Players

Luis Castillo has become a steadying presence and one of the anchors of the Chargers’ defensive line. A starter in all 16 games in 2010, Castillo was a key contributor for the NFL’s top-ranked defense, leading the line with 12 quarterback pressures, third-most on the entire squad.

Castillo is only the second Dominican player to be drafted and start in the National Football League. He has built an image that goes well beyond the United States and the Dominican Republic. In 2008, he was one of three NFL players invited to spend a week visiting with U.S. troops stationed at military bases in Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. A seasoned traveler, Castillo has also visited Egypt, Greece and China on his own.

Castillo is fluent in Spanish. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to the Dominican Republic with his mother, Maria, when he was a child. They returned to the States when he was 5 and the family settled in New Jersey. Luis returns to the Dominican Republic every offseason where he is revered as a national icon. During trips to the Dominican, Castillo has hosted youth football clinics and other community projects. In 2005, he was honored with the Youth of the Year Award for excellence outside of the Dominican Republic.

Castillo has also emerged as a community leader in San Diego. In July 2008, he was honored with the Roberto Clemente Award for Sports Excellence for his work in the Hispanic community. He hosts an annual “Shop with a Charger” holiday-season event for abused and neglected children, and in April 2010, he and San Diego Padres’ closer Heath Bell co-chaired the 10th Annual Celebrity Waiter Luncheon for STAR/PAL (Sports Training, Academics, Recreation/Police Athletic League).

Castillo’s mother is one of his heroes. She was raised in a small village in the Dominican that had no running water or electricity and few educational opportunities. Today, she runs a multimillion-dollar company in New York that imports haircare products from her homeland. Luis hopes that he too can emulate his mom’s success in the business world. In 2007, he returned to his alma mater and enrolled in the NFL’s Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. The four-day program focused on developing and selling a brand and evaluating franchise opportunities. He attended the program with teammate Shaun Phillips.

This offseason, Castillo married longtime girlfriend, Myriam. The newlywed couple honeymooned in Bora Bora.

TRANSACTION HISTORY: First-round pick (28) by Chargers, April 23, 2005…signed five-year contract, July 27...signed new seven-year contract, July 22, 2008.

2010:  Fumble recover Oct. 3 vs. Arizona led to touchdown
for 38-7 lead on very next play.

2009: Led defensive line with 16 quarterback pressures and six quarterback hits...key nine-yard sack late fourth quarter vs. Baltimore Sept. 20.

2008: 1.5 sacks at Oakland Sept 28, including 3rd down sack on series after Chargers had taken lead in fourth quarter…injured groin late Week 10 at Pittsburgh and inactive Week 11 vs. Indianapolis…chased down Antonio Bryant for first quarter tackle and forced fumble Week 15 at Tampa Bay…strong
pass rush in fourth quarter led to intentional grounding penalty vs. Jeff Garcia, who was intercepted on next play…intercepted pass in Dec. 28 AFC West-clinching win over Denver.

2007: Eight-yard sack late in second quarter Week 8 at Minnesota forced field goal attempt that Antonio Cromartie would return NFL-record 109 yards for touchdown…left Vikings game in third quarter (ankle)…inactive Weeks 9-14…returned Week 15 vs. Denver on ESPN Monday Night Football Dec. 24 and collected second-quarter sack on 3rd-and-9…sack and tackle for loss in Wild Card win vs. Tennessee...helped ice game with 3rd-down sack in fourth...sacked Tom Brady in AFC Championship Game at New England.

2006: Pro Bowl second-alternate…1.5 sacks Sept. 11 at Oakland and vs. Pittsburgh Oct. 8…first-career interception at San Francisco Oct. 15…fumble recovery late in fourth quarter Oct. 22 at Kansas City set up game-tying
touchdown...injured ankle Nov. 5 vs. Cleveland and inactive Weeks 9-12…came back Week 13 vs. Denver and was only going to see limited action, but pressed into duty when Jacques Cesaire left with neck injury…in fourth quarter, sacked Jay Cutler for eight-yard loss on 4th-and-2…five plays later, LaDainian Tomlinson scored NFL record-tying 28th touchdown…re-injured ankle Week. 14 vs. Kansas City and inactive Weeks 15-16…returned to start Divisional Playoffs vs. New England and pressured Tom Brady into throwing
third quarter interception.

2005: All-Rookie by NFL.com, Pro Football Weekly and Professional Football Writers of America…1.5 sacks in win over Kansas City Oct. 30, including late fourth quarter sack on 3rd down at Chargers’ three…second quarter sack and forced fumble Nov. 20 vs. Buffalo…three-yard sack on 3rd-and-21 with 3:10 in fourth quarter at Indianapolis Dec. 18 moved Colts out of field goal range and forced punt to preserve 19-17 lead…two plays after Colts punt, Chargers sealed victory on 83-yard touchdown run…Chargers Alumni Player of Week after three tackles for loss at Kansas City Dec. 24.

COLLEGE: All-America, Academic All-America, All-Big Ten, Academic All-Big Ten and Academic All-District…school’s Carnig Minasian Citizenship Award…United Auto Workers Lineman of Game after 2003 Motor City Bowl…finished career with 251 TT, 4.5 sacks, and 19.5 TFL…played at Northwestern from 2001-04…degree in economics.

PERSONAL: Born in Brooklyn, New York…SuperPrep All-America at Garfield (NJ) HS…all-state and all-county as junior and senior by AP and Newark Star-Ledger…three-time all-league…captain and team MVP as senior…lettered in track...state’s top heavyweight wrestler…member of Math Honor Society, National Honor Society and Honor Roll.