#68 Kris Dielman | G

Kris Dielman’s game reached new heights in 2007 as he was selected to play in the 2008 Pro Bowl. Fearing he may never get a chance to play in the NFL’s all-star game due to a ferocious style of play that often infuriates opponents, Dielman earned the utmost respect of his peers in his selection to the Pro Bowl team. It was an enjoyable week as he was joined in Hawaii by the entire Chargers coaching staff.

 

Dielman’s hard-nosed, physical play in the trenches helped set the tone for the NFL’s seventh-ranked rushing attack in 2007. The Chargers rushed for 2,039 yards and an average of 127.4 yards per game. It included a 274-yard performance against Detroit in December, the second-most prolific rushing day in team history. In 13 of 19 games last season (including playoffs), the Chargers gave up zero or one sack, and three times the Bolts rushed for more than 200 yards. Dielman was a key asset in pass protection and, according to his coaches, did not give up a sack in ’07.

 

Dielman had added incentive to play well. An unrestricted free agent following the 2006 season, he passed up a chance to chase riches and start anew in a different NFL city and signed one of the biggest contracts ever awarded to an offensive lineman in team history. He chose to follow his heart and signed a new six-year deal to stay with the Chargers through 2012. Team President Dean Spanos played a key role in the Bolts’ push to retain their starting left guard.

 

Dielman is a throwback. He’s tough and nasty, the kind of player opposing defensive linemen don’t want to face on a Sunday afternoon. Three hours in the trenches against Dielman is like a 15-round heavyweight title fight. A former defensive lineman in college, Kris made the move to the offensive line shortly after joining the Chargers as an undrafted free agent and he hasn’t looked back since.

 

Dielman moved into the starting lineup in 2005 and a year later he helped the Chargers shatter several offensive records, including points and rushing yards for a season. He and his fellow lineman’s play up front also helped LaDainian Tomlinson score an NFL-record 31 touchdowns en route to winning NFL Most Valuable Player honors.

 

One of the reasons Dielman elected to stay in San Diego is that the 27-year-old Ohio native owns a home in the hillsides surrounding Pacific Beach. The house offers a stunning panoramic view of San Diego from the La Jolla coast to Mexico. Living just a hop-skip-and-a-jump from the beach, one of Dielman’s favorite pastimes is riding his beach cruiser along the boardwalk that connects Pacific Beach and Mission Beach. A regular on the Mission Beach scene, Dielman has been invited to serve as a judge in the Miss Mission Beach Contest in May 2008.

 

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 2005.

 

Dielman enjoys watching NASCAR races, rodeos and ultimate fighting. Dielman is in a Fantasy Racing League with several friends, including teammate Scott Mruczkowski. In March, a group of them traveled to Bristol, Tennessee and sat in the pit area to watch NASCAR’s Food City 500 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Dielman has even met several of NASCAR’s top drivers, including Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Clint Boyer.

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

2007: Earned All-NFL honors from USA Today Sports Weekly…selected to AFC Pro Bowl squad…named Chargers Lineman of Year.

