Olshansky, Igor life and biography

Igor Olshansky (born May 3, 1982 in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) is a football defensive end for the San Diego Chargers of the NFL.

Igor moved from Ukraine to San Francisco when he was 9 years old. He attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, where he played basketball until his junior year. That year, Igor met Vince Tringali, a former St. Ignatius football coach. Tringali saw Igor's massive potential and converted him to football. He was first-team all-league, second-team all-metro by the San Francisco Examiner and honorable mention all-area by San Jose Mercury News.

NFL Draft 2004

In the second round (# 35 overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers selected Igor Olshansky out of the University of Oregon. In August, 2004, Igor and the Chargers agreed on a 6-year contract.

San Diego Chargers

Olshansky is the first Soviet-born player in the National Football League. Recognized as one of the strongest players in the National Football League, Olshansky has helped make the Chargers’ defensive line one of the league’s best. His play helped the Bolts finish the 2005 season atop the league rankings for run defense, allowing only 84.3 yards per game. In 2004, when he started as a rookie, the Chargers finished third in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing only 81.7 yards per game. Currently, Igor starts at right defensive end alongside Jamal Williams and Luis Castillo.

Olshansky vs. Nalen

Olshansky was ejected from a game against the Denver Broncos November 19, 2006, for punching Broncos center Tom Nalen, after what appeared to be Nalen trying to cut block Olshansky on a clock-stopping spike play. Olshansky had recently had knee surgery when Nalen went after Olshansky's knees. Two days later, the NFL fined Nalen $25,000 for the cut block, more than double the $10,000 fine Olshansky received for the punch.

Personal life

Igor is married to the former Liya Rubinshteyn and currently lives with her in San Diego. His grandfather Abraham Rubashevsky fought for the Red Army in World War II and was wounded 11 times, leaving his left hand disabled. Due in part to the influence of his grandfather, he still studies military history and martial arts. Olshansky is proud of his Jewish heritage. He has many tattoos, including two of the Star of David. He is regularly featured in Jewish news publications locally and nationally. For several years Igor attended the Chabad-run Hebrew Academy.

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