Alejandro Villanueva Military - Army captain and Pittsburgh offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva talks about his time in Afghanistan and how he balances his military responsibilities with his NFL career.
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The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. For the best viewing experience, it is highly recommended that you use the latest supported browser versions. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Baltimore Ravens starting offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva is ready to enter his seventh season in the NFL. His journey from Mississippi native to two-time Pro Bowler took a lot of hard work and perseverance, but Villanueva gets the job done.
Villanueva was born at Meridian Naval Air Station in Meridian, Mississippi on September 22, 1988. His father, Ignacio, was an officer in the Spanish Navy and served there while working for NATO. Ignacio Villanueva's service took his family to Rhode Island, Belgium and back to Spain. Along the way, young Alejandro learned to play rugby with the children of other NATO officers.
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He attended high school in Belgium at the Department of Defense's SHAPE High School for DoD Dependents. There he learned to play American football. After graduation, he applied for admission to the US West Point Academy.
While playing for the Army Black Knights, Villanueva started or alternated at several positions on the field, including left guard, defensive line and wide receiver, but was recruited as a linebacker. If you know anything about soccer, it's that there's a pretty wide range of talent and athletic ability.
Despite his size and athleticism, Villanueva was suspended from the Black Knights football team for four years by Army and Navy. After being commissioned as a second lieutenant, he entered the 2010 NFL Draft. At the time, the policy allowed collegiate athletes to play professional sports before their service obligations ended, as long as they received a waiver.
Under President Donald Trump, the Department of Defense changed the rules for academic athletes in 2019. They can now defer service with the approval of the Secretary of Defense or receive US government reimbursement for their education.
Army Black Knights Wide Receiver Alejandro Villanueva (82) Catching The First Pass By Army During The Ncaa Football Game Between The Army Black Knights And The Temple Owls At Lincoln Financial Field
But Villanueva didn't want to back down. He went undrafted in 2010, then tried out for the tight end spot with the Cincinnati Bengals but was not selected. Their loss. In the same year, Villanueva began his career. Villanueva became "Lt. V." his soldiers. The Afghans in their field of operations referred to him as "the giant".
He served three tours in Afghanistan, but after the first tour ended, Villanueva tried to rejoin the NFL team. This time he worked out with the Chicago Bears. He didn't make the team in Chicago either, but that was okay. He was still fulfilling his West Point service obligations.
After two more tours in Afghanistan, Villanueva returned to the United States, ready to give everything he had to the NFL. He had no trainer, coach or agent. But he was determined to continue what he wanted. He put in the work. He paid to attend the regional combine in Georgia to show the NFL what he can do. His investment of time and money (he paid more than $400 to attend the Georgia combine) paid off. He was one of 240 prospects invited to the Super Regional Combine in Detroit.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed him in 2014 to play defensive end. If he didn't make the team, he would have gone back to Afghanistan. Although he was cut by the Eagles later that year, the Pittsburgh Steelers saw his potential during a preseason game with the Eagles. When Philadelphia cut him, Pittsburgh scooped him up.
Alejandro Villanueva Retires From Nfl After Steelers Ravens Army Career
Pittsburgh Steeler Alejandro Villanueva, second from left, plays the football against the Cleveland Browns in 2019. (US Army)
As a member of the Steelers, Villanueva remained on the practice squad for his first season. He met and learned this position. He made his first NFL appearance in the Steelers' 2015 home game against the New England Patriots.
By the end of the 2016 season, Villanueva was the starting left tackle, finished the season as the NFL's 23rd-best player at the position and helped lead Pittsburgh to the playoffs. Like his 6-foot-9, 320-pound frame, his reputation and skill in the game only grew. In 2017, the Steelers signed Villanueva to a four-year contract and became the first service academy graduate selected to the Pro Bowl since Roger Staubach in 1979.
After the Steelers did not sign Villanueva in 2021, the rival Ravens picked him up on a two-year, $14 million deal.
Alejandro Villanueva Salute To Service Mens Pittsburgh Steelers Camo Jersey
- Blake Stilwell is a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals and has watched Alejandro Villanueva destroy the Bengals in almost every meeting. He can be reached at blake.stilwell@. You can also find him on Twitter @blaketilwell or Facebook.
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