Olin Kreutz
The fierce and intelligent center who anchored the Chicago Bears' offensive line for over a decade, becoming the heart of their 2006 Super Bowl team.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American football player·Birthday: June 9·Generation X
Biography
Olin Kreutz played football with a snarling intensity that made him the undeniable leader of every huddle he entered. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1998, the University of Washington product quickly established himself as one of the NFL's most physically and mentally tough centers. His game was built on brute strength, technical precision, and a fiery competitive streak that set the tone for the entire offense. For 13 seasons in Chicago, he was the constant, snapping the ball to a carousel of quarterbacks while opening holes for running backs and calling protections against formidable defensive tackles. His leadership peaked during the Bears' 2006 season, guiding a team built on defense and a strong run game to a Super Bowl appearance. Respected by teammates and feared by opponents, Kreutz's six Pro Bowl selections are a testament to his sustained excellence at one of the game's most demanding positions.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Olin was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Olin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Olin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected to six Pro Bowls (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010) during his career with the Chicago Bears.
- Anchored the offensive line for the Chicago Bears team that won the NFC Championship and reached Super Bowl XLI in the 2006 season.
- Was named to the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team as one of the best centers of the era.
- Played in 191 games over 14 NFL seasons, starting the vast majority of them.
Did You Know?
He was a standout wrestler in high school in Hawaii, winning a state championship, which contributed to his leverage and hand-fighting skills in football.
He was known for his exceptionally hard workouts and setting a punishing standard in the weight room.
He and quarterback Jim Miller were fined for fighting each other during a Bears practice in 2001, illustrating his fiery demeanor.
His father, Henry Kreutz, was a police officer and former football player at the University of Hawaii.
“I don't care who you are, you're not coming through me.”
