Editing Alan Faneca

{{Short description|American football player (born 1976)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Alan Faneca
| image       = Alan Faneca throwback.jpg 
| caption     = Faneca with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in 2007
| number      = 65, 66
| position    = [[Guard (gridiron football)|Guard]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1976|12|7|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], U.S. 
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 5
| weight_lb   = 316
| high_school = [[Lamar Consolidated High School|Rosenberg (TX) Lamar Consolidated]]
| college     = [[LSU Tigers football|LSU]] (1994–1997)
| draftyear   = 1998
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 26
| pastteams   =
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|1998|2007}})
* [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL Year|2008|2009}})
* [[Arizona Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|2010}})
| highlights  =
* [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XL|XL]])
* 6× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[2001 All-Pro Team|2001]], [[2002 All-Pro Team|2002]], [[2004 All-Pro Team|2004]]–[[2007 All-Pro Team|2007]])
* 2× Second-team All-Pro ([[2003 All-Pro Team|2003]], [[2008 All-Pro Team|2008]])
* 9× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2002 Pro Bowl|2001]]–[[2010 Pro Bowl|2009]])
* [[National Football League 2000s All-Decade Team|NFL 2000s All-Decade Team]]
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team]]
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers#Hall of Honor|Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor]]
* [[Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame]]
* [[Jacobs Blocking Trophy]] (1997)
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1997 College Football All-America Team|1997]])
* 2× First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1996 All-SEC football team|1996]], [[1997 All-SEC football team|1997]])
| statlabel1  = Games played
| statvalue1  = 206
| statlabel2  = Games started
| statvalue2  = 201
| statlabel3  = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3  = 11
| pfr         = FaneAl00
| HOF         = Alan-Faneca 
}}

'''Alan Joseph Faneca''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|æ|n|ᵻ|k|ə}}; born December 7, 1976) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[Guard (American football)|guard]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for 13 seasons. He played [[college football]] for [[Louisiana State University]] (LSU), and earned consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-America]] honors. He was selected by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the first round of the [[1998 NFL draft]], and played professionally for the Steelers, [[New York Jets]] and [[Arizona Cardinals]] of the NFL. A six-time first-team [[All-Pro]] and nine-time [[Pro Bowl]] selection, Faneca won a [[Super Bowl ring]] with the Steelers in [[Super Bowl XL]], defeating the [[Seattle Seahawks]]. He was elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 2021 and on May 10, 2021, he was introduced as the head football coach of Frank W. Cox High School in [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]].

==Early life==
Faneca attended [[John Curtis Christian School]] in [[River Ridge, Louisiana]] from 1987 to 1990. While attending John Curtis Christian he played football and basketball for the 27-time state champions while in middle and junior high school. Faneca then attended [[Lamar Consolidated High School]] in [[Rosenberg, Texas]], lettering in football and [[Track and field|track]]. He was an All-[[Greater Houston]], ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' All-South, and Touchdown Club of Houston player of the year. Faneca began having [[seizure]]s, which were later diagnosed as [[epilepsy]], at age 15.<ref>[http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsyusa/faneca.cfm Epilepsy Fdn.-Not Faster than a Speeding Bullet, but More Powerful than a Locomotive, this Man of Steel is an Inspiration for Everyone<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He started on medication to control it and was able to continue playing football.

==College career==
Faneca attended [[Louisiana State University]], and played for the [[LSU Tigers football]] team from 1994 to 1997. As a freshman in 1994, he was [[redshirted]]. He was voted the [[Southeastern Conference]] freshman of the year by the ''[[Knoxville News Sentinel]]'' in 1995. In 1996, he was selected as a second-team [[All-American]]. As a junior in 1997, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American and was also one of three finalists for 1997 [[Outland Trophy]].

In the 1997 home game against the [[1997 Florida Gators football team|Florida Gators]], Faneca was called "a beast" for having repeatedly driven the Gators off the field and creating openings for the Tiger backs to charge through.<ref>Chet Hilburn, ''The Mystique of Tiger Stadium: 25 Greatest Games: The Ascension of LSU Football'' ([[Bloomington, Indiana]]: WestBow Press, 2012), p. 28</ref>

Faneca started his last 36 games at LSU and allowed only one sack in his final season. He had 210 [[Glossary of American football#P|pancake blocks]] in his college career. He returned to school in 1999 and earned a bachelor's degree in management entrepreneurship.

