Chris Liwienski
Encyclopedia
Chris Liwienski is an American football
guard
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions
in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Indiana
.
Liwienski has also been a member of the Minnesota Vikings
, Arizona Cardinals
, Miami Dolphins
and Jacksonville Jaguars
.
in Sterling Heights, Michigan. He was named All-conference, All-Metro and All-State as a senior and participated in the East/West All Star Game.
After redshirting in 1993, Liwienski played in 10 of 11 games in 1994. He missed only the game against University of Illinois with a knee injury. He won his second and third letters in 1995 and 1996, respectively, and started all 11 games in 1996.
As a senior in 1997 and one of the Hoosiers' five team captains, Liwienski started all 11 regular season games at left tackle. He played in Hula Bowl
following senior season and was also named the Chris Dal Sasso Award winner, given annually to the Indiana offensive lineman who best exemplifies the former Hoosier lineman's qualities.
in the seventh round (207th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft
.
and placed on the practice squad on August 21 after being mercifully released by Detroit. On November 11, Liwienski was promoted to the active roster. He saw his first NFL game action on extra point protection against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 20. It was the only game he appeared in during his rookie season.
In 1999, Liwienski spent the first 12 games of the season on Minnesota's practice squad. He was moved to Vikings' active roster for the team's December 12 contest but was inactive. He remained inactive for the rest of the regular season as well as two postseason contests.
Liwienski saw his first significant playing time in 2000, appearing in 14 games and starting one. He was inactive for one game due to a knee injury. He started the season opener at left guard against the Chicago Bears
on September 3, which happened to also be the first career start of longtime Vikings center Matt Birk
. Liwienski also played in the team's Divisional Playoff game against the New Orleans Saints
and the NFC
Championship game at the New York Giants
.
Liwienski became a full-time starter in 2001, participating in every snap at right tackle during the season (replacing the recently deceased Korey Stringer
) despite being expected to play left guard. He was named to USA Today
's All-Joe team, which recognizes unheralded players.
Liwienski remained at right tackle in 2002 and once again started all 16 regular season contests. He helped the Vikings rush for a team-record 26 touchdowns on the season, and helped second-year running back
Michael Bennett
post the second-best single-season rushing performance in team history with 1,296 yards. Against the Buffalo Bills
on September 15, he helped Moe Williams
rush for his first 100-yard rushing game as a Viking.
Upon the signing of offensive tackle Mike Rosenthal
, Liwienski was moved back to left guard in 2003 and started all 16 games at the position. He helped pave the way for a Vikings offense that ranked first in the NFL for the first time in franchise history. Liwienski paved the way for Moe Williams, Michael Bennett and Onterrio Smith
to each break the 100-yard mark during games in 2003.
Liwienski started all 16 games at guard in 2004, helping quarterback
Daunte Culpepper
throw for 4,717 yards and 39 scores. He was fined $2,500 - one of nine Vikings players fined in all - for his part in a scuffle with the Chicago Bears on September 26.
Battling injuries, Liwienski appeared in 15 games and started nine during the 2005 season. He had previously started every game for the Vikings from 2001-2004.
With the acquisition of Steve Hutchinson from the Seattle Seahawks
, rumors persisted of Liwienski's inevitable release. The talk came to fruition on September 2, 2006 when he was released by the team he had started 74 of 94 games with since 1998.
two days later, reuniting him with then-head coach Dennis Green
, who had coach Liwienski his first four seasons in Minnesota. He went on to start six of the 16 games in which he appeared, filling in for injured starters Oliver Ross
and Milford Brown
early in the season before becoming the starting left guard.
, Liwienski was signed to a one-year contract by the Miami Dolphins on March 22, 2007. The move reunites him with Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron
, who was the head coach at Indiana during Liwienski's senior season in 1997, as well as quarterback
Daunte Culpepper
, who played with Liwienski in Minnesota from 1999 to 2005.
on July 31, 2008 after they waived rookie
quarterback
Paul Smith
. Liwienski was released on August 25 after the team signed running back
Ciatrick Fason
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers football
The Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
.
Liwienski has also been a member of the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Liwienski was a three-year letterman at Stevenson High SchoolAdlai E. Stevenson High School (Sterling Heights, Michigan)
Adlai E. Stevenson High School is a part of Utica Community Schools located in Sterling Heights, Michigan, a suburb north of Detroit. The school was named for Adlai E. Stevenson, a two-time candidate for President of the United States and former United Nations ambassador. The school is casually...
in Sterling Heights, Michigan. He was named All-conference, All-Metro and All-State as a senior and participated in the East/West All Star Game.
College career
Liwienski was a three-year starter at offensive tackle for the Indiana Hoosiers. He started 36 games during four-year career, playing in 43.After redshirting in 1993, Liwienski played in 10 of 11 games in 1994. He missed only the game against University of Illinois with a knee injury. He won his second and third letters in 1995 and 1996, respectively, and started all 11 games in 1996.
