Players

 Kris Dielman thought he would never play in the Pro Bowl, not because he wasn’t capable, but due to his ferocious style of play that often infuriates opponents. However back-to-back Pro Bowl berths following the 2007 and ’08 seasons showed the high-level of respect he has earned from his peers around the league.

 Dielman’s hard-nosed, physical play in the trenches helps set the tone for the entire offense.A starter since 2005, the Chargers rushed for more than 2,000 yards in three of the four seasons that Dielman manned the starting left guard post. Last year against Denver in the Chargers’ AFC West-clinching win, he had a big hand in the Bolts rushing for a team-record 289 yards.

  Dielman had one of his finest seasons in 2006 when the Chargers rushed for a team-record 2,578 yards and LaDainian Tomlinson shattered all of the NFL’s single-season scoring records. A year later, he was rewarded with his first Pro Bowl selection after the Bolts ranked seventh in the league in rushing and he played an entire season without yielding a sack.

  Dielman had added incentive to play well in 2007. An unrestricted free agent following the 2006 season, he passed up a chance to chase riches and start anew in a different NFL city and signed one of the biggest contracts awarded to an offensive lineman in team history. He chose to follow his heart and sign a new six-year deal to stay with the Chargers through 2012. Team President Dean Spanos played a key role in the Bolts’ push to retain their starting left guard.

  Dielman is a throwback. He’s tough and nasty. Three hours in the trenches against Dielman is like a 15-round heavyweight title fight. A former defensive lineman in college, he made the move to the offensive line shortly after joining the Chargers as an undrafted free agent and hasn’t looked back.

  One of the reasons Dielman elected to stay in San Diego is that the Ohio native owns a home on a hill overlooking Pacific Beach. The house offers a stunning panoramic view of San Diego from the La Jolla coast to Mexico. In March, Kris’ house was featured in Sports Illustrated in a special advertising section called “Home Owner.” One of Dielman’s favorite pastimes is riding his beach cruiser along the boardwalk in Pacific Beach and Mission Beach.

  Another reason he chose to stay is the cadre of friends that he has made in San Diego. Among his closest friends are several San Diego Padres. Dielman regularly attends their games at Petco Park and he even caught a foul ball during a game in 2005.

   Dielman enjoys watching NASCAR races, rodeos and ultimate fighting. He is in a Fantasy Racing League with several friends, including teammate Scott Mruczkowski. Each of the last two years, a group of them have traveled to Bristol, Tennessee and sat in the pit area to watch NASCAR’s Food City 500 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Dielman has even met several of NASCAR’s top drivers, including Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Clint Boyer.

  TRANSACTION HISTORY: Signed with Chargers, May 2, 2003…waived Aug. 26, 2003…signed to practice squad Sept. 2, 2003 and to active roster Oct. 16, 2003…re-signed March 15, 2005 and March 20, 2006...signed six-year contract, March 3, 2007.

  2009: Contributed in the offensive line not giving up a sack in 28 passes week 12. Also was selected as one of the 50th greatest Chargers in team history. Voted to 2009 Pro Bowl.  

  2008: Pro Bowl starter…AP second-team All-Pro ...All-AFC by PFW and PFWA…OL had outstanding night vs. NE Wk 6, not allowing sack, while Philip Rivers threw for 306 yards and three TDs…INA for Wk 12 game vs. Atlanta as late scratch due to stomach virus…ejected in 2Q of KC game Dec. 14 for throwing “phantom” punch...line only allowed one sack while Rivers threw career-high four TDs in 41-24 win at TB Dec. 21…OL blocked for team-record 289-yard rushing performance in AFC West clinching win over Denver Dec. 28…bettered previous mark (287 yards, Oct. 13, 1963)…blocked for 167-yard rushing night in Jan. 5 AFC Wild Card Playoff win over Indianapolis, including GW 22-yard TD run in OT.

 2007: Pro Bowl...All-NFL from USA Today Sports Weekly… Chargers Lineman of Year...Oct. 7 at Denver, line cleared way for 214-yards rushing...Oct. 14 vs. Oakland, DNA sack while anchoring 206-yard rushing performance…blocked for 191 yards in 24-10 win at KC Dec. 2, including second-half rush TDs of 31 and 28 yards…line allowed 0 sacks and helped rush for 274 yards vs. Detroit Dec. 16, then second-highest total in team history…OL allowed only one sack in Wild Card Playoff win over Tennessee Jan. 6…DNA any sacks in Jan. 13 AFC Divisional Playoff win at Indy, while laying down perfect blocks as Billy Volek scored GW TD on one-yard QB sneak.

 2006: Pro Bowl first-alternate…Chargers co-Lineman of Year…ESPN.com All-Pro...no sacks allowed and cleared way for 241 yards rushing and three TDs vs. Tennessee Sept. 17…OL anchored 150-yard rushing day Wk 3 at Baltimore vs. NFL’s No. 1-ranked run defense (34.3 ypg)…set tone for big day vs. St. Louis Oct. 29 with 216 rush yards...starting five each named Chargers Alumni POWs after 35-27 comeback win at Denver Nov. 19…INA Wk 11 vs. Oakland...returned at LG and helped Bolts rush for 197 yards and two LT TDs in 24-21 win at Buffalo Dec. 3…during 4Q game-clinching TD drive of season-long 8:06, Bolts ran on nine of 13 plays…265 rush yards, then fifth-most in team history, in 20-9 win over KC Dec. 17.

 2005: Replaced injured Toniu Fonoti at LG in 4Q at Denver Sept. 18…made permanent move into starting lineup at LG for ESPN SNF game vs. NY Giants Sept. 25…line paved way for 268 yards rushing vs. Giants, then third-best in team history, and did not allow any sacks…Oct. 2 at NE, OL DNA any sacks and helped rush for 183 yards en route to ending Patriots’ NFL-record 21-game home winning streak…created running lanes for 202 yards, including 41-yard GW TD run in Wk 11 OT win at Washington…OL enabled team to rush for 206 yards in 26-17 win at Indianapolis Dec. 18.

 2004: Saw brief action at G at end of Tennessee (Oct. 3), NO (Nov. 7) and KC (Jan. 2) games.

 2003: Wks 1-5 on practice squad…DNP Wks 6-8…special teams Wks 9-11, 13 and 15-16…INA Wks 12 and 14…saw action as reserve LG Wk 15.

 COLLEGE: Two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten …team MVP as senior after leading team with five sacks and 14 TFLs…began career at IU as TE…saw action at DT as sophomore and spent entire senior season on defense…recorded 62 tackles and 26 catches for 361 yards and five TDs…played at Indiana from 1999-02…management major.

  PERSONAL: Born in Goshen, Indiana…all-state and all-conference linebacker and tight end at Troy (Ohio) HS…lettered in basketball.