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Ryan Lilja
Ryan Lilja
Ryan Lilja
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Ryan Matthew Lilja (born October 15, 1981) is an American former professional football player who was a center and guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats, 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.

Key Information

Early life

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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

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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

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Kansas City Chiefs (first stint)

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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

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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.

Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)

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

Denver Broncos

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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

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ryan Lilja

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Ryan Lilja is an American former professional football player known for his career as an offensive guard and center in the National Football League (NFL), most notably with the Indianapolis Colts where he started on the offensive line protecting quarterback Peyton Manning during the team's Super Bowl XLI victory following the 2006 season. Born on October 15, 1981, in the Kansas City area, Lilja grew up in Lake Quivira, Kansas, and attended Shawnee Mission Northwest High School before playing college football at Kansas State University. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2004, initially signing with the Kansas City Chiefs before being claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts, where he developed into a reliable starter at left guard. Over his tenure with the Colts through 2009, Lilja contributed to a strong offensive line that supported consistent team success, including a second Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season, though the team lost that game. Lilja later returned to his hometown area to play for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2010 to 2012 before announcing his retirement at the end of the 2012 season. He briefly came out of retirement in 2013 to join the Denver Broncos but was released before the regular season began. Across his NFL career, Lilja established himself as a durable and versatile lineman who helped anchor offensive units for multiple teams.

Early life and education

Birth and family background

Ryan Lilja was born on October 15, 1981, in Kansas City, Missouri. Some profiles list Lake Quivira, Kansas, as his place of origin or residence during his early years. No detailed public information is available regarding his parents, siblings, or extended family background.

High school and early football exposure

Ryan Lilja attended Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Shawnee, Kansas, where he played football and golf. He graduated from the school in 2000. Details about his specific performance, position, or achievements during his high school football career remain limited in public sources, with available information confirming only his participation in the sport at that level. Growing up in nearby Lake Quivira, Kansas, part of the Kansas City metropolitan area known for its strong youth and high school sports programs, Lilja's involvement in football at Shawnee Mission Northwest represented his initial exposure to competitive play.

Junior college

After high school, Lilja attended Coffeyville Community College, where he played football and was a two-year starter before transferring to Kansas State University.

College career

Coffeyville Community College

Ryan Lilja played football at Coffeyville Community College, a junior college in Coffeyville, Kansas, where he competed as an offensive lineman. He was a two-year starter on the offensive line during his time there, building foundational experience at the guard position before seeking to continue his career at a four-year program. Detailed statistics from his junior college tenure are limited in public records, reflecting the typical availability of data from that level of competition.

Kansas State Wildcats

Ryan Lilja transferred to Kansas State University after his time at Coffeyville Community College and played offensive guard for the Kansas State Wildcats in 2002 and 2003. As a junior in 2002, he appeared in nine games as a backup offensive lineman and contributed to an offense that established single-season school records with 3,433 rushing yards, 264.1 rushing yards per game, and 5.2 yards per carry. In his senior season of 2003, Lilja started most games at left guard for the Wildcats, serving as a key member of an offensive line that supported a powerful rushing attack. His blocking helped running back Darren Sproles lead the nation in rushing with 1,986 yards and an average of approximately 141.9 yards per game. The team finished the season with a strong overall offense, scoring 549 points across 14 games for an average of 36.6 points per game. Lilja also received academic recognition during his time at Kansas State, earning first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2002 and selection to the 2003 Academic All-District VII Football Team (University Division) by CoSIDA with a 3.604 GPA while pursuing double majors in finance and pre-law. After his college career, Lilja signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004.

Professional NFL career

Kansas City Chiefs (2004)

Ryan Lilja signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2004, after going unselected in the NFL Draft. He joined the team as an offensive lineman capable of playing guard or center positions. Lilja was waived by the Chiefs on September 5, 2004, during final roster reductions before the regular season began. He did not appear in any regular season games during his brief time with Kansas City in 2004. He was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts on September 6, 2004.

Indianapolis Colts (2004–2009)

Lilja appeared in 7 games with 6 starts as a rookie in 2004 after joining the Colts in September. In 2005, he started all 16 regular-season games at left guard. He became a key member of the Indianapolis Colts' offensive line in 2006, appearing in 11 games (5 starts) and contributing to the team's protection of quarterback Peyton Manning. He helped the Colts achieve a strong performance that culminated in their victory in Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears in February 2007. Lilja followed up with a full season in 2007, appearing in all 16 regular-season games and starting all 16. He suffered a significant knee injury that caused him to miss the entire 2008 season. Returning in 2009, Lilja regained his starting role and started all 16 games, providing reliable blocking as the Colts advanced to Super Bowl XLIV, where they lost to the New Orleans Saints. His tenure with the Colts included two Super Bowl appearances, with a championship win in Super Bowl XLI.

Kansas City Chiefs (2010–2012)

Lilja signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 16, 2010. He started all 15 games in 2010 at right guard, all 15 in 2011 at left guard, and all 15 in 2012 at center. He announced his retirement on December 31, 2012.

Career highlights and achievements

Ryan Lilja compiled a solid nine-year NFL career as an offensive lineman, appearing in 111 regular season games and starting 104 of them. His contributions were reflected in a Weighted Career Approximate Value of 46, according to Pro-Football-Reference, ranking him respectably among players since 1960. The highlight of Lilja's professional tenure was his role in the Indianapolis Colts' championship run, culminating in a victory in Super Bowl XLI following the 2006 season. He did not receive any Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections during his career, a common outcome for interior offensive linemen absent elite individual performance metrics. Lilja last played in the 2012 season.

