A day honoring military veterans proved quite significant for Alejandro Villanueva.
Villanueva, a former member of the U.S. Army and a past Pro Bowl left tackle with the Pittsburgh Steelers, collaborated with USAA to organize a flag football event for service members at Naval Station Rota in Spain, preceding the contest in Madrid between the Commanders and the Dolphins.
“It was remarkable,” Villanueva conveyed during a discussion with CBS Sports. “Military personnel are fond of competition. I believe this is why there is such a strong bond between football and the military, and why USAA has recognized this niche to effectively promote its exceptional offerings.
“The base we are currently at is in my hometown, so I was raised around this base. During each offseason, I would train at the field where we conducted the flag tournament. Returning to see my parents and contributing on behalf of USAA at the base was a major uplift for me.”
USAA
Villanueva, who was accompanied at the military installation by fellow former NFL participants Joe Theismann and Ryan Tannehill, experienced what could be described as one of the most unexpected trajectories in NFL history.
Before playing collegiate football at Army, Villanueva participated in rugby during his high school years. He began as a left tackle and later transitioned to tight end during his final year, securing 34 catches for 522 yards and five touchdowns. Following this, Villanueva had an unsuccessful tryout with the Bengals after not being selected in the draft.
Shortly after his Bengals tryout, Villanueva was inducted into the U.S. Army. Over his five years of service, Villanueva completed three tours in Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his role in assisting wounded soldiers amidst enemy fire.
In 2014, Villanueva resolved to pursue his NFL ambitions once more. After participating in the NFL super regional combine, he entered into an agreement with the Philadelphia Eagles as a defensive end. It was during a preseason match between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh that Villanueva captured the attention of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Subsequently, the Steelers signed Villanueva to their practice squad shortly after the Eagles released him.
Villanueva remained on the practice squad for that entire year and entered the 2015 season as Pittsburgh’s adaptable tackle. However, the situation rapidly evolved after the Steelers encountered injuries to a couple of players in his position. In Week 6, Villanueva entered Pittsburgh’s home game against the Cardinals after Kelvin Beachum sustained a season-ending injury. As they often say, the rest is history.
The ensuing game against the Chiefs marked the beginning of 114 consecutive starts for Villanueva, including 97 with the Steelers. Throughout this period, he earned two Pro Bowl selections and played an essential role in Pittsburgh teams that secured three division titles and came close to reaching the Super Bowl in 2016.
Villanueva also became part of Steelers’ legacy. He assisted Le’Veon Bell in establishing franchise records for both regular and postseason single-game rushing yards and aided Ben Roethlisberger in becoming the second quarterback to surpass 500 passing yards in a postseason game.
“Hysterical,” Villanueva remarked when prompted to encapsulate his NFL journey in a single word. “I find it hysterical that I actually believed I could succeed in the NFL. If you were to inquire of someone who has been in the military for five years, who wasn’t even exceptionally skilled in college, if they could transition into the NFL, I believe it requires an incredibly audacious character, a Michael Scott type, to genuinely think they could make it into the NFL.
“At times, I reflect on the aspects I wish had unfolded differently in my career, the scenarios that could have played out in numerous ways. Yet, I consistently find myself concluding, ‘You know what, you participated in the NFL. Do you realize how absurd that is? A Spanish individual from just outside a U.S. military installation journeying to the United States and engaging in football.’…I should serve as a spokesperson for the NFL, inspiring everyone across America to attempt a career in the NFL, irrespective of their circumstances.”
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In regards to the present Steelers, Villanueva refrained from speculating on the precise factors impeding Pittsburgh amid its current downturn. Following a 4-1 commencement, the Steelers have succumbed to defeat in three of their most recent four contests leading up to Sunday’s significant divisional confrontation with the visiting Bengals.
Villanueva conveyed an intangible quality that could potentially aid every NFL team — including the 2025 Steelers — amidst a season that will inevitably experience peaks and valleys.
“Hope serves as the actual currency of football,” he expressed. “I observed that the Cleveland Browns consistently possessed remarkably elevated expectations each offseason, for instance. And I consistently harbored concerns regarding the Cleveland Browns, as the anticipation emanating from the fan base was overwhelming. While it ultimately never materialized, the expectations effectively captured attention.
“I believe that Pittsburgh consistently constitutes a team characterized by significant expectations, as they anticipate winning Super Bowls, and those expectations garner substantial attention. Ultimately, the NFL stands as an exceptionally competitive realm, and achieving victory is remarkably challenging, contingent upon countless variables.”
Villanueva additionally provided insights into Tomlin and his distinct leadership proficiencies, abilities that have undoubtedly contributed to the Steelers never experiencing a losing season under his guidance. These very same proficiencies will now be employed to assist Pittsburgh’s season in regaining its footing.
“He possesses exceptional emotional intelligence,” Villanueva noted. “He endeavors to understand the players, and he projects an aura of trustworthiness, treating you in a manner that enables you to perceive the National Football League for what it truly is, your career, for its actual duration, and in a highly individualized manner, empowering you to perform to the utmost of your capabilities.
“Consequently, I am immensely appreciative of having been coached by Coach Tomlin. I hold him in high regard. I consider him to be an extraordinary individual, and as a player, I could readily devote hours upon hours to listening to him, as he is such an exceptional communicator, an eloquent speaker. The messages he imparts regarding the game of football are invariably truthful, signifying that he is passionate about the game. It means everything to him. I believe players comprehend and acknowledge this. And as a consequence, he garners the respect he genuinely warrants.”
