Justin Strzelczyk
1998 Steelers profile photo
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| No. 73 | |||
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth: | August 18, 1968 | ||
| Place of birth: | West Seneca, New York | ||
| Date of death: | September 30, 2004 (aged 36) | ||
| Place of death: | Herkimer, New York | ||
| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||
| Weight: | 305 lb (138 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | West Seneca West (NY) | ||
| College: | Maine | ||
| NFL Draft: | 1990 / Round: 11 / Pick: 293 | ||
| Career history | |||
| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
| Player stats at NFL.com |
Justin Conrad Strzelczyk (August 18, 1968 – September 30, 2004) was an American football offensive tackle who played nine full seasons in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1990 to 1998. His death, at age 36, helped spark a debate in the NFL about the link between playing football and suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Strzelczyk was born and grew up in West Seneca, New York. His father Connie "Big Bird" Strzelczyk was a 6-foot-4 basketball standout played at Montana State University, from 1958 to 1960. He later returned to Buffalo where he became a school teacher and a painting contractor in the summer breaks. His father and mother, Mary Joyce, separated when Strzelczyk was 7. Mary Joyce later called Strzelczyk's father a "tremendous influence" in sports. Growing up Strzelczyk played hockey, football, and basketball. He also was a baseball pitcher until shoulder pain prevented him from throwing anymore.
He attended West Seneca West Senior High School and was a local basketball star. As a 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) forward, Strzelczyk averaged 21 points a game as a junior and 22 as a senior, earning all-Western New York honors. Despite his love for football, Strzelczyk was to set on playing basketball in college. However Strzelczyk's dad, who had played college basketball only to end up teaching, convinced him that he had a better future in football.
On October 16, 2009, West Seneca West High School retired Strzelczyk's football jersey #46. He was a member of the high school's graduating class of 1986.
Strzelczyk went on to play football at the University of Maine. The school won two Yankee Conference titles, during Strzelczyk's time on the team. Teammates stated that he hated steroids and made his weight through eating and weight-lifting. He was given the nickname "Jughead", after the Archie comics character. In January 1990, he played in the East-West Shrine Game held in California. There he impressed then-Steelers coach, Chuck Noll, who drafted Strzelczyk in the 11th round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
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