Stefen Wisniewski

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

For the German member of the Red Army Faction, see Stefan Wisniewski.

Stefen Wisniewski
Wisniewski in 2019
No. 61 – Kansas City Chiefs
Position:Guard
Center
Personal information
Born: (1989-03-22) March 22, 1989
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× Super Bowl champion (LII, LIV)
  • PFW & SN All-Rookie team (2011)
  • 2× First Team All-Big Ten (2009, 2010)
  • AFCA All-American (2010)
Career NFL statistics as of 2020
Games played:139
Games started:106
Player stats at NFL.com

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.

The Oakland Raiders selected Wisniewski in the second round (48th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. 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.[4]

He signed with the Raiders shortly before the beginning of the 2011 training camp.[5]

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.[6] On 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.[7] He started all 16 games at center for the Jaguars in 2015.

Philadelphia Eagles

On April 4, 2016, Wisniewski signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.[8] On March 10, 2017, he signed a three-year contract extension with the Eagles.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11] On May 13, 2019, Wisniewski re-signed with the Eagles.[12] He was released during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.[13]

Kansas City Chiefs

On October 9, 2019, Wisniewski was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs.[14] 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.[15]

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.[16] He joined his hometown team as a potential replacement for the retiring left guard Ramon Foster.[17] 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.[18] He was activated on November 4, 2020, but then waived three days later.[19][20]

Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)

On November 24, 2020, Wisniewski was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad.[21] He was elevated to the active roster on December 5 and December 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.[22][23] He was promoted to the active roster on December 19, 2020.[24]

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.[25]

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. "Oakland Raider Draft Picks Get Their New Jersey Numbers". Silver and Black Pride. May 9, 2011.
  5. "2011 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  6. "Wisniewski Voted Rookie of the Week". Oakland Raiders. September 30, 2011.
  7. Sessler, Marc (April 18, 2015). "Jaguars, Stefen Wisniewski strike one-year deal". NFL.com.
  8. Eagles Sign G/C Wisniewski, G Tobin
  9. Smith, Alex (March 10, 2017). "Wisniewski Returns On Three-Year Deal". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  10. "Eagles dethrone Tom Brady, Patriots for first Super Bowl title in stunner". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  11. Alper, Josh (March 11, 2019). "Eagles won't pick up Stefan Wisniewski's option". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  12. McPherson, Chris (May 13, 2019). "Eagles bring back veteran G/C Stefen Wisniewski". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  13. "Eagles announce roster moves as team gets to 53-player limit". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  14. Williams, Charean (October 9, 2019). "Chiefs signing offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  15. "Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV". NFL. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  16. "Spotrac.com: Stefen Wisniewski contract history". spotrac.com. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  17. Varley, Teresa (March 25, 2020). "Wisniewski brings experience to line". Steelers.com.
  18. Varley, Teresa (September 18, 2020). "Steelers make moves ahead of Sunday's game". Steelers.com.
  19. Varley, Teresa (November 4, 2020). "Steelers activate Wisniewski". Steelers.com.
  20. Varley, Teresa (November 7, 2020). "Steelers make additional roster moves". Steelers.com.
  21. 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.
  22. Goldman, Charles (December 5, 2020). "Chiefs make several roster moves on Saturday". USAToday.com. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  23. Goldman, Charles (December 12, 2020). "Chiefs announce two roster moves on Saturday". USAToday.com. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  24. Goldman, Charles (December 19, 2020). "Chiefs announce flurry of roster moves on Saturday". USAToday.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  25. 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.
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