Ryan Lilja life and biography

Ryan Matthew Lilja (born October 15, 1981 in Kansas City, Missouri) is an American football guard for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Kansas State. Lilja has also played for the Indianapolis Colts.

Lilja's Career

Pro Career: Kansas City native re-joined the Chiefs as a free agent on March 16th ... Versatile seventh-year pro played primarily at left guard in Indianpolis, but concentrated his efforts at the right guard post during the off-season ... Returned home to Kansas City after originally entering the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Chiefs in 2004 ... Was waived by the Chiefs during the 2004 preseason and was subsequently claimed by the Colts .. Played in 66 games with 59 starts at left guard during his six seasons with Indianapolis (2004-09) ... Also started eight playoff games with Indianapolis ... Won a Super Bowl XLI ring with the Colts and also played in Super Bowl XLIV.

Games Played/Games Started: 2004 IND (7/6), 2005 IND (16/16), 2006 IND (11/5), 2007 IND (16/16), 2008 IND (0/0), 2009 IND (16/16) — 66/59. Playoffs: 2005 IND (1/1), 2006 IND (3/3), 2007 (1/1), 2009 (3/3) — 8/8.

Transactions: Signed with Kansas City (3/16/10) ... Released by Indianapolis (3/8/10) ... Re-signed with Indianapolis (3/20/07) ... Claimed off waivers by Indianapolis from Kansas City (9/6/04) ... Waived by Kansas City (9/5/04) ... Signed as a rookie free agent with Kansas City (4/27/04).

2009: Started all 16 games at left guard ... Helped the Colts offense average 282.2 net passing yards per game, ranking second in the NFL ... Started all three postseason games, including Super Bowl XLIV vs. New Orleans (2/1/10).

2008: Spent the season on the Reserve/Physically-Unable-To-Perform with a knee injury.

2007: Opened all 16 contests at left guard ... Part of an offensive line that only allowed 23.0 sacks, the seventh-fewest total in the NFL ... Voted by his teammates as the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award ... Started in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. San Diego (1/13/08).

2006: Played in nine games with five starts and was inactive for three games ... Was inactive with a knee injury at the N.Y. Giants (9/10) and vs. Houston (9/17) ... Was active, but did not play vs. Jacksonville (9/24) and at the N.Y. Jets (10/1) ... Saw reserve duty at left guard vs. Tennessee (10/8), vs. Washington (10/22), at Denver (10/29) and at New England (11/5) ... Appeared on special teams vs. Buffalo (11/12) and at Dallas (11/19) ... Started at left guard vs. Philadelphia (11/26), at Tennessee (12/3), at Jacksonville (12/10), vs. Cincinnati (12/18) and at Houston (12/24) ... Was inactive vs. Miami (12/31) ... Was inactive with a knee injury in an AFC Wild Card Game vs. Kansas City (1/6/07) ... Started at left guard in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Baltimore (1/13/07), in the AFC Championship Game vs. New England (1/21/07) and in Super Bowl XLI vs. Chicago (2/4/07).

2005: Started all 16 games at left guard for the first time in his career ... Part of an offensive line that allowed a league-low 20.0 sacks ... Started at left guard in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. Pittsburgh (1/15/06).

2004: Played in seven games with six starts at left guard ... Was inactive for seven games and was active, but did not play in two contests ... Started his first career game at left guard at Chicago (11/21) ... Opened at Detroit (11/25), vs. Tennessee (12/5), at Houston (12/12), vs. San Diego (12/26) and at Denver (1/2/05) ... Was inactive for two postseason games ... Was inactive for an AFC Wild Card Game vs. Denver (1/9/05) and an AFC Divisional Playoff Game at New England (1/16/05).

College: A two-year player at Kansas State, appearing in 23 games (14 starts) ... Opened 14 games at left guard as a senior in 2003 ... Named second-team All-Big 12 ... Played in nine games his junior season in 2002 ... A two-year starter at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas ... Named outstanding lineman in 2001 as a sophomore ... Earned honorable mention All-Jayhawk Conference accolades as a freshman in 2000 ... Majored in Finanace and Marketing at Kansas State.

Personal

• A three-year starter at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Shawnee Mission, Kansas.
• Earned second-team all-conference honors as defensive lineman and honorable mention accolades as an offensive lineman.
• Also lettered in golf.
• Full name: Ryan Matthew Lilja.
• Married, wife Jessica.

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