National Football Foundation

Rudy Niswanger mastered the quintessential balance of athletic and academic excellence at LSU, becoming a two-time First-Team Academic All-American with a 4.0 GPA in kinesiology with an emphasis on pre-medicine.
 
A pivotal member of the Tiger offensive line from 2002-05, Niswanger started 29-of-47 games. A team captain his senior season, he was named a Second-Team All-SEC selection.
 
He participated in four January bowl games, helping guide LSU to the 2003 BCS National Championship.
 
Arguably the most decorated student-athlete in LSU history, Niswanger’s many academic accolades included a place on the SEC Honor Roll four times; being named LSU Academic Athlete of the Year three times; claiming the 2005 McWhorter Award as the SEC’s top scholar-athlete; graduating summa cum laude; and receiving the University Medal.
 
The inaugural recipient of the Wuerffel Trophy, he played an active role in the community, visiting children’s hospitals, organizing a clothing drive and volunteering countless hours following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Following college, the Monroe, Louisiana, native postponed his acceptance to LSU Medical School to play in the NFL.
 
He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2006, and he played five seasons with the Chiefs, including 56 appearances and 31 starts.
 
Carrying on his spirit of community service, he volunteers at the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired and serves as an honorary chair for the Children’s Spot “Once Upon a Time” gala.
 
Since 2014, he has served as the CEO of Joe Gear Companies, an investment and management company in Monroe, Louisiana.