3 greatest foreign-born players in LA Chargers history
By Jason Reed
Best foreign-born players in Chargers history: 2. Igor Olshansky
Igor Olshansky may not have a Pro Bowl nod to his name like Mojsiejenko but he did play a more impactful position than punter and played in more games for the Chargers. Many fans reading this probably remember Olshansky well as it was not that long ago that he was getting snaps on the Chargers' defensive line.
Olshansky was a second-round pick for the Bolts in the 2004 NFL Draft after a stellar collegiate career with Oregon. Olshansky put up great numbers for the Ducks but also showcased his freakish strength and athleticism at the NFL Combine, which certainly helped his draft stock.
The Chargers probably didn't get all of what the team was hoping for when they took Olshansky in the second round but they still got a more than solid player. The second-round pick would last five seasons with the Chargers, starting 70 of the 75 games that he played in.
Olshansky would finish his Chargers career with 177 combined tackles, 11 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. His pass-rushing presence was not all the way there but he was a solid contributor in stopping the run in the mid-2000s for the Bolts.
Olshansky was born in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, where he spent his early childhood before moving to the United States with his family.