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 5/8
| weight = 322
| dash = 5.47
| ten split = 1.87
| twenty split = 3.10
| shuttle = 4.71
| cone drill = 8.66
| vertical = 26.0
| broad ft = 7
| broad in = 10
| bench = 20
| arm span = 33 3/4
| hand span = 10 1/4
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=22625 |title=Alan Faneca, Combine Results, OG - Louisiana State |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=August 21, 2021}}</ref>
}}

===Pittsburgh Steelers===
{{stack| }}[[File:Hartings Faneca Smith 2002.jpg|thumb|Faneca (66) in 2002]]
Faneca was selected by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the first round (26th overall) in the [[1998 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1998 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1998/draft.htm |access-date=March 29, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He saw limited playing time at first but injuries to fellow Steelers [[Will Wolford]] and [[Jim Sweeney (American football, born 1962)|Jim Sweeney]] allowed him to get his first start against the [[Cincinnati Bengals]]. He earned the Joe Greene Award as the team's top [[rookie]]. In 1999 against the [[Cleveland Browns]] he was having a bad season debut before leaving the game at halftime, after suffering a left ankle injury late in the second quarter of the game and played the rest of the first half after sustaining the injury but did not play during the second half. Against [[Baltimore Ravens]] he returned from his ankle injury but was replaced in the second half by [[Roger Duffy (American football)|Roger Duffy]]. One of his best games of the season was against the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] helping to pave the way for [[Jerome Bettis]] first 100-yard game of that season. Against the [[Carolina Panthers]] helped pave the way for Bettis season-high 137 yards rushing and the Steelers second-highest rushing performance of the season.
[[File:Faneca blocks for Parker.jpg|thumb|left|Faneca blocks for [[Willie Parker]]]]
In 2000, Faneca helped the Steelers rank fourth in the league in rushing, one of only 10 teams to compile more than 2,000 yards rushing in 2000. He had his best season to date when he was named a starter in the 2002 [[Pro Bowl]] his first selection to the squad, and also was named [[All-Pro]] by the [[Associated Press]], ''[[The Sporting News]]'', ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' and ''[[Football Digest]]'', and was named to Pro Football Weekly's-All-NFL team. He had an offseason surgery on his right wrist and missed some playing time during the teams preseason. In the 2002 season he was named to ''Pro Football Weekly''{{'s}} All-NFL and All-AFC team. Also selected to the ''[[USA Today]]'' Sports Weekly's All-Pro team was voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl In 2003, he switched positions from left guard to left tackle due to injuries, helping teammate [[Amos Zereoué]] to three 100-yard performances during the season. He helped [[running backs]] [[Jerome Bettis]], [[Duce Staley]], and [[Willie Parker]] set individual and team rushing records, as well as propelling the Steelers to [[Super Bowl XL]] in [[Detroit]], in which Pittsburgh defeated the [[Seattle Seahawks]] 21–10. He helped spring Parker to a 75-yard touchdown run that is currently the longest run in [[Super Bowl]] history. In the 2007 season he helped quarterback [[Ben Roethlisberger]] to a perfect [[passer rating]] of 158.3 and [[Najeh Davenport]] to 123 rushing yards in Week 16 at [[St. Louis Rams]]. He led the way for Willie Parker's 105-yard rushing performance in Week 10 against the Browns, and was the key to Steelers ground attack rolling for 205 yards in Week 3 vs. [[San Francisco 49ers]], as well as the 206-yard rushing effort in the season opener at Cleveland.

In 2007, Faneca was voted to the Steelers 75th Anniversary All Time Team by Steeler fans.

===New York Jets===
On March 1, 2008, the [[New York Jets]] signed Faneca to a five-year, $40 million contract, with $21 million in guarantees. The contract made Faneca the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history (a distinction quickly overtaken by rookie [[Jake Long]]).<ref>{{cite news | title = Faneca Agrees to Five-Year, $40 Million Deal With Jets | url = https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3272497 | work = ESPN.com | date = March 2, 2008 | access-date = September 13, 2009}}</ref> Faneca was expected to provide veteran leadership to a Jets offensive line that included three former first-round picks from 1999 and 2006, [[D'Brickashaw Ferguson]], [[Nick Mangold]] and [[Damien Woody]]. Later that offseason, the Jets acquired [[Brett Favre]] via trade from Green Bay. Favre and Faneca have since been selected as Pro Football Hall of Famers, with Favre being inducted in 2016 and Faneca in 2021.<ref>http://m.steelers.com/news/article-1/Faneca-a-finalist-for-HOF-Class-of-2017/e8119c1c-4b82-41a9-9a89-5b00f01de30c{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
[[File:Alan Faneca Marine Corps cropped.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Faneca with the Jets in 2009.]]
Faneca rapidly made an impact on the Jets rushing attack, propelling it to 2006 yards and 20 touchdowns,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/teams/newyorkjets/statistics?season=2008&team=NYJ&seasonType=|title = New York Jets 2021 Stats| website=[[NFL.com]] }}</ref> and led the 4-12 Jets to a 9–7 record in 2008, good for third in the [[AFC East]].

