Chester Pitts
Encyclopedia
Chester Morise Pitts II (born June 26, 1979 in Inglewood, California
) is an American football
offensive lineman, currently a free agent in the NFL. He played college football
at San Diego State University
. Pitts was the focus of the NFL SuperAd commercial shown during Super Bowl XLII
relating the story of how his career began.
in Carson, California
. His school did not have a football program, so he competed in shot put
and discus
on the track and field
team and won All-League honors and set several school records.
, and he worked bagging groceries at a Ralph's supermarket
. After a chance encounter with Kyle Turley
(and later Ephraim Salaam
), Pitts joined the university football team as a freshman walk-on. Upon dominating future Pro-Bowler Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
in practice he was awarded a scholarship. As a sophomore, he saw action in nine games and graded out at 93% for blocking consistency, made 60 knockdown blocks, and allowed only 1 sack throughout his sophomore season. He started for two seasons before being drafted by the Houston Texans
in the second round, 50th overall pick.
by the Houston Texans
. He started every game during his first seven seasons with the Texans, either at left guard or left tackle. During his last season with the team in 2009, Pitts only played in two games, both of which he started. In his last game that season, Pitts injured his right knee, ending his season and later requiring microfracture surgery.
Pitts signed with Seattle as a free agent before the start of the 2010 NFL season, but was not able to recover enough from his off-season surgery to play in the season opener. Pitts appeared in 7 games, starting 5 of them and made the playoffs for the first time in 2010.
, the NFL aired a commercial starring Pitts and Texans teammate Ephraim Salaam
. In it, Pitts and Salaam reminisce about Salaam discovering Pitts, "this big guy," bagging groceries at a store near San Diego State University
, which they both attended. Pitts, a devoted oboist
who had never played organized football, was convinced by Salaam to join the school's football team
and performed so well that he would be drafted by the Houston Texans
in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft
, while Salaam was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
in the seventh round in the 1998 NFL Draft
.The music during the commercial, Bach
's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
, was played by Pitts.
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive lineman, currently a free agent in the NFL. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
. Pitts was the focus of the NFL SuperAd commercial shown during Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
relating the story of how his career began.
High School Years
Pitts attended the California Academy of Mathematics and ScienceCalifornia Academy of Mathematics and Science
The California Academy of Mathematics and Science is a public magnet high school in Carson, California, United States focusing on science and mathematics...
in Carson, California
Carson, California
Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city....
. His school did not have a football program, so he competed in shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
and discus
Discus
Discus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
on the track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
team and won All-League honors and set several school records.
College career
Pitts attended San Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, and he worked bagging groceries at a Ralph's supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
. After a chance encounter with Kyle Turley
Kyle Turley
Kyle John Turley is a former American football offensive tackle of the National Football League, and current American recording artist. He was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints seventh overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at San Diego State.In addition to the...
(and later Ephraim Salaam
Ephraim Salaam
Ephraim Mateen Salaam is an American football Offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
), Pitts joined the university football team as a freshman walk-on. Upon dominating future Pro-Bowler Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Muhammed-Kabeer Olanrewaju Gbaja-Biamila , commonly referred to as "KGB", is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
in practice he was awarded a scholarship. As a sophomore, he saw action in nine games and graded out at 93% for blocking consistency, made 60 knockdown blocks, and allowed only 1 sack throughout his sophomore season. He started for two seasons before being drafted by the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round, 50th overall pick.
Professional career
Pitts was drafted in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
by the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He started every game during his first seven seasons with the Texans, either at left guard or left tackle. During his last season with the team in 2009, Pitts only played in two games, both of which he started. In his last game that season, Pitts injured his right knee, ending his season and later requiring microfracture surgery.
Pitts signed with Seattle as a free agent before the start of the 2010 NFL season, but was not able to recover enough from his off-season surgery to play in the season opener. Pitts appeared in 7 games, starting 5 of them and made the playoffs for the first time in 2010.
In popular culture
During Super Bowl XLIISuper Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
, the NFL aired a commercial starring Pitts and Texans teammate Ephraim Salaam
Ephraim Salaam
Ephraim Mateen Salaam is an American football Offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
. In it, Pitts and Salaam reminisce about Salaam discovering Pitts, "this big guy," bagging groceries at a store near San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, which they both attended. Pitts, a devoted oboist
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
who had never played organized football, was convinced by Salaam to join the school's football team
San Diego State Aztecs football
The San Diego State football team represents the San Diego State Aztecs in college football. The Aztecs, a Division I FBS team and a member of the Mountain West Conference, play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The field is natural grass and has a maximum capacity of...
and performed so well that he would be drafted by the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
, while Salaam was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the seventh round in the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
.The music during the commercial, Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
Brandenburg concertos
The Brandenburg concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach are a collection of six instrumental works presented by Bach to Christian Ludwig, margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, in 1721 . They are widely regarded as among the finest musical compositions of the Baroque era...
, was played by Pitts.