Ryan Lilja

Ryan Matthew Lilja (born October 15, 1981) is a former American football center and guard. He played college football at Kansas State, and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004, and later played with them from 2010 to 2012. Lilja also played with the Indianapolis Colts from 2004 to 2009, with whom he won Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears.

Ryan Lilja
refer to caption
Lilja with the Colts during
Super Bowl XLIV in 2010
No. 65
Position:Center / Guard
Personal information
Born: (1981-10-15) October 15, 1981
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:290 lb (132 kg)
Career information
High school:Shawnee Mission (KS) Northwest
College:Kansas State
Undrafted:2004
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:111
Games started:104
Fumbles recovered:1
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Ryan and his brothers were raised in Kansas City.[1] Lilja attended Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and was a student and a letterman in football and golf. In football, he was a three-year starter.

College career

He was a two-year starter at Coffeyville Community College before he transferred to Kansas State University, where he was a two-year player who started 14 of 23 career games. Lilja was named to the second-team All-Big Twelve squad in 2003.

Professional career

First stint with Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs signed Lilja as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2004 season. He was waived on September 5, 2004,[2] with the intention of signing him to the practice squad if he cleared waivers.

Indianapolis Colts

On September 6, 2004, Lilja was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts soon after the Chiefs waived him.

The Colts re-signed Lilja on February 19, 2008, to a five-year deal worth $20 million.

Lilja was released on March 8, 2010.[3] He started 59 of 66 games for them and two Super Bowls.

Second stint with Chiefs

On March 16, 2010, Lilja re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.[4]

Denver Broncos

After announcing his retirement on December 31, 2012, Lilja agreed to terms to join the Denver Broncos on July 31, 2013.[5] He was released on August 31, 2013.

References
  1. "Chiefs Bring Back Local NFL Player Ryan Lilja". Kansas City News. December 18, 2010.
  2. Chiefs Sign Casey Wiegmann
  3. "Colts release". Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2010-03-08.
  4. "Former Colts lineman inks with Chiefs". Archived from the original on 2010-03-22. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  5. Caldwell, Gray (July 31, 2013). "Broncos Agree to Terms with Lilja". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
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