Alan Faneca

Alan Faneca, a 6’4”, 322-pound guard out of LSU, was drafted in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After seeing limited action in his first game, the left guard’s playing time increased over the next several games. He was inserted into the starting lineup in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals and helped the Steelers offense compile 257 yards on the ground that day. He missed only two starts for the remainder of his 206-game career.

Faneca earned All-Rookie acclaim that season after he opened many running lanes for future Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis who ran for 1,185 yards.

In 2001, Faneca’s skills helped the Steelers’ produce the 3rd ranked total offense, a 13-3 record and their first division title in four years. He helped the Steelers post 10-plus wins five times including regular season records of 13-3 (2001) and 15-1 (2004).

In all, Faneca won four division titles and earned one Wild Card berth with the Steelers and added a sixth career playoff appearance with the New York Jets in 2009.

Faneca started 14 playoff games including four AFC championship games and a Steelers victory in Super Bowl XL.

He earned his first Pro Bowl honor following the 2001 season which began a string of nine straight Pro Bowl nominations (2002-2010). Faneca was named first- or second-team All-Pro eight straight times and was named All-AFC seven times (2001-07).

Faneca was a mauler in the run game and he helped his team secure 11 top 10 rankings in run offense during his 13 seasons in the NFL. He blocked for nine 1,000-yard rushers, five 3,000-yard passers and is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s.