David Diehl
Encyclopedia
David Diehl is an American football
offensive guard with the New York Giants
of the National Football League
and is one of only two offensive lineman who entered the NFL in 2003
to start all 80 regular season games through the end of the 2008
season.
, Illinois
on September 15, 1980. He is of Croatian descent on his mother side, and of German
descent on his father side. When he was younger Diehl frequently visited, with his family, local Croatian churches and emigrant clubs in Chicago. Strong bonds with Croatian-Americans have been proved when he continued with that habit even after he moved to New Jersey, where local Croatian community often have him as a visitor.
selection as a senior in 2002. Recipient of the Wright Commitment to Excellence Award, presented to the Illinois player who has dedicated himself to academic excellence despite obstacles faced during his collegiate career. Started every game at left offensive guard, registering 91 knockdowns for an offense that featured its first 1,000-yard rusher (Antoineo Harris) and 1,000-yard receiver (Brandon Lloyd) in the same season since 1984. Helped offense total 5,356 yards. In 2001, saw action at both guard and tackle. Registered 56 knockdowns as he participated in 385 plays for an offense that gained 5,041 yards as the line allowed only 16 quarterback sacks (second in the Big Ten). In 2000, was valuable reserve, seeing action in every game at right guard. Made 15 knockdowns as he participated in 43 plays. In 1999: Played in 6 games on the field goal and extra point protection units. Redshirted as a freshman in 1998.
, and was the 160th overall selection. Diehl has played multiple positions on the offensive line.
In his rookie season, Diehl started all 16 games, becoming the first Giants rookie to do so since Mark Bavaro in 1985. He was one of 14 NFL rookies to start all 16 games in 2003 and was the only rookie to start at the same position each game during the 2003 season
In 2005, Diehl played yet another position, starting 15 regular season games at left guard and 1 game at right tackle. That season, Tiki Barber
rushed for a franchise-record 1,860 yards, and Eli Manning
passed for 3,762 yards, the 5th-highest total in franchise history.
The Giants signed Diehl to a six-year, $31 million contract in May 2008.
At the end of the 2009 season, Diehl was elected to the 2010 Pro Bowl as a Super Bowl Participant replacement.
Diehl was moved from left tackle to left guard following the release of Rich Seubert
and Shaun O'Hara
and the signing of David Baas
.
His Croat
origins are from his maternal grandparents. His grandfather, Ante Bekavac, emigrated to United States from Lovreć
in Croatia
, while his grandmother (born Semanić) is from Croatian islands. Thanks to his grandmother, Diehl was raised in Croatian spirit; he wanted to represent his Croatian descent through a tattoo of the Croatian coat of arms
on his left arm. Diehl stated that his favorite tattoo is his Croatian coat of arms. He visited Croatia in June and July 2011, in search for his roots.
Diehl played at the University of Illinois, and is a fan of the university's former symbol, Chief Illiniwek. During player introductions on TV, he states his school as "University of Chief Illiniwek." He also has an image of Chief Illiniwek tattooed on his arm.
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 guard with the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and is one of only two offensive lineman who entered the NFL in 2003
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
to start all 80 regular season games through the end of the 2008
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
season.
Early life
Diehl was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
on September 15, 1980. He is of Croatian descent on his mother side, and of German
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
descent on his father side. When he was younger Diehl frequently visited, with his family, local Croatian churches and emigrant clubs in Chicago. Strong bonds with Croatian-Americans have been proved when he continued with that habit even after he moved to New Jersey, where local Croatian community often have him as a visitor.
High school career
Diehl attended Brother Rice High School in Chicago, where he starred for the football, wrestling, and track teams. Also attended St. Linus Grammar school in Oak Lawn, IllinoisOak Lawn, Illinois
Oak Lawn is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 55,245 at the 2000 census.Oak Lawn is a suburb of the city of Chicago, located southwest of the city...
College career
Second-team All-Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
selection as a senior in 2002. Recipient of the Wright Commitment to Excellence Award, presented to the Illinois player who has dedicated himself to academic excellence despite obstacles faced during his collegiate career. Started every game at left offensive guard, registering 91 knockdowns for an offense that featured its first 1,000-yard rusher (Antoineo Harris) and 1,000-yard receiver (Brandon Lloyd) in the same season since 1984. Helped offense total 5,356 yards. In 2001, saw action at both guard and tackle. Registered 56 knockdowns as he participated in 385 plays for an offense that gained 5,041 yards as the line allowed only 16 quarterback sacks (second in the Big Ten). In 2000, was valuable reserve, seeing action in every game at right guard. Made 15 knockdowns as he participated in 43 plays. In 1999: Played in 6 games on the field goal and extra point protection units. Redshirted as a freshman in 1998.
Pro career
Diehl was drafted by the Giants in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 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 was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
, and was the 160th overall selection. Diehl has played multiple positions on the offensive line.
In his rookie season, Diehl started all 16 games, becoming the first Giants rookie to do so since Mark Bavaro in 1985. He was one of 14 NFL rookies to start all 16 games in 2003 and was the only rookie to start at the same position each game during the 2003 season
In 2005, Diehl played yet another position, starting 15 regular season games at left guard and 1 game at right tackle. That season, Tiki Barber
Tiki Barber
Atiim Kiambu Hakeem-Ah "Tiki" Barber is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia....
rushed for a franchise-record 1,860 yards, and Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
passed for 3,762 yards, the 5th-highest total in franchise history.
The Giants signed Diehl to a six-year, $31 million contract in May 2008.
At the end of the 2009 season, Diehl was elected to the 2010 Pro Bowl as a Super Bowl Participant replacement.
Diehl was moved from left tackle to left guard following the release of Rich Seubert
Rich Seubert
Rich Seubert is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants out of Western Illinois University in 2001. Seubert lives in Wayne, New Jersey.-High school career:...
and Shaun O'Hara
Shaun O'Hara
Shaun O'Hara is an American football center in the National Football League who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Rutgers University, and has been in the NFL since 2000, having begun his pro career as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns...
and the signing of David Baas
David Baas
David Andrew Baas is an American football Guard/Center for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
.
Personal
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
origins are from his maternal grandparents. His grandfather, Ante Bekavac, emigrated to United States from Lovreć
Lovrec
Lovreć is a municipality in Croatia in the Split-Dalmatia County. It has a population of 2,500 , 100% which are Croats. Nearby Lovreć are a few villages, including, Olujići, Dumancići and Kasumi, Šimundići, Čaljkušići, Bekavci, Milinovići, Nosići, Jelići, Petričevići, Nikolići, Ćorići.- Famous...
in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, while his grandmother (born Semanić) is from Croatian islands. Thanks to his grandmother, Diehl was raised in Croatian spirit; he wanted to represent his Croatian descent through a tattoo of the Croatian coat of arms
Coat of arms of Croatia
The coat of arms of Croatia consists of one main shield and five smaller shields which form a crown over the main shield. The main coat of arms is a checkerboard that consists of 13 red and 12 silver fields. It's commonly known as šahovnica or grb...
on his left arm. Diehl stated that his favorite tattoo is his Croatian coat of arms. He visited Croatia in June and July 2011, in search for his roots.
Diehl played at the University of Illinois, and is a fan of the university's former symbol, Chief Illiniwek. During player introductions on TV, he states his school as "University of Chief Illiniwek." He also has an image of Chief Illiniwek tattooed on his arm.