Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1410640
6 4 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M HOW NITTANY LIONS ARE FARING IN THE NFL Marcus Allen, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Allen did not register a tackle in Pittsburgh's 23-16 win over Buffalo on opening day. Adrian Amos, S, Green Bay Pack- ers: Amos was the leading tackler for Green Bay, finishing with nine stops in the Packers' season opener against New Orleans. Nevertheless, it was a bad day for the Packers' defense, and the Saints rolled, 38-3. Troy Apke, S, Washington Foot- ball Team: Apke did not make a tackle in Washington's 20-16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Gi- ants: Barkley returned from last year's season-ending torn ACL after some questions throughout the offseason about whether he would be ready in Week 1. He managed only 27 yards from scrimmage in New York's 27-13 loss to visiting Denver, playing just under half of the Giants' total snaps on offense as he works his way back up to game speed. Cam Brown, LB, New York Giants: Brown did not record a tackle in New York's loss to Denver. Jason Cabinda, FB, Detroit Lions: Cabinda filled his usual role at fullback for the Lions in their 41-33 loss to visit- ing San Francisco but did not compile any yardage. Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Freiermuth's name appeared in the box score following his NFL debut against the Buffalo Bills. He hauled in one pass for 24 yards in a 23-16 come- back victory in Buffalo. It was a rela- tively quiet debut, but it's clear he has the inside track to a more impactful role with the Steelers, having played more than half of their snaps on offense to lead all of their tight ends. Mike Gesicki, TE, Miami Dol- phins: Gesicki started for the Dolphins in their 17-16 victory over the Patriots on opening day but was held without a reception. Blake Gillikin, P, New Orleans Saints: Gillikin wasn't asked to do much in his regular-season debut, but he delivered when he got the chance, Stefen Wisniewski Retires After 10-Year NFL Career Stefen Wisniewski won a pair of Super Bowl rings in the NFL and was a start- ing guard on a Rose Bowl team at Penn State. But when he announced his retire- ment Aug. 26, the former Nittany Lion All- American talked less about his athletic ac- complishments than his abiding religious faith, explaining that it "surpasses any joy that came from even the best parts of the game of football." Announcing via Twitter that he was stepping away from the game, Wisniewski said he plans on becoming a pastor now that his football career is over. "I have had a truly blessed career," he said, "and though things didn't always go exactly how I might've planned, I wouldn't change a thing, for I believe God used the trials to shape me into a tougher, wiser, stronger, more humble man of God. "I am especially grateful that I had the opportunity to be a starting guard for two Super Bowl championship teams — the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles and the 2019 Kansas City Chiefs. Those experiences were absolutely amazing for me, and I will treasure those memories forever." At Penn State, Wisniewski started 38 of the last 39 games of his career and was Joe Paterno's 11th first-team All-America offensive lineman. Selected by Oakland in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Wisniewski won the starting left guard spot in his first preseason camp and helped the Raiders finish seventh in the league in rushing, earning All-Rookie recognition from Pro Football Weekly. He later moved to center and played in Oakland for three more years before signing with Jackson- ville in 2015 and starting at center for the Jaguars that year. Wisniewski enjoyed his greatest team success in the latter years of his career. He signed with Phila- delphia in 2016 and was an 11-game starter the following year when the Eagles claimed their first Super Bowl championship with a 41-33 victory over New England. Released by Philadelphia shortly before the start of the 2019 season, Wisniewski signed with Kansas City in October, just as the Chiefs were getting set to go on a Super Bowl run of their own. He played on an offensive line that helped the Chiefs top San Francisco, 31-20, in Super Bowl LIV. Last season Wisniewski played for Pittsburgh, but he suffered a chest injury and was waived in November. He was picked up by the Chiefs a few weeks later and went back and forth between the practice squad and the active roster for the rest of the season. In February, he played in his third Super Bowl, but this time he wasn't on the winning side, with the Chiefs falling to Tampa Bay, 31-9. Super Bowl LV turned out to be the last game of Wisniewski's NFL career. He played in 139 contests during his decade in the pros and started 106 times. By excelling at Penn State and in the NFL, Wisniewski was following in the footsteps of his father and uncle. His father, Leo Wisniewski, lettered for the Nittany Lions from 1979-81 and was drafted by Baltimore in the second round in 1982, playing four seasons on the Colts' defensive line. A few years after Leo left State College, Stefen's uncle Steve Wisniewski arrived and became a two-time All-American, a star on Penn State's 1986 national championship team and later an eight-time All-Pro with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. Stefen Wisniewski was offered a chance to wear Steve's No. 76 jersey when he signed with Oakland, but decided to wear No. 61 instead, the number he'd worn at Penn State. He wanted to create his own legacy, he said. Three Super Bowl appearances later, it's safe to say he did just that. "I absolutely loved playing the game of football," Wisniewski said, "but after 10 years, my body, my mind and my heart are telling me it's time to move on." — Matt Herb Wisniewski signed with Philadelphia in 2016. The following year, he was a starting guard on the Eagles' first Super Bowl championship team. PHOTO COURTESY PHILADELPHIA EAGLES