In 2009, Faneca anchored the Jets to 2756 yards and 21 touchdowns, again leading the Jets to a 9–7 record and securing a wild-card playoff berth. They proceeded to defeat the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] in a 24–14 victory in that wildcard game. In an AFC divisional playoff game, the Jets beat the favored San Diego Chargers 17–14 behind [[Shonn Greene]]'s 128 rushing yards and a touchdown and [[Thomas Jones (American football)|Thomas Jones]]'s 41 yards, totaling 169 yards on the ground. They surprised many observers by beating the Chargers and going to the AFC Championship game where they eventually succumbed to the Indianapolis Colts 30–17.

Faneca was cut from the Jets on April 24, 2010, after they selected [[Vladimir Ducasse]] in the second round of the [[2010 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5130870 |title=Source: Jets to cut veteran Faneca |first=Rich |last=Cimini |work=ESPN |date=April 24, 2010 }}.</ref>

===Arizona Cardinals===
Faneca agreed to terms with the [[Arizona Cardinals]] on a one-year, $2.5 million deal, which included a $300,000 signing bonus and a $100,000 workout bonus,<ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5140938 |title=Source: Faneca heads to Arizona |first=Adam |last= Schefter |work=ESPN |date=April 27, 2010 }}.</ref> and reunited him with his former Steelers coach [[Ken Whisenhunt]] and offensive line coach [[Russ Grimm]].

===Retirement===
Faneca retired on May 10, 2011, ending his distinguished career with nine Pro Bowl appearances, eight All-Pro selections, and a Super Bowl ring.

In recognition of the weight-related health issues experienced by many retired players, he has lost over 100 pounds since his retirement.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/03/06/13/Faneca-touts-cause-of-shedding-excess-we/landing_azcardinals.html?blockID=874515&feedID=3698|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130410200745/http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/03/06/13/Faneca-touts-cause-of-shedding-excess-we/landing_azcardinals.html?blockID=874515&feedID=3698|url-status = dead|archive-date = April 10, 2013|title = Faneca touts cause of shedding excess weight|date = March 6, 2013}}</ref> In February 2014, Faneca successfully completed the New Orleans Rock 'n' Roll Marathon with a finish time of 3:56:17.<ref>{{cite news|last=McGoldrick|first=Hannah|title=Former 300-Pound NFL Lineman Runs 3:56 Marathon|url=http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/former-300-pound-nfl-lineman-runs-356-marathon|access-date=February 4, 2014|newspaper=Runner's World|date=February 4, 2014}}</ref>
On February 6, 2021, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

==Personal life==
Faneca married Julie Kuchta of Virginia Beach, whom he met as a freshman at LSU. They have three children. In 2021, he was named head coach of football at [[Frank W. Cox High School]] in Virginia Beach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weeklycitizen.com/newsnow/x1323999216/LSU-standout-Alan-Faneca-ends-NFL-career-after-13-years |title=LSU standout Alan Faneca ends NFL career after 13 years - Gonzales, LA - Gonzales Weekly Citizen |access-date=June 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001104200/http://www.weeklycitizen.com/newsnow/x1323999216/LSU-standout-Alan-Faneca-ends-NFL-career-after-13-years |archive-date=October 1, 2011 }} Retirement</ref> Faneca stepped down as coach on 19 December 2022 after leading Cox High to a 16-8 record over two seasons.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rubama |first1=Larry |title=Alan Faneca steps down as football coach at Cox High after two seasons. NFL Hall of Famer wants ‘to pursue other avenues.’ |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/cox-joins-list-schools-looking-143900262.html?guccounter=1#:~:text=Virginian%20Pilot-,Alan%20Faneca%20steps%20down%20as%20football%20coach%20at%20Cox%20High,'&text=Alan%20Faneca%20has%20been%20successful%20in%20every%20step%20of%20his%20life. |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=Yahoo Sports |date=19 December 2022}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
*{{Cite web |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/team/player/1323-alan-faneca |title=New York Jets bio |access-date=March 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420160841/http://www.newyorkjets.com/team/player/1323-alan-faneca |archive-date=April 20, 2010 |url-status=dead  }}
*{{Cite web |url=http://news.steelers.com/team/player/49191/ |title=Pittsburgh Steelers bio |access-date=March 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928120551/http://news.steelers.com/team/player/49191/ |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |url-status=dead  }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100821203440/http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/alan-faneca/1160d631-46e0-46ab-a0f0-642a68e9f4e8/ Arizona Cardinals bio]

{{navboxes
|title=Alan Faneca—championships, awards, and honors
|list1=
{{1997 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1998 NFL Draft}}
{{SteelersFirstPick}}
{{Steelers1998DraftPicks}}
{{NFL2000s}}
{{Super Bowl XL}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor}}
{{2021 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Faneca, Alan}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football offensive guards]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals players]]
[[Category:LSU Tigers football players]]
[[Category:New York Jets players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players]]
[[Category:People with epilepsy]]
[[Category:Players of American football from New Orleans]]
[[Category:People from Rosenberg, Texas]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Fort Bend County, Texas]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Thibodaux, Louisiana]]
[[Category:American disabled sportspeople]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:John Curtis Christian School alumni]]