Chargers linebacker Matt Wilhelm patiently waited five years for his opportunity to start in the National Football League, and when the time finally came last fall, Wilhelm made the most of it. He started 14 games in 2007 and finished second on the squad with 144 tackles. He also recorded three interceptions, a sack and four tackles for loss.



Wilhelm was a key cog in the Bolts’ defense. A calf injury caused him to miss two starts and most of a third game in September and the Chargers dropped all three of those decisions. Wilhelm serves as the signal caller for the Chargers’ defense and plays a key role in getting the group lined up.



Prior to his ascension into a starting role, the Chargers saw enough promise in Wilhelm that they inked the former OhioState Buckeye to a five-year contract extension in December 2006. The Chargers have him locked up through the 2011 season.



An exciting ’07 season that concluded with the extension gave way to an even more thrilling spring for Wilhelm. In March, Matt’s wife, Vanessa, gave birth to the couple’s first child, a son named Mason.



Away from the field, Matt enjoys playing golf and basketball, spending time with his teammates and his family. The Wilhelms were married in April 2007 and vacationed shortly thereafter in the Bahamas. Last summer, they took a more formal honeymoon, traveling to Paris, Monte Carlo and St. Tropez. The Wilhelm’s pet is a Miniature Pinscher named Diesel.



In college, Matt had a couple of interesting superstitions. He wore the same game shoes for his final three seasons and on the night before each game, he would sleep in the bed closest to the window.