Players

By the time he hangs up his cleats, Kris Dielman is likely to go down as one of the best guards ever to put on a San Diego Chargers uniform. Already a member of the Chargers’ 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, Dielman has been voted to the last four Pro Bowls, he’s a two-time Associated Press second-team All-Pro, and in 2010 he was selected by teammates as the Chargers’ Lineman of the Year for the third time in his career.

Dielman is old-school, a throwback to the early NFL. He’s missed just three games in the last six seasons and in 2010 he was a key cog in the NFL’s top-ranked offense.

Dielman has been the starting left guard since 2005 and the Chargers have rushed for more than 1,700 yards in five of the six seasons since. He’s also been in the starting lineup for two of the top three single-game rushing performances in team history, including a club-record 289 yards in an AFC West-clinching win over Denver in 2008.

Dielman had one of his finest seasons in 2006 when the Chargers rushed for a team-record 2,578 yards. A year later, he was rewarded with his first Pro Bowl selection after playing an entire season without yielding a sack.

Dielman had added incentive to play well in 2007. An unrestricted free agent following the ’06 season, he passed up a chance to chase riches and start anew in a different NFL city and signed one of the biggest contractsawarded to an offensive lineman in team history.

One of the biggest 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. Today Dielman resides there with wife, Sandi, and son, Reid.

Dielman works closely with the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation (MCLEF), an organization that raises money to provide advanced education for the children of Marines and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Dielman’s father, Mike, an Army veteran, died when Kris was a 17-year-old high school senior, and he has two cousins who served in both the Army and Navy.

Away from football, Dielman enjoys going to San Diego Padres games, or watching NASCAR races, rodeos and ultimate fighting. A regular in the Padres’ clubhouse, Dielman is friends with several current and former Padres, and in 2005 he caught a foul ball at a game. He’s also been to Bristol, Tenn., to sit in the pit area to watch racing live at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Dielman has also met several of NASCAR’s top drivers, including San Diego native and Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Clint Boyer.

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

2010: Pro Bowl starter...Chargers’ co-Lineman of Year...offensive line blocked for 180 yards rushing and allowed just one sack in 22 pass plays in 41-10 win vs. Arizona Oct. 3...inactive Nov. 7 at Houston...offensive line named Madden Most Valuable Protectors after season-high 207 yards rushing in 31-0 win Dec. 12 vs. Kansas City.

2009: Pro Bowl reserve...AP second-team All-Pro...ALL-NFL by Dallas Morning News...helped contribute to 11-game win streak as OL allowed just 11 sacks during stretch and six in last seven games...helped team rush for season-high 203 yards in 32-3 win at DEN Nov. 22 for first-place in AFC West...Game Ball after contributing to 166-yard game in 42-17 win at TEN Dec. 25 to wrap up No. 2 seed in playoffs.

2008: Pro Bowl starter…AP second team All-Pro...All-AFC by PFW and PFWA…OL outstanding vs. NE Wk 6, allowing no sacks, while Philip Rivers threw for 306 yards and three TDs…INA Wk 12 vs. ATL (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 yards rushing in AFC West clinching win over DEN Dec. 28…blocked for 167-yard rushing night in Jan. 5 Wild Card Playoff win over IND, including GW 22-yard TD run in OT.

2007: Pro Bowl...All-NFL by USA Today Sports Weekly…Chargers Lineman of Year...Oct. 7 at DEN, line cleared way for 214-yards rushing...Oct. 14 vs. OAK, DNA sack while anchoring 206-yard rushing performance…blocked for 191 rush yards in 24-10 win at KC Dec. 2, including second-half rush TDs of 31 and 28 yards…line allowed 0 sacks and 274 rush yards vs. DET Dec. 16, then second-highest in team history…OL allowed only one sack in Wild Card win over Tennessee Jan. 6…DNA any sacks in Jan. 13 Divisional Playoff win at IND, 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. TEN Sept. 17…OL anchored 150-yard rushing day Wk. 3 at BAL vs. NFL’s No. 1-ranked run defense (34.3 ypg)…set tone for big day vs. STL Oct. 29 with 216 rush yards...starting five each named Chargers Alumni POWs after 35-27 comeback win at DEN Nov. 19…INA Wk 11 vs. OAK...returned at LG and helped Bolts rush for 197 yards and two TDs in 24-21 win at BUF 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 DEN Sept. 18…permanent move into starting lineup at LG for ESPN SNF game vs. NYG Sept. 25…line paved way for 268 yards rushing vs. Giants, then third-best in team history, and DNA any sacks…Oct. 2 at NE, OL DNA any sacks and helped rush for 183 yards en route to ending NE’s 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 WAS…OL enabled team to rush for 206 yards in 26-17 win at IND Dec. 18.

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

2003: First action as reserve LG Dec. 21 at PIT.

COLLEGE: Two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten…team MVP as senior after leading team with five sacks and 14 TFLs…began career 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.