RUDY NISWANGER #64
| Position | Center |
| Height | 6-5 |
| Weight | 301 |
| Years Experience | 3 |
| Birthdate | 11/9/1982 |
| Hometown | Monroe, LA |
| College | LSU |
| Current status | Active |
| Games Started | 0 |
| Games Played | 15 |
Pro Career
Cerebral offensive lineman enters his third season with Kansas City … Originally joined the Chiefs as a rookie free agent in 2006 … Possesses the ability to play all five positions on the offensive line, but has concentrated the majority of his time working at center this off-season and is expected to compete for a starting spot at that position … Had his second pro campaign cut short after suffering a right knee injury vs. San Diego (12/12/07) ... Appears fully recovered from that injury and will be ready for training camp … Benefitted greatly from his experience as a rookie, learning his craft from veteran Gs Will Shields and Brian Waters on the interior of Kansas City’s offensive line … Has seen action both as a reserve lineman and as an extra blocker in short-yardage situations during his first two pro seasons … Also contributes as a blocker on special teams … Has seen action in 15 NFL contests on special teams and six on offense … Also owns one game of postseason experience.
Transactions: Signed a one-year exclusive rights tender (3/6/08) ... Signed a two-year contract with Kansas City as a rookie free agent (5/17/06).
Games Played/Games Started:
2006 (3/0), 2007 (12/0) — 15/0. Playoffs: 2006 (1/0) — 1/0.
2007
Played in 12 games on special teams and saw duty in five contests on offense … Saw action as a reserve right guard and on special teams vs. Green Bay (11/4), vs. Denver (11/11), at Indianapolis (11/18) and vs. Oakland (11/25) ... Left the game in the second quarter with a right knee injury vs. San Diego (12/2) ... Was subsequently placed on injured reserve on December 5th.
2006
Saw duty in three games on special teams and one contest on offense … Was inactive for 12 games … Played in his first NFL game on special teams at Arizona (10/8) ... Played on special teams vs. Oakland (11/19) ... Played in the club’s jumbo formation and on special teams vs. Jacksonville (12/31) ... Saw duty on special teams in an AFC Wild Card Game at Indianapolis (1/6/07).
College Bio
Played in 47 games (29 starts) at LSU … Started at least one game at all five offensive line positions during his career … Started 12 games at center as a senior in 2005, recording a team-leading 114 knockdowns … Selected second-team All-SEC … Was the recipient of the McWorter Award as the SEC’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Also a first-team Academic All-America pick … Accepted the Draddy Trophy, known as the “Academic Heisman,” from the National Football Foundation … Named the inaugural winner of the Wuerffel Trophy, known as the “Humanitarian Heisman” ... Started all 12 games at four different positions in 2004 as a junior … Played in 13 games (four starts) during his sophomore campaign in 2003 … Saw duty in nine games at the right and left guard spots as a freshman in 2002 … Earned a degree in Kinesiology at LSU.
Personal Bio
• Won a state 2A football title at Ouachita Christian High School in Monroe, Louisiana.
• On offense, recorded 196 pancake blocks.
• On defense, registered 70 tackles, 24.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries and returned an interception for a touchdown as a defensive tackle.
• Served as an intern with the Legacy Financial Group during the 2007 and 2008 off-seasons.
• Participates regularly in the Chiefs charitable efforts in Kansas City community.
• Volunteers at the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired in Kansas City.
• Along with his wife Patricia, served as honorary chairs for the Children’s Spot “Once Upon a Time” Gala.
• Has been accepted into LSU’s School of Medicine and is interested in orthopedic surgery.
• Full name: Rudolph Nelson Niswanger (pronounced NIZE-wong-er).
• Married, wife Patricia, with a daughter, Emory born in April of 2008.
• The Niswangers reside in Overland Park, Kansas.