As a senior in 1997 and one of the Hoosiers' five team captains, Liwienski started all 11 regular season games at left tackle. He played in Hula Bowl
Hula Bowl
The Hula Bowl was an independently administered post-season invitational college football game held each year in Hawaii from 1947 to 2008. The game was last played at Aloha Stadium in the Hālawa district of Honolulu, Hawaii. At one point the longest-running sporting event in Hawaii, it had been...
following senior season and was also named the Chris Dal Sasso Award winner, given annually to the Indiana offensive lineman who best exemplifies the former Hoosier lineman's qualities.
Detroit Lions
Liwienski was originally drafted by the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the seventh round (207th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
.
Minnesota Vikings
He was signed by the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
and placed on the practice squad on August 21 after being mercifully released by Detroit. On November 11, Liwienski was promoted to the active roster. He saw his first NFL game action on extra point protection against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 20. It was the only game he appeared in during his rookie season.
In 1999, Liwienski spent the first 12 games of the season on Minnesota's practice squad. He was moved to Vikings' active roster for the team's December 12 contest but was inactive. He remained inactive for the rest of the regular season as well as two postseason contests.
Liwienski saw his first significant playing time in 2000, appearing in 14 games and starting one. He was inactive for one game due to a knee injury. He started the season opener at left guard against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 3, which happened to also be the first career start of longtime Vikings center Matt Birk
Matt Birk
Matthew Robert Birk is an American football center for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Harvard....
. Liwienski also played in the team's Divisional Playoff game against the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
and the NFC
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
Championship game at the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Liwienski became a full-time starter in 2001, participating in every snap at right tackle during the season (replacing the recently deceased Korey Stringer
Korey Stringer
Korey Damont Stringer was an American football player who died from complications brought on by heat stroke, during training camp in Mankato, Minnesota while in training camp with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.-College career:Stringer was born in Warren, Ohio and attended...
) despite being expected to play left guard. He was named to USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
's All-Joe team, which recognizes unheralded players.
Liwienski remained at right tackle in 2002 and once again started all 16 regular season contests. He helped the Vikings rush for a team-record 26 touchdowns on the season, and helped second-year running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett was an American musical theater director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. He won seven Tony Awards for his choreography and direction of Broadway shows and was nominated for an additional eleven....
post the second-best single-season rushing performance in team history with 1,296 yards. Against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 15, he helped Moe Williams
Moe Williams
Maurece Jabari "Moe" Williams is a former American football running back in the National Football League . He formerly played for the Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens...
rush for his first 100-yard rushing game as a Viking.
Upon the signing of offensive tackle Mike Rosenthal
Mike Rosenthal
Mike Rosenthal is an American football offensive tackle who is currently retired.He was originally drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame. Rosenthal is now a high school football coach at Austin High School in Austin, Texas...
, Liwienski was moved back to left guard in 2003 and started all 16 games at the position. He helped pave the way for a Vikings offense that ranked first in the NFL for the first time in franchise history. Liwienski paved the way for Moe Williams, Michael Bennett and Onterrio Smith
Onterrio Smith
Onterrio Raymond Lloyd Smith is a former professional American football Running back who played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...
to each break the 100-yard mark during games in 2003.
Liwienski started all 16 games at guard in 2004, helping quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Rachard Culpepper is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League . Prior to joining the UFL, Culpepper enjoyed a successful National Football League career after being drafted 11th overall in...
throw for 4,717 yards and 39 scores. He was fined $2,500 - one of nine Vikings players fined in all - for his part in a scuffle with the Chicago Bears on September 26.
Battling injuries, Liwienski appeared in 15 games and started nine during the 2005 season. He had previously started every game for the Vikings from 2001-2004.
With the acquisition of Steve Hutchinson from the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, rumors persisted of Liwienski's inevitable release. The talk came to fruition on September 2, 2006 when he was released by the team he had started 74 of 94 games with since 1998.
Arizona Cardinals
Liwienski signed with the Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
two days later, reuniting him with then-head coach Dennis Green
Dennis Green
Dennis "Denny" Green is an American football head coach for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League...
, who had coach Liwienski his first four seasons in Minnesota. He went on to start six of the 16 games in which he appeared, filling in for injured starters Oliver Ross
Oliver Ross
Oliver Calvin Ross is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
and Milford Brown
Milford Brown
Milford Wesley Brown, Jr. is an American football guard who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2002 Supplemental Draft. He played college football at Florida State.Brown has also been a member of the Arizona...
early in the season before becoming the starting left guard.
Miami Dolphins
As an unrestricted free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, Liwienski was signed to a one-year contract by the Miami Dolphins on March 22, 2007. The move reunites him with Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron
Cam Cameron
-External links:...
, who was the head coach at Indiana during Liwienski's senior season in 1997, as well as quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Rachard Culpepper is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League . Prior to joining the UFL, Culpepper enjoyed a successful National Football League career after being drafted 11th overall in...
, who played with Liwienski in Minnesota from 1999 to 2005.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Once again a free agent, Liwienski signed with the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on July 31, 2008 after they waived rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Paul Smith
Paul Smith (quarterback)
Paul Smith is an American professional gridiron football quarterback. He was released before training camp by the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Tulsa.-High school career:...
. Liwienski was released on August 25 after the team signed running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Ciatrick Fason
Ciatrick Fason
Ciatrick Antione Fason is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League for two seasons in the early 2000s...
.