PRO: One of the strongest players in the National Football League, Igor Olshansky (E-gor, ol-SHAN-ski) will be called upon to step in at right defensive end in place of the departed Chris Canty. Olshansky had been a starter for the San Diego Chargers since the day he was drafted in the second round in 2004. In his four-year career with the Chargers, he started 70-of-75 games and recorded 241 tackles and 11.0 sacks. He had his best season in 2007 - the first season he was healthy enough to start all 16 games since his rookie campaign - setting career-highs in tackles (69) and sacks (3.5). He also recorded the first interception of his career when he picked off Oakland's JaMarcus Russell on the first play from scrimmage in the regular season finale. At the 2004 NFL Combine, Olshansky bench-pressed 225 pounds an amazing 41 times. At Oregon, he set a team record with a 505-pound bench press, and during his on-campus pre-draft workout, he increased his 225-pound bench press to 43 reps.
TRANSACTION SUMMARY:
3/6/09: Signed a four-year contract with Dallas.
2/27/09: Declared a free agent by San Diego.
8/2/04: Signed a six-year contract with San Diego.
4/24/04: Drafted in the second-round (35th overall) by San Diego.
2008 (San Diego):
Made 13 starts in 16 games at defensive end and finished 10th on the team with 54 tackles.
Shared a sack with Shaun Phillips in the season opener against Carolina (9/7).
Posted his second sack of the season against New England (10/12).
Had a two-yard tackle for loss in the season finale against Denver (12/28).
In the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Pittsburgh (1/3/09), posted five tackles and shared a tackle for loss.
2007 (San Diego):
Set career highs in tackles (69) and sacks (3.5) as he started all 16 games for just the second time in his career.
Named to the USA Today's All-Joe Team.
Led the team's defensive line in tackles and tied for a team high with three forced fumbles.
In the loss at Green Bay (9/23), shared a sack of Brett Favre that helped force a punt.
Recorded his second sack of the season - a two-yard shared sack with Shawne Merriman - against Oakland (10/14).
Forced his first career fumble at Minnesota (11/4) at the Chargers 12-yard line. Also added two tackles and a tackle for loss.
Against Baltimore (11/25), notched his first full sack of the season and forced a fumble.
Shared his third sack of the season at Kansas City (12/2).
Posted a season-high 10 tackles in an overtime win at Tennessee (12/9).
Sacked and forced a Jay Cutler fumble on a third down play on the opening series of the game against Denver (12/24). Merriman recovered the fumble which led to a Chargers field goal.
Recorded his first career interception at Oakland (12/30) which led to a touchdown for San Diego.
In the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Indianapolis (1/13), assisted on a tackle for a loss.
Teamed with Stephen Cooper to record an eight-yard sack in the AFC Championship Game at New England (1/21/08).
2006 (San Diego):
Started all 13 games he played, recording 50 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Started Week 1 at Oakland (9/11) but left the game after the first play with a knee sprain and did not return.
Inactive against Tennessee (9/17) with the knee injury.
Returned to the starting lineup Week 3 at Baltimore (10/1) and had a half sack and a tackle for loss against Pittsburgh (10/8).
Inactive Weeks 6-7 while recovering from minor knee surgery during the week leading up to the game at Kansas City (10/22).
Returned to the starting lineup for the remainder of the season and recorded an eight-yard sack at Cincinnati (11/12) in his second game back.
Collected a season-high seven tackles and recovered a fumble after a Merriman sack and forced a fumble at Buffalo (12/3).
At Seattle (12/24), had a tackle for a loss among seven stops, stopping Shaun Alexander for a four-yard loss early in the second quarter.
Started in the AFC Playoff Game against New England (1/14/07) and tallied five tackles.
2005 (San Diego):
Started 12-of-14 games and had 29 tackles and 3.0 sacks.
Started Week 1 at right defensive end against Dallas (9/11).
Inactive at Denver (9/18) while recovering from knee and ankle injuries suffered in the season opener against Dallas.
Moved back into the starting lineup against Pittsburgh (10/10) on Monday Night Football after seeing time as a reserve in Weeks 3-4. Responded with seven tackles, including one for a loss.
Racked up a career-high two sacks in the win at Oakland (10/16).
Helped hold Philadelphia (10/23) to a season-low 24 rushing yards, just one week after holding Oakland (10/16) to 39 rushing yards.
Added a tackle for loss among three stops in a 31-26 win over the N.Y. Jets (11/6).
Shared a tackle for loss with Randall Godfrey for a one-yard loss against Washington (11/27).
Helped hold Oakland (12/4) to 81 rushing yards with 24 yards coming on the final play of game.
Shared two seven-yard sacks with Merriman in 26-17 win at Indianapolis (12/18).
Inactive for the season finale against Denver (12/31) with a thigh injury.
2004 (San Diego):
Started all 16 games as a rookie and finished with 39 tackles.
Posted a tackle for loss among three stops against Tennessee (10/3).
Had his first-career sack at Atlanta (10/17).
Recorded a career-high tying seven tackles, including one for loss, at Carolina (10/24).
Against New Orleans (11/7), had four tackles, including one for a loss.
Tallied a tackle for loss at Indianapolis (12/26).
COLLEGE:
Finished his career at Oregon with 146 tackles and 11.5 sacks.
Earned second-team All-Pac-10 honors as a junior and named honorable mention as a sophomore.
Was the recipient of the Joe Schaffeld Trophy as the Ducks top defensive lineman after his sophomore and junior seasons.
Named honorable mention academic all-conference as freshman in 2001 after being redshirted in 2000.
Majored in psychology.
PERSONAL:
Was a first-team all-league at St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco, Calif.
Named second-team all-metro by the San Francisco Examiner and honorable mention all-area by the San Jose Mercury News.
Scored a touchdown on a 17-yard interception return in the California-Texas All-Star Game.
Born in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine.
Family immigrated to the United States when he was seven-years old, settling in San Francisco.
Attended the Chabad-run Hebrew Academy where he developed a strong Jewish identity.
Stayed true to his Russian heritage and speaks fluent Russian.
Is the first player from the former Soviet Union to be drafted by and play for an NFL team.
Married to the former Liya Rubinshteyn, who is a native of the Ukraine and grew up in the San Francisco area.
They have one son, Lourence Lev and two Schnauzers, Nika and Caesar.
His grandfather, Abraham Rubashevsky, fought for the Red Army in World War II and was wounded 11 times, leaving his left hand disabled. Due in part to the influence of his grandfather, Olshansky still studies military history and martial arts.
Has developed his own line of nutritional products and active-wear, appropriately named Igor Super Human Strength (SHS). The company's nutritional supplements are made from the finest organic ingredients and contain no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.
