Kris Dielman
Age: 31
Years in NFL: 9
Games: 120
Starts: 97
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Four-time Pro Bowl selection (2007-10)
Two-time All-Pro selection (2008, 2009)
Member, San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary team
If former Troy High School football coach Steve Nolan knew anything about Kris Dielman and his retirement from the San Diego Chargers on Thursday, he knew this:
It was a tough call.
“Kris is a proud guy,” said Nolan, who coached Dielman and keeps in touch. “I know he wants to continue to play. I know he had been going back and forth about this.”
Dielman, a four-time Pro Bowl selection at guard, held a press conference in San Diego with his wife, two young sons and many teammates, including quarterback Philip Rivers, present. He said it’s the right move after he sustained a concussion last season that led the NFL to tell game officials to watch closely for symptoms during games.
“I had nine great years,” said Dielman, who recalled that few thought he would make it past his first training camp after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2003 from Indiana University.
“It just sucks that it has to end this way, but it is. It wasn’t worth what would happen if I would have kept on playing. I’ve got a beautiful family and I want to be around.”
The 320-pound Dielman was staggered by the injury early in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets on Oct. 23. He continued to play because the Chargers were out of offensive linemen due to other injuries. The team didn’t diagnose his condition until after the game. Dielman suffered a grand mal seizure on the flight home and was hospitalized overnight.
Nolan said he spoke with Dielman — who also played basketball at Troy — several times after he was placed on injured reserve.
“He explained the situation to me, which is pretty scary,” Nolan said. “He had a tough go there after that injury.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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