Olin Kreutz
Encyclopedia
Olin George Kreutz is an American football
center
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears
in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft
. He played college football
for Washington
.
Kreutz has also played for the New Orleans Saints
.
. He attended football powerhouse Saint Louis School
in Honolulu, Hawaii
where he lettered in football under coach Cal Lee. He also excelled in wrestling and track and field. He received All-State and SuperPrep All-America honors while serving as football team captain during his senior year, and would additionally go on to win the Hawaii State Wrestling Heavyweight Championship.
, where he played football
under the coaching of Jim Lambright
. Olin earned Pac-10
honors during his junior year, after which he elected to turn pro.
The Chicago Bears drafted Kreutz in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft
. Over his twelve year career, Kreutz has been selected to six Pro Bowl
s, and was one of the team's most consistent offensive linemen. In an incident eerily reminiscent of his college days, Kreutz drew controversy during the 2005 NFL season
after breaking the jaw of fellow offensive lineman Fred Miller during an off-practice outing. The NFL fined both players $50,000. On October 2006, Kreutz was signed to a three year contract extension through the 2010 season. In 2007, Kreutz was appointed as one of the team's captains.
In 2011, Kreutz chose to end his career with the Chicago Bears after turning down an offer of $4 million for one year. Kreutz was the longest tenured Bears members at the time he left the organization.
for a one year $2 million contract with an additional $2 million in incentives. Kreutz played in four of the Saints' first six games, missing the other two with a knee injury. He then decided to leave the team, saying that he had lost his "passion" for the game; the Saints were reportedly planning to move him to the "left team" list. He was waived after leaving the squad on October 22.
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...
center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round of 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...
. 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...
for Washington
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
.
Kreutz has also played for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
.
Early years
Kreutz is the youngest of four sons born to Henry Kreutz, Jr., of Aina HainaAina Haina, Hawaii
Āina Haina is an unincorporated town of the City & County of Honolulu in the state of Hawaii of the United States. Located on the island of Oahu, Āina Haina is a residential community developed around Kalanianaole Highway east of Waikīkī and Diamond Head. Āina Haina was named after local dairyman...
. He attended football powerhouse Saint Louis School
Saint Louis School
Saint Louis School, located in the town of Kaimuki in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a historic Roman Catholic college preparatory school for boys founded in 1846 to serve the needs of early Hawaiian Catholics in the former Kingdom of Hawaii...
in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
where he lettered in football under coach Cal Lee. He also excelled in wrestling and track and field. He received All-State and SuperPrep All-America honors while serving as football team captain during his senior year, and would additionally go on to win the Hawaii State Wrestling Heavyweight Championship.
College career
After graduating, Kreutz attended the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, where he played 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...
under the coaching of Jim Lambright
Jim Lambright
James "Jim" Lambright is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Washington for six seasons from 1993 to 1998, compiling a record of 44–25–1...
. Olin earned Pac-10
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
honors during his junior year, after which he elected to turn pro.
Chicago Bears
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...
. Over his twelve year career, Kreutz has been selected to six Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s, and was one of the team's most consistent offensive linemen. In an incident eerily reminiscent of his college days, Kreutz drew controversy during the 2005 NFL season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
after breaking the jaw of fellow offensive lineman Fred Miller during an off-practice outing. The NFL fined both players $50,000. On October 2006, Kreutz was signed to a three year contract extension through the 2010 season. In 2007, Kreutz was appointed as one of the team's captains.
In 2011, Kreutz chose to end his career with the Chicago Bears after turning down an offer of $4 million for one year. Kreutz was the longest tenured Bears members at the time he left the organization.
New Orleans Saints
On August 5, 2011, Kreutz signed with the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
for a one year $2 million contract with an additional $2 million in incentives. Kreutz played in four of the Saints' first six games, missing the other two with a knee injury. He then decided to leave the team, saying that he had lost his "passion" for the game; the Saints were reportedly planning to move him to the "left team" list. He was waived after leaving the squad on October 22.