Rudy Niswanger life and biography

Rudolph Nelson "Rudy" Niswanger born November 9, 1982 in Monroe, Louisiana is an American football center for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Louisiana State.

Niswanger's Career

Pro Career: Former rookie free agent enters his fifth season with Kansas City ... Started all 16 games at center in 2009 and is expected to compete for a starting role once again in 2010 ... Should only continue to improve under the tutelage of longtime NFL offensive line coach Bill Muir ... Has benefitted greatly from playing alongside four-time Pro Bowl G Brian Waters ... Also spent time working with 12-time Pro Bowl G Will Shields as a rookie ... Missed one contest due to a knee injury in 2008 after a similar ailment cost him the final four games of 2007 ... Has seen action in 46 NFL contests (31 starts) and also owns one game of postseason experience.

Games Played/Games Started: 2006 (3/0), 2007 (12/0), 2008 (15/15) 2009 (16/16) — 46/31. Playoffs: 2006 (1/0) — 1/0.

Transactions: Signed a restricted free agent tender (4/24/09) ... Signed an exclusive rights tender (3/6/08) ... Signed with Kansas City as a rookie free agent (5/17/06).

2009: Started all 16 games at center for the first time in his career ... Joined S Mike Brown, CB Brandon Carr and LB Tamba Hali as one of four Chiefs players to start all 16 games and was the only offensive player to accomplish that feat ... Started at center before leaving the game in the first quarter with a left knee injury vs. San Diego (10/25).

2008: Started 15 contests at center ... Left the game in the first quarter with ankle and knee injuries at Oakland (11/30), but did return to action ... Suffered a knee injury at Denver (12/7) and was inactive the following week vs. San Diego (12/14) ... Returned to the starting lineup vs. Miami (12/21).

2007: Played in 12 games on special teams and saw duty in five contests on offense ... Saw action as a reserve right guard and on special teams vs. Green Bay (11/4), vs. Denver (11/11), at Indianapolis (11/18) and vs. Oakland (11/25) ... Left the game in the second quarter with a right knee injury vs. San Diego (12/2) ... Was subsequently placed on injured reserve on December 5th.

2006: Saw duty in three games on special teams and one contest on offense ... Was inactive for 12 games ... Played in his first NFL game on special teams at Arizona (10/8) ... Played on special teams vs. Oakland (11/19) ... Played in the club’s jumbo formation and on special teams vs. Jacksonville (12/31) ... Saw duty on special teams in an AFC Wild Card Game at Indianapolis (1/6/07).

College: Played in 47 games (29 starts) at LSU ... Started at least one game at all five offensive line positions during his career ... Started 12 games at center as a senior in 2005, recording a team-leading 114 knockdowns ... Selected second-team All-SEC ... Was the recipient of the McWorter Award as the SEC’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year ... Also a first-team Academic All-America pick ... Accepted the Draddy Trophy, known as the “Academic Heisman,” from the National Football Foundation ... Named the inaugural winner of the Wuerffel Trophy, known as the “Humanitarian Heisman” ... Started all 12 games at four different positions in 2004 as a junior ... Played in 13 games (four starts) during his sophomore campaign in 2003 ... Saw duty in nine games at the right and left guard spots as a freshman in 2002 ... Earned a degree in Kinesiology at LSU.

Personal

• Won a state 2A football title at Ouachita Christian High School in Monroe, Louisiana.
• On offense, recorded 196 pancake blocks.
• On defense, registered 70 tackles, 24.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries and returned an interception for a touchdown as a defensive tackle.
• Served as an intern with the Legacy Financial Group during the 2007 and 2008 off-seasons.
• Participates regularly in the Chiefs charitable efforts in the Kansas City community.
• Spearheads the efforts of the Chiefs offensive linemen in supporting “First Downs For Down Syndrome.”
• Volunteers at the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired in Kansas City.
• Served as honorary chairs for the Children’s Spot “Once Upon a Time” Gala with his wife Patricia.
• Full name: Rudolph Nelson Niswanger .
• Married, wife Patricia with a daughter Emory (2) and twins, daughter Ava Grace and son John Carter, born in April of 2010.

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