2006: First-alternate to AFC Pro Bowl squad...named Chargers co-Lineman of Year by teammates...shared award with Jamal Williams and Marcus McNeill...selected to ESPN.com’s All-Pro Team...started Weeks 1-10, 12-16 and in AFC Divisional Playoff game vs. New England...inactive for Week 11 game against Oakland and replaced in starting lineup by Scott Mruczkowski...line did not allow any sacks and paved way for team to rush for 194 yards and two touchdowns in season opener at Oakland...quarterback Philip Rivers was only hit one time all night by Raiders defense, but on that play he completed 38-yard pass to Eric Parker that set up touchdown to give team 20-0 lead...line cleared way for 241-yard rushing day and three touchdowns, including two by LT, against Tennessee Sept. 17...for second-consecutive week, line did not allow any sacks...also for second week in row, Rivers was only hit one time in game by Tennessee’s defense and on that play, he still completed 12-yard pass to Michael Turner...line cleared way for 150-yard rushing game Week 3 against Baltimore, team which was ranked first in league against run and only surrendering 34.3 yards per game on ground coming into contest...only surrendered one sack to Ravens defense and it came on Hail Mary play on last snap of game...line helped Bolts rush for 119 yards against Pittsburgh in Sunday Night game Oct. 8...Steelers had come into contest ranked fourth in league vs. run and only allowing 78.3 yards per game...line didn’t allow any sacks in 39 pass attempts at San Francisco Oct. 15...marked third game of season group did not allow sack...line set tone for big day against St. Louis Oct. 29 as Bolts rushed for 216 yards against Rams, second 200-yard rushing game of season, and group only allowed one sack in 24 passing plays...line helped pave way for 190-yard rushing effort against Cleveland Nov. 5...helped clear way for LT to rush for 104 yards and four touchdowns in 49-41 win at Cincinnati Nov. 12...Bolts’ starting five all named Chargers Alumni Players of Week after clearing way for 125 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while only allowing one sack in 26 pass attempts in 35-27 comeback win at Denver Nov. 19...line allowed only one sack for two yards in 33 pass plays and helped block for 110 yards and two TDs in 21-14 win over Oakland Nov. 26...helped Bolts rush for 197 yards and two LT touchdowns in 24-21 win at Buffalo Dec. 3...came up big on fourth-quarter game-clinching touchdown drive which consumed season-long 8:06, covering 13 plays and 80 yards as Bolts ran on nine of 13 plays...group allowed Bolts to rush for 147 yards and four touchdowns Dec. 10 against Denver, allowing only two sacks, one of which was coverage sack, in 25 total pass plays...line key reason Bolts rushed for 265 yards, fifth-most in team history, in 20-9 win over Kansas City Dec. 17...helped Bolts rush for 168 yards, including 62-yard run by Tomlinson, and only allowed one sack in 31 pass plays in rainy conditions at Seattle Dec. 24...closed out season with 169-yard rushing effort in Dec. 31 win over Arizona...anchored 148-yard effort in AFC Playoffs vs. New England.

2005: Started Weeks 3-16 at left guard…saw extensive action on offensive line in season opener against Dallas, lining up as tight end…replaced injured Toniu Fonoti at left guard in fourth quarter at Denver Sept. 18…started ESPN Sunday Night Football game against New York Giants Sept. 25 at left guard for injured Fonoti…line paved way for 268 yards rushing, third-best in team history, and did not allow any sacks against Giants…started Oct. 2 against New England on line that did not allow any sacks for second-consecutive week and helped Chargers rush for 183 yards en route to ending Patriots’ NFL-record 21-game home winning streak…Oct. 16 at Oakland helped hold All-Pro tackles Warren Sapp and Ted Washington to three combined tackles while opening holes for running game to generate 190 yards on ground…offensive line did not allow any sacks in 44 pass attempts against Kansas City Oct. 30…did not allow any sacks in 27 pass attempts and paved way for 133 rushing yards in 31-26 win over New York Jets Nov. 6…line allowed only one sack in 33 pass attempts against Buffalo Week 10 and created running lanes for 202-yard rushing effort at Washington Week 11…in 26-17 win at Indianapolis Dec. 18, offensive line allowed only one sack and helped team rush for 206 yards.

2004: Did not play Week 1…saw action on special teams Weeks 2-3, 5-16 and Wild Card Playoff game…saw brief action at end of Tennessee game Oct. 3, New Orleans game Nov. 7 and Kansas City game Jan. 2 at guard…played in goal line offense at Oakland Nov. 21 and at Kansas City Nov. 28.

2003: Spent first five weeks on practice squad…dressed but did not play Weeks 6-8…played on special teams Weeks 9-11, 13 and 15-16…inactive Weeks 12 and 14…saw brief action as reserve left guard Week 15.

COLLEGE: Two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection…voted Most Valuable Player by teammates as senior after leading team with five sacks and 14 tackles for loss…began career at Indiana as tight end…saw action at defensive tackle as sophomore and spent entire senior season on defense…recorded 62 tackles on defense and 26 catches for 361 yards and five touchdowns on offense…played at Indiana from 1999-2002…majored in ¬management.

PERSONAL: Born Feb. 3, 1981 in Goshen, Indiana…all-state and all-conference linebacker and tight end at Troy High School in Troy, Ohio…also lettered in basketball.