Olin Kreutz
| No. 57 | |
|---|---|
| Career history | |
| Chicago Bears | |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference |
Olin Kreutz (born June 9, 1977 in Honolulu, Hawaii) is a center and current member of the Chicago Bears in the NFL.
Early years
Kreutz was born in Honolulu to Henry Kreutz and second wife, Laura Kreutz.
High school career
While attending St. Louis High School in Honolulu, Kreutz lettered in football under legendary coach Cal Lee, and also excelled in wrestling and track and field shotput. He served as football team captain during his senior year, and was then selected to All-State and SuperPrep All-America honors. Olin would also go on to win the Hawaii State Wrestling Heavyweight Championship.
College career
After graduating, Kreutz attended the University of Washington, where he excelled in football under the coaching genius of Jim Lambright. Olin easily earned Pac-10 honors during his junior year, at which time he elected to turn pro.
Professional career
Kreutz was drafted in the 1998 NFL Draft 3rd round by the Chicago Bears and continues to established himself as one of the top centers in the NFL. Over the course of his impressive career, Olin has been invited to six Pro Bowls. He and Patrick Mannelly enjoy being the senior players of this seasons's Bears team (2007-2008).
In an incident eerily reminiscent of his college days, Kreutz drew much 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.
In October 2006, Kreutz was nevertheless signed to a three year contract extension, which will likely allow the veteran center to retire with the Bears, and establish for himself a dream career in the windy city.
Personal life
Kreutz has three children with his wife and high-school sweetheart, Wendi Duarte. He lives with his family in Lake Forest, Illinois, and enjoys an occasional visit to their second home in Hawaii during the off-season.