John Stadnik
| No. 67, 85 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Offensive lineman | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | February 18, 1959 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 275 lb (125 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Eisenhower (Blue Island, Illinois) | ||||
| College: | Western Illinois (1979–1982) | ||||
| Undrafted: | 1983 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
| |||||
| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||
John Steven Stadnik (born February 18, 1959) is a former American football offensive lineman. He played college football for the Western Illinois Leathernecks and later played for the Arizona Wranglers / Outlaws of the United States Football League (USFL) and the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL).
Early life and college career[edit]
Stadnik was born on February 18, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois.[1] He attended Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, Illinois, where he was a team captain, the football team's most valuable defensive tackle and an all-conference selection in 1977.[2] He was the third alumnus in Eisenhower history (tied with Brian Glasgow) to play in the National Football League (NFL).[3]
Stadnik began attending Western Illinois University in 1979 but did not play for their Leatherneck football team that year.[4] He earned his first letter in 1980 and became a starter at right tackle.[4][5] He was named a second-team All-Mid-Continent Conference selection that season.[6] As a junior in 1981, Stadnik was named All-American by Associated Press (AP).[7] He remained a letterman at Western Illinois as a senior in 1982.[4] He graduated from Western Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in commercial recreation and park administration.[8]
Professional career[edit]
Stadnik was selected by the Chicago Blitz in the 1983 USFL Territorial Draft.[9] He went unselected in the 1983 NFL Draft, but signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent, turning down the Blitz's offer.[8] He was released by the team on July 18, 1983.[10] He signed with the Arizona Wranglers of the USFL on October 12, 1983.[8]
Stadnik was placed on the developmental squad of the Wranglers to begin the 1984 USFL season, on March 18 that year, later being activated on April 1 after two games there.[8] He appeared in 13 games for the Wranglers in 1984 at right tackle, 11 as a starter, helping them reach the league championship with a 10–8 record.[11] He played with the Arizona Outlaws, a merger of the Wranglers and Oklahoma Outlaws, during the 1985 USFL season, appearing in 17 out of 18 games while they went 8–10.[12]
Stadnik became a free agent when the USFL folded prior to their 1986 season.[8] He returned to the NFL by signing with the San Diego Chargers on April 13, 1987.[13] He missed time in preseason due to injury and was released by the team at the final roster cuts on August 29.[14][15] On September 24, he was re-signed to the team as a replacement player during the NFL Players Association strike.[8] He appeared in and started all three strike games for the Chargers at center, helping them win each game.[4][16] Stadnik was among the first 20 alumni of Western Illinois to play in the NFL and was one of five active in the 1987 season.[17] He was released at the end of the strike, on October 20, 1987.[8] He was re-signed by the Chargers on March 4, 1988.[8] He was released on August 3, 1988, and did not sign with another team afterwards, ending his professional career with 30 USFL games played and three NFL games played.[4][18][19]
Personal life[edit]
With his wife, Debbie, Stadnik had four children, including two daughters and then twin sons.[20] One of his daughters was a collegiate swimmer for the Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs while his two sons, Brock and Clayton, both were top high school football linemen and played with the South Carolina Gamecocks.[20][21]
References[edit]
- ^ "John Stadnik Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Trophy winners". Sun-Standard. November 24, 1977. p. 51 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Eisenhower (Blue Island, IL) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ a b c d e "John Stadnik Stats". Pro Football Archives.
- ^ "Probable lineups". The Pantagraph. November 1, 1980. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Game plans? Not for ISU, Western". The Pantagraph. September 5, 1981. p. 56 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Patterson, Brad (October 23, 1982). "EIU faces dangerous foe in Western Illinois". The Journal Gazette. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "John Steven Stadnik". Football Register. The Sporting News. August 1988. p. 391. ISBN 9780892042869.
- ^ "USFL territorial draft". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Associated Press. January 6, 1983. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Seahawks waive 8; vets due". Longview Daily News. Associated Press. July 19, 1983. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1984 Arizona Wranglers (USFL)". Pro Football Archives.
- ^ "1985 Arizona Outlaws (USFL)". Pro Football Archives.
- ^ "Chargers sign 10 free agents". Oroville Mercury Register. April 14, 1987. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Posner, Jay (August 21, 1987). "Dickerson may not play on Sunday". Daily Times-Advocate. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gaines, Bob (August 30, 1987). "Flick falls victim in Chargers' cutdown". Daily Times-Advocate. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Chargers ink 3 free agents". Daily Times-Advocate. Associated Press. March 8, 1988. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Western Illinois Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Ello, Chris (August 4, 1988). "Charles Signs; Everybody Seems Satisfied With His 300 Pounds". Los Angeles Times. p. 100 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "John Stadnik NFL Transactions". Pro Football Archives.
- ^ a b Keller, Tom (September 25, 2009). "Twins Following In Dad's Footsteps". News & Record. p. 16, 19 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wolf, Jason (May 6, 2011). "Gamecocks grab local linemen". News & Record. p. 17, 19 – via Newspapers.com.
