.jpg) Wisniewski with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 | |||||||
| No. 61 | |||||||
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| Positions | Guard Center | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | (1989-03-22)March 22, 1989 (age 36) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Listed weight | 305 lb (138 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) | ||||||
| College | Penn State | ||||||
| NFL draft | 2011: 2nd round, 48th overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Stefen David Wisniewski (born March 22, 1989) is an American former professionalfootball player who was aguard andcenter in theNational Football League (NFL). He was selected by theOakland Raiders in the second round of the2011 NFL draft out ofPenn State. He also played for theJacksonville Jaguars,Philadelphia Eagles,Kansas City Chiefs andPittsburgh Steelers.
Wisniewski became the first Penn State Football student-athlete to be named anESPN 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 the2010 season.[2] Prior to the2011 NFL draft, Wisniewski was regarded as one of the topcenter prospects available.[3]
TheOakland Raiders selected Wisniewski in the second round with the 48th overall pick in the2011 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 the1989 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, coachHue Jackson named Wisniewski the Raiders' startingleft guard, placed betweenSamson Satele at center andJared Veldheer at left tackle. On opening day of the2011 NFL season, the offensive line cleared the way for 190 rushing yards and a victory over theDenver Broncos.
Wisniewski was named thePepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for Week 3 of the2011 NFL season, after the Oakland offensive line cleared the way for 234 rushing yards and allowing only one sack against theNew 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 ofSamson Satele to theIndianapolis Colts in the 2012 offseason, Wisniewski became the Raiders' starting center.
Wisniewski signed a one-year contract with theJacksonville Jaguars on April 18, 2015.[8] He started all 16 games at center for the Jaguars in 2015.[9]
On April 4, 2016, Wisniewski signed a one-year contract with thePhiladelphia 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 the2017 NFL season. The team went 13–3 and earned a first round bye. The Eagles defeated both theAtlanta Falcons andMinnesota Vikings to reachSuper Bowl LII. The Eagles defeated theNew 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 ofIsaac 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]
On October 9, 2019, Wisniewski was signed by theKansas City Chiefs.[16] He won his second Super Bowl championship when the Chiefs defeated theSan Francisco 49ers inSuper Bowl LIV by a score of 31–20.[17]
On March 26, 2020, thePittsburgh Steelers signed Wisniewski to a two-year,$2.85 million contract that included asigning bonus of $375,000.[18] He joined his hometown team as a potential replacement for the retiring left guardRamon Foster.[19] He started at right guard in the Steelers' 2020 season opener against theNew York Giants, as regular starterDavid 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]
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 theDenver Broncos andMiami Dolphins, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[24][25] He was promoted to the active roster on December 19, 2020.[26]
On August 26, 2021, Wisniewski announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons.[27]
Wisniewski comes from an athletic family; his fatherLeo Wisniewski played four seasons for theColts as anose tackle, while his uncleSteve Wisniewski was an eight-timePro Bowl guard with the Raiders and served as the team's assistant offensive line coach in 2011. He played in the 2007U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Wisniewski is aChristian.[28]
