Kory Lichtensteiger

Kory Lichtensteiger
refer to caption
Lichtensteiger at Washington Redskins training camp in 2011
No. 65, 67, 78
Position:Center, Guard
Personal information
Born: (1985-03-22) March 22, 1985 (age 39)
Van Wert, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:292 lb (132 kg)
Career information
High school:Convoy (OH) Crestview
College:Bowling Green
NFL draft:2008 / round: 4 / pick: 108
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× First-team All-MAC (2006, 2007)
  • 2× Second-team All-MAC (2004, 2005)
Career NFL statistics
Games played:93
Games started:75
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Kory Adam Lichtensteiger (born March 22, 1985) is an American former professional football center who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL draft. He played college football at Bowling Green State University.

Lichtensteiger also played for the Minnesota Vikings and spent seven seasons with the Washington Redskins.

Early life

Lichtensteiger played high school football at Crestview High School in Convoy, Ohio where he was a four-year scholar athlete in both basketball and football. During his time at Crestview, he was named a first-team All-Northwest Conference offensive and defensive lineman. His other awards included conference Lineman of the Year in his junior and senior seasons, and First-team All-Ohio on both his junior and senior year.

College career

Lichtensteiger became a member of the Bowling Green State University football team in 2003. In his five years with the team, he received numerous honors including being chosen as a team captain and being named to All-MAC, Academic All-MAC and national All-American lists.

He was redshirted his freshman year and played center on the scout team.

During his second year on the team, Lichtensteiger was moved to offensive guard. He started all 12 games that season and was named Second-team All-MAC and a Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American.

In his redshirt sophomore season, Lichtensteiger started all 11 games and was once again named Second-team All-MAC. As a junior, he was shifted back to center and started 12 games. On the field he was named First-team All-MAC and Co-MVP of the team. Off the field he was named to the Academic All-MAC team.

In his final season with the Falcons, he was named pre-season First-team All-MAC. He started 13 games and was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy and a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy.[1] [2]

Kory graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3 in
(1.91 m) 		310 lb
(141 kg) 		5.25 s 1.75 s 2.98 s 4.56 s 7.60 s 23.0 in
(0.58 m)		 8 ft 8 in
(2.64 m)		 – reps
All values from NFL Combine[3][4]

Lichtensteiger was considered the No. 4 center available in the 2008 NFL draft.[5]

Denver Broncos

Lichtensteiger was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round (108th overall).[6]

On Monday, July 21, 2008, Lichtensteiger signed a four-year contract with the Broncos. He joined the team as a backup center who could also fill in at guard.[7]

The Broncos waived Lichtensteiger on September 4, 2009.

Minnesota Vikings

Lichtensteiger was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Vikings on September 6. He was waived on September 29.

Washington Redskins

Lichtensteiger (#78) in 2013

Lichtensteiger signed a future contract with the Washington Redskins on January 12, 2010.[8] He was reunited with head coach Mike Shanahan, whom he played for in his rookie season with the Broncos. In his first season with the Redskins, he became the starting left guard of the offensive line.

In the 2011 season, Lichtensteiger would be put on injured reserve after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles.[9]

On March 3, 2012, the Redskins tendered an original round qualifying contract to Lichtensteiger, which would allow the Redskins to receive an additional fourth round pick if he were to sign with another team.[10][11] On March 20, he signed his one-year, $1.26 million restricted free agent tender.[12] Despite his ACL being fine, he had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to clean out floating particles in the knee on July 30 and missed the entire 2012 preseason.[13][14] After missing the entire preseason, he was able to play and start in the season opener win against the New Orleans Saints. On December 18, the Redskins named him the winner of the 2012 Ed Block Courage Award for how well he recovered from his ACL tear in the previous season.[15]

Set to become a free agent for the 2013 season, Lichtensteiger agreed to a five-year deal with the Redskins on March 9, 2013.[16][17] After the Redskins released Will Montgomery on March 14, 2014, they announced plans to shift Lichtensteiger from guard to center for the 2014 season.[18][19]

On November 10, 2015, the Redskins put Lichtensteiger on injured reserve with a designation to return after he suffered a pitched nerve in his neck.[20]

On September 27, 2016, Lichtensteiger was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury.[21] He was designated for return on December 7, 2016, and was officially activated off injured reserve on December 10, 2016.[22][23]

Retirement

On February 10, 2017, Lichtensteiger announced his retirement from the NFL.[24] Washington released him from the reserve/retired list in April 2021.[25]

References

  1. ^ "Draft Player Profiles - Kory Lichtensteiger". NFL.com. Archived from the original on April 16, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  2. ^ "Player Bio: Kory Lichtensteiger". Bowling Green State University Athletic Department. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  3. ^ NFL Combine Profile
  4. ^ NFL Draft Scout Profile
  5. ^ "SI.com". CNN. Archived from the original on April 16, 2008.
  6. ^ "2008 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "Lichtensteiger gets four-year deal with modest signing bonus". Denver Post. July 22, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2008.
  8. ^ "Redskins Sign Offensive Lineman Kory Lichtensteiger". CSNWashington.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
  9. ^ "Eagles Vs. Redskins Injury Update: Kory Lichtensteiger Has Torn ACL, MCL, Out For Year". SBNation.com. October 16, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
  10. ^ "Redskins Tender Contract to Lichtensteiger". Redskins.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  11. ^ "Redskins to make TE Fred Davis their franchise player". WashingtonTimes.com. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  12. ^ "Redskins G Kory Lichtensteiger signs his restricted free agent tender". WashingtonPost.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  13. ^ Jones, Mike (July 30, 2012). "Redskins' injuries: Jonathan Goff is done for the season, Kory Lichtensteiger has knee surgery". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  14. ^ Tinsman, Brian (July 30, 2012). "Lichtensteiger Likely To Miss Preseason". Redskins.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  15. ^ Tinsman, Brian (December 18, 2012). "Lichtensteiger Named Ed Block Award Winner". Redskins. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  16. ^ Jones, Mike (March 9, 2013). "Guard Kory Lichtensteiger agrees to terms on new deal". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  17. ^ Wesseling, Chris (March 9, 2013). "Kory Lichtensteiger, Washington Redskins reach deal". NFL.com. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  18. ^ Jones, Mike. "Redskins release center Will Montgomery". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  19. ^ Keim, John (April 30, 2014). "Kory Lichtensteiger likes switch to center". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  20. ^ Keim, John (November 10, 2015). "Redskins lose Kory Lichtensteiger for rest of regular season". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  21. ^ Czarda, Stephen. "Redskins Sign John Sullivan, Vinston Painter To Active Roster". Redskins.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  22. ^ Czarda, Stephen (December 7, 2016). "Redskins Designate Kory Lichtensteiger For Return". Redskins.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2017.
  23. ^ Czarda, Stephen (December 10, 2016). "Redskins Activate Center Kory Lichtensteiger". Redskins.com.
  24. ^ Czarda, Stephen (February 10, 2017). "Kory Lichtensteiger Announces Retirement From NFL". Redskins.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  25. ^ "2021 NFL Transactions: Terminations – April". NFL.com. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
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