Kris Dielman life and biography

Kristopher M. Dielman, born February 3, 1981 is an American football guard who currently plays for the San Diego Chargers.

Dielman's career

Life has been good to Dielman. In just the last year, he got married, became a father for the first time, was invited to play in his third-straight Pro Bowl and was chosen as a member of the Chargers’ 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Quiet by nature, Dielman is an old-school throwback player, one who sets an example for younger players to follow. He started all 16 games in 2009, something he’d done only one other time in his career, and he helped steady a line that was hit hard by injuries. Late in the year when the team needed it most, Dielman and his fellow linemates played their best football of the season, helping the team run off a streak of 11 straight wins.

Dielman has been the starting left guard since 2005 and the Chargers have rushed for more than 2,000 yards in three of the five seasons since. He’s also been in the starting 11 for two of the top three single-game rushing performances in team history, including a club-record 289-yard rushing game against Denver that clinched the AFC West title in the ’08 regular-season finale.

Dielman had one of his finest seasons in ’06 when the Chargers rushed for a team-record 2,578 yards. A year later, he was rewarded with his first Pro Bowl selection after playing an entire season without yielding a sack.

Dielman had added incentive to play well in 2007. An unrestricted free agent following the ’06 season, he passed up a chance to chase riches and start anew in a different NFL city and signed one of the biggest contracts awarded to an offensive lineman in team history.

One of the biggest reasons Dielman elected to stay in San Diego is that the Ohio native owns a home on a hill overlooking Pacific Beach. The house offers a stunning panoramic view of San Diego from the La Jolla coast to Mexico. Sports Illustrated once featured his home in a special advertising section called “Home Owner.”

Another reason he chose to stay is the cadre of friends that he has made in San Diego. Among his closest friends are several San Diego Padres. Dielman regularly attends their games at Petco Park and he even caught a foul ball during a game in ’05.

In a city like San Diego that is home to several military bases, Dielman fits right in. His father and a cousin both served in the Army, while another cousin was enlisted in the Navy. Those ties have inspired him to join forces with the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation (MCLEF), an organization that raises money for the children of Marines and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Away from football, Dielman enjoys watching NASCAR races, rodeos and ultimate fighting. He has participated in Fantasy Racing Leagues and been to Bristol, Tennessee to sit in the pit area to watch racing live at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Dielman has even met several of NASCAR’s top drivers, including San Diego native and Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Clint Boyer.

TRANSACTION HISTORY: Signed with Chargers, May 2, 2003…waived Aug. 26…signed to practice squad Sept. 2 and to active roster Oct. 16…re-signed March 15, 2005 and March 20, 2006...signed six-year contract, March 3, 2007.

2009: Pro Bowl reserve...AP second-team All-Pro...ALL-NFL by Dallas Morning News...helped contribute to 11-game win streak as OL allowed just 11 sacks during stretch and six in last seven games...helped team rush for season-high 203 yards in 32-3 win at DEN Nov. 22 for first-place in AFC West...Game Ball after contributing to 166-yard game in 42-17 win at TEN Dec. 25 to wrap up No. 2 seed in playoffs.

2008: Pro Bowl starter…AP second team All-Pro...All-AFC by PFW and PFWA…OL outstanding vs. NE Wk 6, allowing no sacks, while Philip Rivers threw for 306 yards and three TDs…INA Wk 12 vs. ATL (stomach virus)…ejected in 2Q of KC game Dec. 14 for throwing “phantom” punch...line only allowed one sack while Rivers threw career-high four TDs in 41-24 win at TB Dec. 21…OL blocked for team-record 289 yards rushing in AFC West clinching win over DEN Dec. 28…blocked for 167-yard rushing night in Jan. 5 Wild Card Playoff win over IND, including GW 22-yard TD run in OT.

2007: Pro Bowl...All-NFL by USA Today Sports Weekly…Chargers Lineman of Year...Oct. 7 at DEN, line cleared way for 214-yards rushing...Oct. 14 vs. OAK, DNA sack while anchoring 206-yard rushing performance…blocked for 191 rush yards in 24-10 win at KC Dec. 2, including second-half rush TDs of 31 and 28 yards…line allowed 0 sacks and 274 rush yards vs. DET Dec. 16, then second-highest in team history…OL allowed only one sack in Wild Card win over Tennessee Jan. 6…DNA any sacks in Jan. 13 Divisional Playoff win at IND, while laying down perfect blocks as Billy Volek scored GW TD on one-yard QB sneak.

2006: Pro Bowl first-alternate…Chargers co-Lineman of Year… ESPN. com All-Pro...no sacks allowed and cleared way for 241 yards rushing and three TDs vs. TEN Sept. 17…OL anchored 150-yard rushing day Wk. 3 at BAL vs. NFL’s No. 1-ranked run defense (34.3 ypg)…set tone for big day vs. STL Oct. 29 with 216 rush yards...starting five each named Chargers Alumni POWs after 35-27 comeback win at DEN Nov. 19…INA Wk 11 vs. OAK...returned at LG and helped Bolts rush for 197 yards and two TDs in 24-21 win at BUF Dec. 3…during 4Q game-clinching TD drive of season-long 8:06, Bolts ran on nine of 13 plays…265 rush yards, then fifth-most in team history, in 20-9 win over KC Dec. 17.

2005: Replaced injured Toniu Fonoti at LG in 4Q at DEN Sept. 18…permanent move into starting lineup at LG for ESPN SNF game vs. NYG Sept. 25…line paved way for 268 yards rushing vs. Giants, then third-best in team history, and DNA any sacks…Oct. 2 at NE, OL DNA any sacks and helped rush for 183 yards en route to ending NE’s NFL-record 21-game home winning streak…created running lanes for 202 yards, including 41-yard GW TD run in Wk 11 OT win at WAS…OL enabled team to rush for 206 yards in 26-17 win at IND Dec. 18.

2004: Brief action at G at end of TEN (Oct. 3), NO (Nov. 7) and KC (Jan. 2) games.

2003: First action as reserve LG Dec. 21 at PIT.

COLLEGE: Two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten…team MVP as senior after leading team with five sacks and 14 TFLs…began career as TE…saw action at DT as sophomore and spent entire senior season on defense…recorded 62 tackles and 26 catches for 361 yards and five TDs…played at Indiana from 1999-02…management major.

PERSONAL: Born in Goshen, Indiana…all-state and all-conference linebacker and tight end at Troy (Ohio) HS…lettered in basketball.

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