Perseverance paying off for Villanueva
ORLANDO, Fla. — Alejandro Villanueva was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles organization for only a little more than three months in 2014, but he values the time he got to spend with many players who will be playing in the 2018 Super Bowl next week. He mentioned Beau Allen, Jason Kelce and Jason Peters by name and had special recognition for Peters, who like Villanueva, made it to the NFL after going undrafted.
But the most important lesson Villanueva learned in his short stint as a defensive lineman with the Eagles was perseverance. The 6-foot-9 former Army Ranger went straight from the battlefields of Afghanistan to his first NFL tryout with little time to prepare for what was ahead of him. He quickly found out that failure is common in the NFL, and how you handle it is what counts most.
“What I’ve learned from football is it’s a sport that humbles you,” Villanueva said. “How humble you are and how you handle receiving the lessons football teaches will determine your success. I started playing defensive line and had no idea after a fiveyear hiatus of serving in the
Army. I was the first player to get cut in Philadelphia. I was playing something like eight plays in the fourth preseason game. That puts you in the lowest category. That was humbling. When you’re that beat down by the system, by the coaches, by the fact that you’re undrafted and then you’re able to overcome that, then you can see football for what it is. It’s a beautiful sport.”
It’s such a beautiful sport that a converted defensive lineman who has been playing offensive line in the NFL for a little more than three years can be recognized as one of the game’s best players. That’s what will happen to Villanueva Sunday when he plays in his first Pro Bowl at the ripe old age of 29.
“When any of my linemen get here it’s awesome, but especially for Al because he works so hard,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “They have him at right tackle this week and he’s like, ‘I need to go watch some film.’ That’s just who he is. He always wants to work and get better. I am so happy for him and proud of him. He deserves this honor.”
Villanueva played offensive line at West Point but only for one of his four seasons with the Black Knights. When the Steelers signed him to their practice squad shortly after the Eagles released him, they were taking a shot in the dark that they could develop his elite yet unrefined athletic skill.
Villanueva had a couple of things going for him. The Steelers were married to the idea of developing him on their practice squad, so there wasn’t early pressure to perform. Mike Munchak was named Steelers offensive line coach a few months earlier, so he was going to learn from the best teacher of offensive line techniques in the game. And finally, he was stepping into an offensive line room that was filled with talented and high-character players such as center Maurkice Pouncey and right guard David DeCastro, who are joining Villanueva in the Pro Bowl this week.
After one year on the Steelers practice squad, Villanueva made the 53-man roster as a reserve in 2015. Six games into his first NFL season, Villanueva was thrust into the role of starter when Kelvin Beachum was lost for the season because of a knee injury.
Villanueva has been a constant for the Steelers ever since. He has started 48 consecutive games, including six playoff games, as Roethlisberger’s blindside protector. And Sunday afternoon, he’ll take his place among the league’s all-stars, yet another milestone in his NFL rags-to-riches story.
“I would not have been able to do what Al did,” Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward said. “Al had to go through the fire. That’s a tribute to him and a tribute to Munch and the offensive line for helping him grow. I’ve seen a lot of guys not be able to make it on this offensive line. You have to be nasty and technically sound because Pouncey will call you out on it. Al worked his tail off, spent a lot of long nights at the facility, working out with Dave, following Dave, who put him on the right track. Al has grown a lot.”
DeCastro is playing in his third Pro Bowl and Pouncey his sixth, which is the same number as Roethlisberger and receiver Antonio Brown. In addition to his Steelers teammates, Villanueva is rubbing elbows with other perennial Pro Bowlers. His teammates this week include Von Miller of Denver and Terrell Suggs of Baltimore. He said he has been surprised by how open and helpful the players have been. Even the pass rushers who will be trying to beat him again next season have shared tips this week.
“For me, it’s a lesson that to truly understand the game of football you can’t get caught up in the mystique or the aura of the pedigree of players,” Villanueva said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-round draft pick. You have to work.”
Villanueva brought his wife and two young children to Orlando for the week. They’re enjoying the Disney attractions, but Villanueva constantly is reminded whenever he turns on the television and sees Super Bowl coverage that this isn’t the destination he and the Steelers had in mind.
“As soon as I turn on the TV, I see the Eagles logo or the Patriots logo and it’s going to burn me inside,” Villanueva said. “That’s the one thing NFL players dream about. When you’re able to share victories with your teammates it feels a lot better than coming here individually. The Super Bowl is what everyone wants to have. From that perspective, it always goes back to what could I have done better last season so next year maybe we’re playing a game next week.”