Rattlers and Albany Empire.

Toben Opurum is a former American football fullback. Opurum played in college at the University of Kansas. Opurum was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs. Opurum has also played for the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dillon Day (American football)</span> American football player (born 1991)

Dillon Anthony Day is a former American football center. He played college football for Mississippi State, where he was the starting center for four years: 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taurean Nixon</span> American football player (born 1991)

Taurean Ellis Nixon is a former American football cornerback. He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of 2015 NFL draft. He played college football at Tulane University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyvis Powell</span> American gridiron football player (born 1994)

Tyvis Chansey Powell is a former American football safety. He played college football at Ohio State.

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

Kyle Peko is an American football defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Cerritos College and Oregon State. Peko signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent following the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Krieger-Coble</span> American football player (born 1992)

Henry Krieger-Coble is a former American football tight end. He played college football at Iowa. His cousin is San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darnell Sankey</span> American gridiron football player (born 1994)

Darnell Sankey is an American professional football linebacker for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent after the 2016 NFL Draft. He played college football at Sacramento State.

Tremon Smith is an American football cornerback and kick returner for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Central Arkansas, and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

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

Taylor Joseph Stallworth is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at South Carolina and was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He has played in the NFL for the Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Texans.

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

Jackson Barton is an American football offensive tackle for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Utah and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Giants.

Christopher Lamar Lammons is an American football cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina.

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

Isaiah Dwight Mack is an American football defensive end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Chattanooga, and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans in 2018.

Shakial Taylor is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at the University of Kansas.

Casey Shane Tucker is an American football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Stanford and Arizona State.

References

  1. "Chiefs Bring Back Local NFL Player Ryan Lilja". Kansas City News. December 18, 2010.
  2. "Chiefs Sign Casey Wiegmann". Archived from the original on April 6, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  3. "Colts release". Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  4. "Former Colts lineman inks with Chiefs". Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  5. Caldwell, Gray (July 31, 2013). "Broncos Agree to Terms with Lilja". DenverBroncos.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2013.