Richard Seigler
Encyclopedia
Richard Joseph Seigler is the current defensive line assistant coach of the Portland State Vikings
college football
team and former NCAA All-American and NFL
Linebacker
. He was drafted
out of Oregon State University
in 2004
by the San Francisco 49ers
. In November 2005, he was acquired by the Pittsburgh Steelers
, playing with them during their Super Bowl XL
winning season. He finished up his playing years with the Toronto Argonauts
of the CFL
before moving on to his coaching career. Seigler played under the tutelage of National Championship Head Coach Dennis Erickson
and Mike Riley
in the college ranks. In the NFL, he played under Super Bowl
Championship coaches Mike Tomlin
and Bill Cowher
.
and attended Chaparral High School. Seigler was the oldest of 9 children, having 5 brothers and 3 sisters. Seigler was selected First-Team All-Sunrise Conference as a Linebacker
and Wide receiver
as a senior. Seigler was also a basketball player, and was selected All-Conference at Forward while leading his team in scoring and rebounding. Commenting on Seigler's natural leadership ability and selection as an OSU Team Captain
, Brooks Hatch of the Corvallis Gazette-Times
wrote, "It's a rare honor for an underclassman. In the past 30-odd years only 4 other non-senior Beavers have earned that distinction."
. Seigler surrendered himself to Pittsburgh police and U.S. Marshals and was accused of pandering
and providing transportation for a prostitute. All charges were dismissed in March 2008, and he expressed a desire to play in the NFL again. The Steelers did not reacquire Seigler after all charges were dropped. Seigler then ventured to play in the historic CFL for the Toronto Argonauts
and work his way back into the NFL. Seigler expanded his football knowledge in Canada
by playing in a very different system of 110-yard fields with 3-down possessions. In 2010 Nigel Burton
, Head Coach of the Portland State Vikings
, offered Seigler a spot on the coaching staff. Burton told the Portland Tribune
, "It’s unfortunate his name got dragged through the mud. I believe in second chances, but to be honest, this isn’t even a second chance for the guy. He is working hard. You can’t kick him out of the office. He wants to be a great coach. He and I are a lot alike in that regard. We love a challenge. You question me and my character, I’ll show you. You question my ability to coach, I’ll show you. That’s how he is. That’s why I love him, and I’m glad he is here."
Portland State Vikings
Portland State Vikings is the nickname of the NCAA-affiliated, intercollegiate athletic teams representing Portland State University of Portland, Oregon...
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...
team and former NCAA All-American and NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He was drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
out of Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
in 2004
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 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 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. In November 2005, he was acquired by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, playing with them during their Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
winning season. He finished up his playing years with the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
of the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
before moving on to his coaching career. Seigler played under the tutelage of National Championship Head Coach Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona...
and Mike Riley
Mike Riley
Michael Joseph "Mike" Riley is an American football coach, currently the head coach of the Oregon State Beavers of the Pacific-12 Conference...
in the college ranks. In the NFL, he played under Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
Championship coaches Mike Tomlin
Mike Tomlin
Michael Tomlin is the current head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. Tomlin is the third youngest head coach in any of the four major North American professional sports. He is the tenth African-American head coach in NFL history, and first in Steelers history...
and Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
.
Early years
Seigler was born and raised in Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and attended Chaparral High School. Seigler was the oldest of 9 children, having 5 brothers and 3 sisters. Seigler was selected First-Team All-Sunrise Conference as a Linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
and Wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
as a senior. Seigler was also a basketball player, and was selected All-Conference at Forward while leading his team in scoring and rebounding. Commenting on Seigler's natural leadership ability and selection as an OSU Team Captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
, Brooks Hatch of the Corvallis Gazette-Times
Corvallis Gazette-Times
The Corvallis Gazette-Times is a daily newspaper in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The newspaper, along with its sister publication, the Albany Democrat-Herald is owned by Lee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa...
wrote, "It's a rare honor for an underclassman. In the past 30-odd years only 4 other non-senior Beavers have earned that distinction."
Career highlights and awards
- 2010:
- Pac-10 All-Decade Team
- Oregon StateOregon State Beavers footballThe Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
All-Decade Team
- 2009:
- Selected #7 Best Player of the 2000s for Oregon StateOregon State Beavers footballThe Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
- Selected #7 Best Player of the 2000s for Oregon State
- 2006:
- Super Bowl XLSuper Bowl XLSuper Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
Champion
- Super Bowl XL
- 2004:
- Invited to play in 79th Annual East-West Shrine GameEast-West Shrine GameThe East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
- Invited to play in 79th Annual East-West Shrine Game
- 2003:
- Oregon State Beavers Co-MVP (along with Dwan EdwardsDwan EdwardsDwan Edwards is an American football defensive end for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon State.-Early years:Edwards attended Columbus High School in Columbus,...
and Steven JacksonSteven JacksonSteven Rashad Jackson is an American football running back for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Rams 24th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon State University....