Retirement and post-NFL life

Retirement announcement and immediate aftermath

On December 31, 2012, veteran offensive lineman Ryan Lilja announced his retirement from the NFL, one day after the Kansas City Chiefs concluded their 2-14 season with a 38-3 loss to the Denver Broncos. At age 31, Lilja cited physical wear and tear as primary factors, stating he had "hit a wall" and that his body was signaling it was time to stop playing. He had entered the 2012 season anticipating it would be his last, compounded by injuries including a nagging back issue that caused him to miss one game while adapting to center after playing guard throughout most of his career. Lilja expressed readiness to move on, saying he was prepared to "shut it down and move on with my life" after building strong relationships in the league. Chiefs right tackle Eric Winston praised Lilja's professionalism, noting that both the organization and locker room would miss his presence. The retirement initially appeared final, as Lilja planned to become a free agent following the season and showed no immediate reconsideration. In July 2013, however, Lilja reversed his decision and agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos to provide experienced depth at center amid injuries to other linemen, reuniting him with former Colts teammate Peyton Manning. His return proved brief; the Broncos released him on August 31, 2013, during final roster cuts, after knee issues prevented him from securing a starting role. Lilja did not appear in any regular-season games after 2012, marking the effective conclusion of his playing career.

Activities after football

Following his release by the Denver Broncos on August 31, 2013, marking the end of his professional football career, Ryan Lilja has maintained a relatively low public profile. Public information about his subsequent pursuits is limited but includes work in financial services and youth sports coaching. Lilja is a Partner at Canvas Wealth Advisors, a wealth management firm in Kansas City. He has also coached youth tackle football, serving as head coach of a fifth-grade team that includes his son. He has participated in occasional community events in the Kansas City area, including presenting a special Wilson golden football to his alma mater, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, in 2016 as part of the NFL’s Super Bowl 50 recognition program for high schools that produced Super Bowl players. Lilja has also made occasional media appearances as a former player.

Media and television appearances

Appearances as himself in NFL broadcasts

Ryan Lilja has credits as himself in various NFL-related television broadcasts, as listed on IMDb. These include 29 episodes of The NFL on CBS (2004–2012), where he appears as Self - Indianapolis Colts Guard, Self - Kansas City Chiefs Guard, and Self - Kansas City Chiefs Center. Additional credits include NFL on FOX (3 episodes, 2007–2010) as Self - Indianapolis Colts Guard or Self - Kansas City Chiefs Guard, NFL Monday Night Football (5 episodes, 2005–2009) as Self - Indianapolis Colts Guard, ESPN's Sunday Night Football (1 episode, 2005) as Self - Indianapolis Colts Guard, NFL Thursday Night Football (1 episode, 2007) as Self - Indianapolis Colts Guard, and Super Bowl XLIV (2010 TV Special) as Self - Indianapolis Colts Starting Guard. These credits reflect his presence in televised NFL game broadcasts during his playing career with the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs, beginning in 2004. No other media or television appearances are documented in available sources.

Personal life

Family and residence

Ryan Lilja resides in the Kansas City metropolitan area, where he was born in Lake Quivira, Kansas. During his playing career, he maintained close ties to the region and in 2010 purchased a new offseason home in Lake Quivira next to his brother's property, enabling him to spend time with family members who live nearby, including his mother across the lake in his childhood home. Lilja has emphasized the importance of family proximity during offseasons as a source of personal support. He is married to Jessica Lilja, and as of 2018, they have three children: Annabelle, Mark, and Juliette. They reside in the Kansas City area.

Other personal details

Ryan Lilja is listed at a height of 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and a weight of 290 pounds (132 kg) during his NFL career. These measurements were recorded consistently across official player profiles and were standard for an interior offensive lineman in the league at the time. Limited verified information is available regarding other non-professional aspects of his personal life, such as hobbies or interests outside of football and family.

References

  1. https://www.nfl.com/news/offensive-lineman-ryan-lilja-announces-his-retirement-0ap1000000120473
  2. https://smnw.com/3336/uncategorized/q-a-with-ryan-lilja/
  3. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/8313/ryan-lilja
  4. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/5713/ryan-lilja/
  5. https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/player/ryan-lilja-12352/bio
  6. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LiljRy20.htm
  7. https://imdb.com/name/nm3161932/
  8. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/bio/_/id/8313/ryan-lilja
  9. https://www.coffeyville.edu/alumni-and-friends/news/1645152/ryan-lilja-to-be-honored-as-cccs-2018-distinguished-alumnus
  10. https://247sports.com/player/ryan-lilja-51641/
  11. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kansas-state/2002.html
  12. https://www.kstatesports.com/news/2003/11/13/5583d867e4b06b726e6636f8_131478205176942024
  13. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/darren-sproles-1.html
  14. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kansas-state/2003.html
  15. https://www.kansascity.com/sports/high-school/article59893376.html
  16. https://www.nfl.com/players/ryan-lilja/stats/career
  17. https://www.colts.com/news/back-in-the-big-game-5193998
  18. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/8796887/kansas-city-chiefs-lineman-ryan-lilja-announces-retirement
  19. https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2012/12/31/3822410/ryan-lilja-retire-chiefs
  20. https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-agree-to-terms-with-lilja-10641432
  21. https://www.nfl.com/news/ryan-lilja-denver-broncos-agree-to-1-year-contract-0ap1000000224283
  22. https://www.nfl.com/news/ryan-lilja-released-by-denver-broncos-after-short-stint-0ap1000000237005
  23. https://canvaswealthadvisors.com
  24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqyBO60vL6Y
  25. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3161932/
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