Kris Dielman’s game reached new heights in 2007 as he was selected to play in the 2008 Pro Bowl. Fearing he may never get a chance to play in the NFL’s all-star game due to a ferocious style of play that often infuriates opponents, Dielman earned the utmost respect of his peers in his selection to the Pro Bowl team. It was an enjoyable week as he was joined in Hawaii by the entire Chargers coaching staff.



Dielman’s hard-nosed, physical play in the trenches helped set the tone for the NFL’s seventh-ranked rushing attack in 2007. The Chargers rushed for 2,039 yards and an average of 127.4 yards per game. It included a 274-yard performance against Detroit in December, the second-most prolific rushing day in team history. In 13 of 19 games last season (including playoffs), the Chargers gave up zero or one sack, and three times the Bolts rushed for more than 200 yards. Dielman was a key asset in pass protection and, according to his coaches, did not give up a sack in ’07.



Dielman had added incentive to play well. An unrestricted free agent following the 2006 season, he passed up a chance to chase riches and start anew in a different NFL city and signed one of the biggest contracts ever awarded to an offensive lineman in team history. He chose to follow his heart and signed a new six-year deal to stay with the Chargers through 2012. Team President Dean Spanos played a key role in the Bolts’ push to retain their starting left guard.



Dielman is a throwback. He’s tough and nasty, the kind of player opposing defensive linemen don’t want to face on a Sunday afternoon. Three hours in the trenches against Dielman is like a 15-round heavyweight title fight. A former defensive lineman in college, Kris made the move to the offensive line shortly after joining the Chargers as an undrafted free agent and he hasn’t looked back since.



Dielman moved into the starting lineup in 2005 and a year later he helped the Chargers shatter several offensive records, including points and rushing yards for a season. He and his fellow lineman’s play up front also helped LaDainian Tomlinson score an NFL-record 31 touchdowns en route to winning NFL Most Valuable Player honors.



One of the reasons Dielman elected to stay in San Diego is that the 27-year-old Ohio native owns a home in the hillsides surrounding Pacific Beach. The house offers a stunning panoramic view of San Diego from the La Jolla coast to Mexico. Living just a hop-skip-and-a-jump from the beach, one of Dielman’s favorite pastimes is riding his beach cruiser along the boardwalk that connects Pacific Beach and Mission Beach. A regular on the Mission Beach scene, Dielman has been invited to serve as a judge in the Miss Mission Beach Contest in May 2008.



Another reason he chose to stay is the cadre of friends that he has made in San Diego. Among his closest friends are several San Diego Padres. Dielman regularly attends their games at Petco Park and he even caught a foul ball during a game in 2005.



Dielman enjoys watching NASCAR races, rodeos and ultimate fighting. Dielman is in a Fantasy Racing League with several friends, including teammate Scott Mruczkowski. In March, a group of them traveled to Bristol, Tennessee and sat in the pit area to watch NASCAR’s Food City 500 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Dielman has even met several of NASCAR’s top drivers, including Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Clint Boyer.