) - 1st Team Defense All-Star LBLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
(Pac-10) - Surpassed All-American Inoke BreckterfieldInoke BreckterfieldInoke Breckterfield [E-no-ke] is an American football coach who played in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers . He was an All-American defensive end at Oregon State in 1998...
to become OSU'sOregon State Beavers footballThe Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
All-Time Defensive Point Record Holder with 1,344 - Bronko Nagurski TrophyBronko Nagurski TrophyThe Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America to be the best defensively in the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the award is presented by the Charlotte...
Watch List - Rotary Lombardi AwardLombardi AwardThe Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which...
Watch List - Las Vegas Bowl Champion
- OSU Football Team Captain
- Oregon State Beavers Co-MVP (along with Dwan Edwards
- 2002:
- 1st Team Defense All-Star LBLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
(Pac-10) - Butkus Award Watch List
- OSU Football Team Captain
- 1st Team Defense All-Star LB
- 2001:
- Fiesta Bowl2001 Fiesta BowlThe 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, played on January 1, 2001, was the 30th edition of the Fiesta Bowl. The game was played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona between the Oregon State Beavers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish .In the game, Oregon State quarterback Jonathan Smith threw for 305 yards...
Champion (Only Freshman starter on Championship Team) - 2nd Team All-Star LBLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
(Pac-10)
- Fiesta Bowl
- 2000:
- Freshman All-AmericanCollege Football All-America TeamThe College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
LBLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... - Oregon State UniversityOregon State UniversityOregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
"Male Newcomer of the Year" Award
- Freshman All-American
- 1998:
- High School All-Conference Defensive MVP Award
- 1st Team All-Star LinebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
and Wide receiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
(Sunrise 4A RegionSunrise 4A RegionThe Sunrise 4A Region is a part of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association and is one of two conferences in Southern Nevada 4A high school athletics. The Sunrise Region consists of large schools in Henderson, Nevada and on the eastern parts of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, Nevada. ...
- Las Vegas)
College career statistics
- 356 tackles (#4 Best Mark Ever at Oregon StateOregon State Beavers footballThe Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
) - 53 Tackles-For-Loss Career (7 TFL in a single game against Arizona State 10/20/2001. #1 on Oregon StateOregon State Beavers footballThe Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
All-Time List) - 7 sacks
- 4 recovered fumbles
- 17 pass breakups
- 9 interceptions (1 INT returned for 65-yard Touchdown)
- 49 Consecutive Starts (2nd All-Time at Oregon StateOregon State Beavers footballThe Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
)
2007 investigation
Although the case was dismissed and Seigler was innocent, in May 2007, a Las Vegas news affiliate learned that Seigler was under investigation in connection to a prostitution ring operating in the city. He was released from the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. Seigler surrendered himself to Pittsburgh police and U.S. Marshals and was accused of pandering
Procuring (prostitution)
Procuring or pandering is the facilitation or provision of a prostitute in the arrangement of a sex act with a customer. Examples of procuring include:*trafficking a prostitute into a country for the purpose of soliciting sex...
and providing transportation for a prostitute. All charges were dismissed in March 2008, and he expressed a desire to play in the NFL again. The Steelers did not reacquire Seigler after all charges were dropped. Seigler then ventured to play in the historic CFL for the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
and work his way back into the NFL. Seigler expanded his football knowledge in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
by playing in a very different system of 110-yard fields with 3-down possessions. In 2010 Nigel Burton
Nigel Burton
Nigel Burton is the current head coach for the Portland State Vikings college football team.-Playing career:Burton grew up in Sacramento where he attended Jesuit High School...
, Head Coach of the Portland State Vikings
Portland State Vikings
Portland State Vikings is the nickname of the NCAA-affiliated, intercollegiate athletic teams representing Portland State University of Portland, Oregon...
, offered Seigler a spot on the coaching staff. Burton told the Portland Tribune
Portland Tribune
The Portland Tribune is a free weekly newspaper published each Thursday in Portland, Oregon, United States.The Tribune is part of the Pamplin Media Group, which publishes a number of community newspapers in the Portland metropolitan area, and also owns and operates the talk radio station KPAM, and...
, "It’s unfortunate his name got dragged through the mud. I believe in second chances, but to be honest, this isn’t even a second chance for the guy. He is working hard. You can’t kick him out of the office. He wants to be a great coach. He and I are a lot alike in that regard. We love a challenge. You question me and my character, I’ll show you. You question my ability to coach, I’ll show you. That’s how he is. That’s why I love him, and I’m glad he is here."
External links
- Vikings Football Coach Profile
- Vikings Give Seigler a Shot
- Dee Andros taught Beavers importance of the rivalry
- Steelers reserve Kemoe'atu is "just happy to be here"
- Steelers Visit WWE SmackDown
- Oregon State Football Team Accolades
- They Always Have Answers
- Toronto Argonauts profile page
- Chaparral product Seigler starting strong with 49ers
- Bronko Nagurski Watch List 2003-2004
- Steelers Motivate Troops Overseas from Super Bowl XL Media Day
- Duty Calls For This Blue Collar Beaver
- 95.5 The Game Radio Interview