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Signed a five-year deal with the Cardinals on 3/4/05 after spending the previous four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 2005, started every game at right tackle for a Steelers team that finished 15-1 and advanced to the AFC Championship game; in 2007 is reunited with Russ Grimm, his offensive line coach from Pittsburgh.
Started 12 games for the Cardinals in his first season with the team in 2005 but missed four games due to a broken hand.
In 2006, suffered a right knee injury in training camp that required surgery; returned to appear in 11 games with five starts.
Pro Career:
Signed by the Cardinals on 3/4/05 after spending four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Originally selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, (138th overall). Ross played two games with Dallas as a rookie before being released (9/5/99) and signed to the Eagles practice squad (9/8). Promoted to the Eagles active roster (9/13) but was inactive for the final 15 games of the season. Released by the Eagles in training camp prior to the 2000 NFL season, Ross then joined the Steelers practice squad 11/22/00 and was promoted to the active roster on 12/13/00.
2006: Following an early season right knee injury, returned to appear in 11 games (five starts) injured his right knee during the first week of training camp and underwent surgery on 8/7/06 inactive (knee) in season opener vs. SF (9/10) DNP @ Sea (9/17) received his first start of the season vs. StL (9/24) started at right tackle the next four contests appeared in goal line situations as an extra blocker @ GB (10/29) appeared on special teams @ Min (11/26) appeared as a goal line blocker, helping Marcel Shipp score three rushing TD’s @ StL (12/3) DNP vs. Sea (12/10); vs. Den (12/17) appeared on special teams during the final two contests.
2005: Made his Cardinals debut @ NYG (9/11) in the season opener at right tackle suffered a broken bone in his hand @ Sea (9/25) and was not active vs. SF (10/2); vs. Car (10/9); vs. Ten (10/23) and @ Dal (10/30) returned to the starting lineup vs. Sea (11/6); started at right tackle for eight games after returning from a hand injury started at left tackle in the season finale @ Ind (1/1) due to a knee injury to Leonard Davis.
2004: Started all 16 games for the Steelers at right tackle paved the way for Duce Staley’s first 100-yard game of his Steelers’ career @ Mia (9/26) helped the Steelers offense produce its second straight 100-yard rusher for the first time in more than a year vs. Cin (10/3) helped offense produce third consecutive 100-yard rusher for the first time in two years vs. Cle (10/10) helped pave the way for Duce Staley’s fourth 100-yard game of the season and the Steelers’ season-high 221 yards rushing vs. NE (10/31) played a key role in the Steelers amassing more than 200 yards rushing for the second straight week and producing the fifth 100-yard game in six weeks vs. Phi (11/7) had another outstanding performance in the team producing a 100-yard performer for the third straight week at Cle (11/14) helped produce a fourth-straight 100- yard performance @ Cin (11/21) helped pave the way for Jerome Bettis’ sixth 100-yard
rushing performance and the offense’s fifth 400-plus yards in total offense vs. Bal (12/26).
2003: Started 11 total games made his first start of the season at LT vs. Ten (9/28) ... replaced Marvel Smith early in the first quarter due to Smith’s shoulder injury vs. Cle (10/5) ... started at RT @ Den (10/12) also played some LT in a reconfigured offensive line ... started for the eighth straight game and the seventh at RT vs. Oak. (12/7) ... helped pave the way for the Jerome Bettis’ and the Steelers’ first 100-yard rushing performance of the season ... helped pave the way for Bettis’ season-high 115 yards vs. SD (12/21) and the Steelers’ 181 yards rushing.
2002: Emerged as the starting RG to begin the 2002 season but also was the first backup at right and left tackle ... started at RG in season-opener @ NE (9/9) ... replaced an injured Marvel Smith in the second half @ Jax (12/1).
2001: Played in all 16 games and made seven starts for the Steelers ... made his first career start for the injured RT Wayne Gandy vs. Bal (11/4) made his second pro start and first at RG for the injured Rich Tylski @ Ten (11/25) was quickly forced back to RT because of the injury to Marvel Smith and performed admirably ... made his third start of the season and his second straight at RG vs. Min (12/2) ... started his third straight game at RG and fourth start of the season vs. NYJ (12/9) ... made his fifth start and fourth straight start at RG for the injured Rich Tylski vs. Det. (12/23) helped pave the way for the Steelers’ sixth 100-yard rushing performance of the season and the sixth 400-yard offensive performance ... helped lead the offense to its sixth 200-yard rushing performance of the season vs. Cle (1/6/02).
2000: Signed to the Steelers practice squad on 11/22 and was promoted to the active roster on 12/13 inactive for the final two contests of the season released by the Eagles in training camp prior to the 2000 NFL season.
1999: Released by the Cowboys on 9/5 and signed to the Eagles practice squad on 9/8 promoted to the Eagles active roster (9/13) but was inactive for the final 15 games of the season.
1998: Played two games with the Cowboys vs. NYG (11/8) and @ Arz (11/15) ... was used by the Cowboys as an extra tight end in short yardage situations.
College:
Was the starting left tackle during his senior season at Iowa State ... made the transition from defensive line to offensive line as a junior ... led the way for the Cyclones, who averaged 228.6 yards passing a game ... transferred from Los Angeles Southwest Community College (CA) where he earned All-Southern California Western States Conference honors.
Personal:
Full name Oliver Calvin Ross III was a two-year letterman at Washington (Los Angeles, CA) High School ... earned All Conference honors as a two-way tackle ... married, his wife’s name is Billie. | 