Steve Wisniewski
Encyclopedia
Steve Wisniewski nicknamed "The Wiz" is a former Offensive Lineman who played 13 seasons with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
and is now an assistant offensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft
. His rights were traded to the Raiders that same draft. He played college football
at Penn State
.
at Penn State University. He was twice named All-America
(1987 and 1988). He was a key contributor on the Nittany Lions 1986 national championship team. He capped his senior season by playing
in the Hula Bowl
and the Japan Bowl.
He earned a Bachelor of Science
in marketing
in 1989.
by the Dallas Cowboys
. He was then immediately traded to the Raiders, where he would play all of his 13 seasons in the league. "Wiz" became the standout Guard of the 1990s and made the Pro Bowl
8 times in his career tying him at the time of his retirement with Art Shell
, Howie Long
, and Tim Brown (Who would later surpass him) for most by a Raider. He was also named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
and was a first team All-Pro twice.
On January 27, 2011 it was announced that Wisniewski would be returning to the Oakland Raiders as an assistant offensive line coach under new Head Coach Hue Jackson
, new offensive coordinator Al Saunders
and new offensive line coach Bob Wylie
. He was thrilled by saying "I'm back to my first love, the Oakland Raiders and working with the Offensive Line. I’m a Raider for life. I can help in technique, help in mindset and attitude and really push these young men to develop and to be the heartbeat of the team." Wisniewski said via the Raiders website. Also he said in a statement that "I’m thrilled to be working in the building again for the Silver and Black and helping to shape the future of the offensive line." He and Wylie replace Chris Morgan and Jim Michalczik, who were not retained for the 2011 season.
and is an assistant offensive line coach with the Raiders. He spent one year at Stanford University, helping coach the offensive line on a team that reached the Orange Bowl http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/events/1997/nflpreview/FEATURES/nasty.html Wisniewski is a born-again Christian http://www.tothenextlevel.org/docs/testimonies/testimonies_football/wisniewski_steve/default.asp and currently volunteers at The Well Christian Community Church in Dublin, California
, the church founded by fellow ex-Raider, Napoleon Kaufman
. http://www.raidersonline.org/steve-wisniewski.php
His brother, Leo
, was a three-time letterman for the Penn State football team (1979–1981). Wisniewski's nephew (Leo's son), Stefen
, was a guard/center on the Penn State team. Stefen had a standout career with Penn State, was drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the 48th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, and is currently the Raiders' starting left guard.
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and is now an assistant offensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft
1989 NFL Draft
The 1989 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 23–24 , 1989...
. His rights were traded to the Raiders that same draft. 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 Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
.
College
Wisniewski was standout guardGuard (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....
at Penn State University. He was twice named All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
(1987 and 1988). He was a key contributor on the Nittany Lions 1986 national championship team. He capped his senior season by playing
in the 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...
and the Japan Bowl.
He earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
in 1989.
NFL
Wisniewski was drafted in the second round (#29 overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft1989 NFL Draft
The 1989 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 23–24 , 1989...
by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. He was then immediately traded to the Raiders, where he would play all of his 13 seasons in the league. "Wiz" became the standout Guard of the 1990s and made the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
8 times in his career tying him at the time of his retirement with Art Shell
Art Shell
Arthur "Art" Shell is an American former collegiate and professional football player in the American Football League and later in the NFL, a Hall of Fame offensive tackle, and a two-time former head coach of the Oakland Raiders...
, Howie Long
Howie Long
Howard "Howie" Matthew Moses Long is an American former National Football League defensive end and actor. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000...
, and Tim Brown (Who would later surpass him) for most by a Raider. He was also named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
The NFL 1990s All-Decade Team was chosen by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The team was composed of outstanding performers in the National Football League in the 1990s....
and was a first team All-Pro twice.
On January 27, 2011 it was announced that Wisniewski would be returning to the Oakland Raiders as an assistant offensive line coach under new Head Coach Hue Jackson
Hue Jackson
Hue Jackson is an American football coach who is currently head coach of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League after previously serving as the team's offensive coordinator in 2010....
, new offensive coordinator Al Saunders
Al Saunders
Al Saunders is the current offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders.-Early life and playing career:Born in London, England, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1960, and is one of four foreign-born coaches in the NFL...
and new offensive line coach Bob Wylie
Bob Wylie
Bob Wylie is an American football coach. He currently serves as Offensive line coach under head coach Hue Jackson for the Oakland Raiders....
. He was thrilled by saying "I'm back to my first love, the Oakland Raiders and working with the Offensive Line. I’m a Raider for life. I can help in technique, help in mindset and attitude and really push these young men to develop and to be the heartbeat of the team." Wisniewski said via the Raiders website. Also he said in a statement that "I’m thrilled to be working in the building again for the Silver and Black and helping to shape the future of the offensive line." He and Wylie replace Chris Morgan and Jim Michalczik, who were not retained for the 2011 season.
Personal
Wisniewski lives in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
and is an assistant offensive line coach with the Raiders. He spent one year at Stanford University, helping coach the offensive line on a team that reached the Orange Bowl http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/events/1997/nflpreview/FEATURES/nasty.html Wisniewski is a born-again Christian http://www.tothenextlevel.org/docs/testimonies/testimonies_football/wisniewski_steve/default.asp and currently volunteers at The Well Christian Community Church in Dublin, California
Dublin, California
Dublin is a suburban city of the East Bay region of Alameda County, California, United States. Located along the north side of Interstate 580 at the intersection with Interstate 680, roughly east of Hayward, west of Livermore and north of San Jose, it was named after the city of Dublin in...
, the church founded by fellow ex-Raider, Napoleon Kaufman
Napoleon Kaufman
Napoleon "Nip" Kaufman is a former American football player and currently an ordained minister. He is a former NFL running back, playing for the Oakland Raiders for the entirety of his professional football career....
. http://www.raidersonline.org/steve-wisniewski.php
His brother, Leo
Leo Wisniewski
Leo Joseph Wisniewski is a former American football nose tackle who played professionally in the National Football League.-Early years:...
, was a three-time letterman for the Penn State football team (1979–1981). Wisniewski's nephew (Leo's son), Stefen
Stefen Wisniewski
Stefen David Wisniewski is an American football offensive lineman for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League, and was selected in the 2nd round of the 2011 NFL Draft.-Personal:...
, was a guard/center on the Penn State team. Stefen had a standout career with Penn State, was drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the 48th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, and is currently the Raiders' starting left guard.
External links
- Steve Wisniewski Raiders Coach biography
- Where Are They now?: Steve Wisniewski raidersonline.com
- Steve Wisniewski testimony tothenextlevel.org
- Old-school Wiz is part of Raiders history, Jon GrudenJon GrudenJon David Gruden is an American football analyst and former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons and prior to that the Oakland Raiders for four seasons. In his first year as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating the Raiders whom he had...
column on www.nfl.com - Nasty Boys: Football's Felonious 15, cnnsi.com, 1997