Tony Bergstrom

Steven Anthony "Tony" Bergstrom (born August 8, 1986) is an American football center for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the third round, 95th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

High school career

Bergstrom was a three-year starter and team captain on the powerhouse Skyline Eagles football team. It was there he gained the nickname, "The Man with the Silver Biceps." In 2002 and 2003 the Eagles made the state finals and in 2004 they were Regional champions and made the state semi-finals. Bergstrom was All-State and Region 3 Player of the Year in 2004 as well as the Eagles' Most Valuable Player. Throughout his high school career Bergstrom won many athletic and academic awards and nominations, including being a three-year High Honor Roll, an Academic All State, earning a College Board AP Scholar Award and being a National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame 2004 Scholar-Leader-Athlete nominee. Bergstrom was also a three-year letterman in basketball and a two-year letterman in track and field.^[1]

College career

2005

Bergstrom signed with the University of Utah in 2005 before departing on a LDS Church Mission.^[1]

2008

Bergstrom enrolled in school in the 2008 spring semester. He played in 10 games and started at left tackle against University of Nevada-Las Vegas, finishing with three knockdowns, two cuts and a pancake block. He also recorded two knockdowns and two cuts against Weber State and a pancake block against San Diego State. Bergstrom also saw action on special teams and was named Academic All-MWC and to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.^[1]

2009

Bergstrom became the starting right tackle in 2009, leading the offensive line in total plays with 816 during the regular season. The coaches graded him at 81% on the year, with 662 wins of his 816 plays. He had 29 cuts and 12 pancake blocks for the season. His nine cuts against San Diego State was the best by a Ute all season and his highest grade of the year in a single game was 95% against fierce rivals BYU. He was also an Academic All-MWC.^[1]

2010

Bergstrom again started every game at right tackle and again led the offensive line in total plays with 584 in the 10 graded games. He did not allow a sack all season and he graded out at 84% on the season, winning 485 of his 584 plays. He had 14 cuts and two pancake blocks for the season. He again dominated San Diego State, winning 61-of-70 plays. He was voted to the Second-Team All-MWC.^[1]

2011

In 2011, Utah transferred to the Pac-12 conference and Bergstrom as team captain continued as the starting right tackle. He started in all 12 of the games he was fit, missing most of the rivalry game against BYU and the entire Washington game due to a knee injury. He led the Utes with an overall grade of 85% on the season, winning 546 of his 639 plays during the regular season. He was the best-graded Ute linemen in 6 games; earning 88% against Montana State, 91% against Oregon State University, 85% against University of Pittsburgh, 90% against University of California-Los Angeles, 89% against Washington State University and tied for the best grade with 92% against University of Colorado. He was named to the First-Team All-Pac-12 at the end of the season.^[1]

Bergstrom played 48 career games at Utah, starting 38 at right tackle.

2012 Senior Bowl

Bergstrom was invited to the 2012 Senior Bowl. He played as a guard, the first time in his career that he has ever played the position.

Professional career

Oakland Raiders

Bergstrom in 2012 with the Raiders.

Bergstrom was drafted 95th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.^[2] As the Raiders had traded their first, second and third round picks in the draft, Bergstrom became their first pick at the end of the third round when he was taken with the Raiders' compensatory selection awarded to them for the loss of Nnamdi Asomugha in the 2011 Free Agency period.

Although a tackle throughout his college career, Bergstrom was drafted as a guard by the Raiders. Current Assistant Offensive Line Coach and former All-Pro guard Steve Wisniewski has been credited with discovering Bergstrom. Wisniewski watched and interviewed Bergstrom at the 2012 Senior Bowl.^[3] The Raiders believe Bergstrom's quickness will translate well into their new Zone blocking scheme, which favors smaller, fleet-footed linemen over bigger, more powerful linemen.

Houston Texans

Bergstrom signed with the Houston Texans on March 9, 2016.^[4]

References

External links

• Oakland Raiders bio
• Utah Utes bio
• NFL Combine bio