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| Paul Posluszny | |
|---|---|
| Name | Paul Posluszny |
| Position | Linebacker |
| Number | 51 |
| Birth date | 7 September 1979 |
| Birth place | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Weight lb | 242 |
| High school | St. Edward High School |
| College | Penn State |
| Drafted year | 2007 |
| Drafted pick | 34 |
| Pastteams | Buffalo Bills (2007–2012); Jacksonville Jaguars (2013–2017) |
| Highlights | Butkus Award (2005), Bednarik Award (2005), 2× First-team All-American (2005, 2006) |
Paul Posluszny Paul Posluszny was an American professional football linebacker who played in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills and the Jacksonville Jaguars. A standout at Penn State University and alumnus of St. Edward High School, he won major collegiate awards and became a respected leader and defensive captain in the NFL. Posluszny combined intelligence, tackling production, and durability across a career that linked him to prominent coaches, teammates, and franchises.
Posluszny was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Strongsville, Ohio, attending St. Edward High School, a program notable for alumni like Tom Tupa and associations with Division I recruiting pipelines. At St. Edward he starred for a team coached in the tradition of Catholic high school football programs and competed in Ohio state competitions against teams from the Ohio High School Athletic Association. During his prep career he attracted attention from programs including Penn State University, Ohio State University, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame, and University of Florida, producing scholarship offers and earning accolades in regional media outlets and state rankings.
At Penn State University, Posluszny played under head coach Joe Paterno and defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky before later working with staff including Tom Bradley. He redshirted as needed and developed within the Big Ten Conference against programs like Ohio State University, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Iowa, and University of Minnesota. Posluszny earned national recognition, including the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Butkus Award, while featuring on All-America teams and in postseason showcases alongside peers such as A. J. Hawk, Clay Matthews III, Brandon Graham, Shawne Merriman, and Greg Jones. He captained the Nittany Lions defense, led the team in tackles, and competed in bowl games including appearances in contests familiar to the Rose Bowl Game and Outback Bowl circuits. His collegiate tenure saw matchups with rivals like Ohio State and crossover games versus schools such as Miami and University of Tennessee.
Posluszny entered the 2007 NFL Draft and was selected in the second round by the Buffalo Bills, joining a franchise with historical ties to figures like Marv Levy and competing in the AFC East against teams such as the New England Patriots, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins. In Buffalo he played under head coach Dick Jauron and later Chan Gailey, lining up beside teammates including Rian Lindell, CJ Spiller, and Marshawn Lynch during his Bills tenure. He later signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars where he played under head coaches Gus Bradley, Mike Mularkey, and Doug Marrone and shared defensive duties with players like Aaron Kampman, Paul Kruger, and Telvin Smith. Posluszny started numerous games, led teams in tackles in multiple seasons, and navigated injuries, contracts, and roster transitions within the frameworks of the NFLPA, NFL collective bargaining context, and league roster rules. He competed in regular season contests, AFC divisional matchups, and preseason games against opponents such as Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, and Indianapolis Colts.
Known for sideline-to-sideline range, Posluszny combined instincts attributed to scouting departments that compare prospects to linebackers like Patrick Willis, Brian Urlacher, Lawrence Taylor, Ray Lewis, and Luke Kuechly. He amassed high tackle totals, earned Pro Football Focus recognition among analysts, and was praised by commentators from outlets like ESPN, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, NFL Network, and The Athletic. His tackling technique and film study drew comparisons to celebrated defenders who appeared in lists by magazines such as Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News. Posluszny earned team captaincies, was nominated for team awards, and recorded forced fumbles and interceptions in contests covered by broadcasters including NBC Sports and local stations like WJXT and WGRZ.
Off the field, Posluszny maintained ties to Penn State University alumni networks and organized community outreach with franchises' charitable arms and foundations associated with the Buffalo Bills Foundation and the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation. He participated in youth football clinics, hospital visits coordinated with organizations like Make-A-Wish Foundation, and charity events alongside teammates and personalities from NFL Players Association initiatives. Personal associations included family members and connections to the Polish American community, and he engaged in public speaking at events held by universities, civic groups, and high schools.
Posluszny's legacy includes induction into collegiate and regional halls, recognition by Penn State Nittany Lions football history, and continued citation in discussions of top linebackers developed in the Big Ten Conference. He received honors such as the Butkus Award and Bednarik Award and remains referenced in retrospectives by outlets including ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated, and alumni commemorations at Penn State. His career is remembered alongside other notable linebackers and within the histories of the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars franchises.
Category:1979 births Category:American football linebackers Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football players Category:Buffalo Bills players Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players