Pittsburgh Steelers legend announces retirement
Pittsburgh Steelers faithful will always have a special place in their hearts for Alejandro Villanueva, who has one of the most remarkable stories in the history of the NFL.
On Wednesday, just a year removed from signing a two-year $14 million contract, Villanueva announced he’s stepping away from the NFL.
Before getting noticed by Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin due to his massive physical stature, Villanueva served five years in the United States Army from 2010 to 2015 where he rose to the rank of captain and was awarded a Bronze Star for his bravery as a rifle platoon leader in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afganistan. He deployed to Afganistan two more times during his military career.
On August 21, 2014, during a pre-season game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Villanueva was spotted by Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin, who was impressed with his size and athleticism. Eight days after he was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to their practice squad. Upon joining his new team, he was immediately changed from a defensive end to an offensive tackle, as it was thought to better suit him.
Due to injuries along the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line in 2015, the former Army Black Knights player — who held several positions while in college — saw his first NFL action. Villanueva continued to play left tackle and started the last 12 games of the Steelers’ season, including two playoffs games. In his first season as a starter, he was ranked the 48th best offensive tackle by Pro Football Focus with an overall grade of 47.5
After cementing his role as the Steelers starting left tackle in 2016, Villanueva put together another impressive season. On July 27, 2017, Villanueva signed a four-year, $24 million contract extension with the Steelers.