Rudy Niswanger
Encyclopedia
Rudolph Nelson "Rudy" Niswanger ' onMouseout='HidePop("82312")' href="/topics/Monroe,_Louisiana">Monroe, Louisiana
) is an American football
center
in the National Football League
who is currently is a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs
as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football
at Louisiana State
.
, where he attended Ouachita Christian School where he led his team to a 2a State Championship title in Football.
, Rudy signed a free agent
contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and played in five games at two different positions guard
, and on special teams in his first season in the league. During the 2007 season
, Niswanger appeared in 12 games, including five games as a reserve guard. His season ended on December 2 in a game against the San Diego Chargers
when he injured his right knee. He was placed in injured reserve
the next day. During the 2008 season
, Niswanger became the starting center in the preseason. He started in 15 games, missing one game against the Chargers in Week 15.
A restricted free agent
in the 2009 offseason, Niswanger re-signed with the Chiefs on April 24. During the offseason, the Chiefs signed veteran Mike Goff
, who is expected to compete with Niswanger for the starting center position.
on August 10, 2011. Niswanger was cut by the Lions on Setember 3 2011
, has 3 children (a daughter and twins, one boy and one girl)
Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
) is an American football
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...
center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
in the National Football League
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...
who is currently is a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
as an undrafted free agent in 2006. 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 Louisiana State
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
.
Early years
He is a native of Monroe, LouisianaMonroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
, where he attended Ouachita Christian School where he led his team to a 2a State Championship title in Football.
College career
During his college career he started at least one game in every offensive line position. As a senior, he was team captain and was elected as Second Team All-SEC.Kansas City Chiefs
In 2006 season2006 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2006 Kansas City Chiefs season began with the team looking to improve on their 10–6 record in 2005 under new head coach Herman Edwards.The team battled many obstacles during the 2006 season, including the loss of starting quarterback Trent Green in the first game, the readjustment of a...
, Rudy signed 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....
contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and played in five games at two different positions 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....
, and on special teams in his first season in the league. During the 2007 season
2007 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2007 Kansas City Chiefs season began with the team looking to improve on their 9-7 record in 2006 and attempting to secure the franchise's first back-to-back playoff berth since 1995. The season ended with a nine game losing streak, the team's first since 1987 and a 4-12 record...
, Niswanger appeared in 12 games, including five games as a reserve guard. His season ended on December 2 in a game against the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
when he injured his right knee. He was placed in injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
the next day. During the 2008 season
2008 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2008 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 49th season, and third with head coach Herman Edwards at the helm. The Chiefs failed to improve on their 4-12 record from 2007 with the youngest team in the NFL as part of their "youth movement." The season turned out to be the worst in the...
, Niswanger became the starting center in the preseason. He started in 15 games, missing one game against the Chargers in Week 15.
A restricted free agent
Restricted free agent
A restricted free agent is a professional athlete who plays in the KHL, NFL, NHL, or NBA. Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.- NFL :...
in the 2009 offseason, Niswanger re-signed with the Chiefs on April 24. During the offseason, the Chiefs signed veteran Mike Goff
Mike Goff (American football)
Michael J. Goff is a retired American football guard. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa....
, who is expected to compete with Niswanger for the starting center position.
Detroit Lions
Niswanger signed with 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...
on August 10, 2011. Niswanger was cut by the Lions on Setember 3 2011
Personal
Niswanger is married to Patricia Hodge of Monroe, Louisiana and they make their home in Overland Park, KansasOverland Park, Kansas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
, has 3 children (a daughter and twins, one boy and one girl)