1. Justin Conrad Strzelczyk was an American professional football offensive tackle who played nine full seasons in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1990 to 1998.
31 Facts About Justin Strzelczyk
1. 2.
Justin Strzelczyk is one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with this disease, which is caused by repeated hits to the head.
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Justin Strzelczyk's father Connie "Big Bird" Strzelczyk was a 6-foot-4 basketball standout player at Montana State University, from 1958 to 1960.
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Justin Strzelczyk later returned to Buffalo where he became a school teacher and a painting contractor in the summer breaks.
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Justin Strzelczyk was a baseball pitcher until shoulder pain prevented him from throwing anymore.
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Justin Strzelczyk attended West Seneca West Senior High School and was a local basketball star.
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Justin Strzelczyk was a member of the high school's graduating class of 1986.
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Justin Strzelczyk went on to play football at the University of Maine.
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Justin Strzelczyk was given the nickname "Jughead", after the Archie comics character.
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Justin Strzelczyk made the Pittsburgh Steelers roster after the team's 1990 training camp and moved to Plum, and then Ross Township.
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Justin Strzelczyk played on the Steelers special teams during his first two seasons.
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However, when right tackle Tunch Ilkin was injured and missed four games in 1992, Justin Strzelczyk leaped into starting duty.
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Justin Strzelczyk then started 75 of the 133 games he played and started at every line position, except center.
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In May 1998 Justin Strzelczyk's father died after being paralyzed in a drunk-driving crash.
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Five months later, during a Monday Night Football game, against the Kansas City Chiefs, Justin Strzelczyk had a quadriceps tear that required season-ending surgery two days later.
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Justin Strzelczyk then injured his knee again in a bar fight in March 1999, which required further surgery, ending his next season as well.
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Justin Strzelczyk appeared in the 1997 Adam Sandler music video, "The Lonesome Kicker".
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Justin Strzelczyk took up riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles after signing with the Steelers.
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When he purchased his first bike at a bike-purchase celebration with teammates Ariel Solomon and Jerry Olsavsky in Oakland, Justin Strzelczyk rammed into a couple of parked cars, denting only the fuel tank and his bike.
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Justin Strzelczyk took up the guitar and banjo, watching videos, reading books, cribbage and day trading as well.
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Justin Strzelczyk was known to be a heavy drinker, like his father Connie.
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Justin Strzelczyk rode his motorcycle to the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.
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Justin Strzelczyk skied, played music, acted in two plays, and he wrote a book titled Balance, his theory about evening out life's enjoyments and stresses.
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Justin Strzelczyk invested in several businesses that failed, losing hundreds of thousands of dollars, although the monetary losses did not cripple his finances.
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Justin Strzelczyk had several issues with the police after his career ended.
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In November 2000, Justin Strzelczyk was arrested and charged with carrying a firearm without a permit.
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In late 2003, Justin Strzelczyk suddenly swore off alcohol and all drugs, even prescription medication.
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Justin Strzelczyk was supposed to arrive in Orchard Park, New York, for a fundraiser that weekend.
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Justin Strzelczyk packed only $2,600-plus in cash and some crucifixes.
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Justin Strzelczyk was buried at the Saint Stanislaus Roman Catholic Cemetery in Cheektowaga, New York.
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Justin Strzelczyk was played by Matt Willig in the 2015 film Concussion.