Northern Illinois University Athletics

A three-time All-MAC selection, including second team honors as a sophomore in 1998 and first team honors in both 1999 and 2000, Ryan Diem made 35 consecutive starts along the offensive line for the Huskies. A team captain in both 1999 and 2000, Diem earned third team All-America honors in 2000 from Football News and played in the 2001 Senior Bowl, becoming just the second Huskie to participate in the prestigious all-star game.

During his final two seasons as a Huskie, Diem earned a pair of First Team All-MAC honors and did not allow a sack in either of those two seasons. He was also named to the Academic All-MAC Team during both his junior and senior campaigns and helped pave the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers (William Andrews in 1999 and Thomas Hammock in 2000). One of the cornerstones of head coach Joe Novak’s turnaround of the Huskie program, Diem’s time in DeKalb was capped by NIU’s first winning season in a decade during the 2000 season. 

Diem was a fourth round draft pick in 2001 by the Indianapolis Colts and went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL, starting 150 of 157 games at right tackle for the Colts. He became the first player in NIU history to start a Super Bowl when he helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI, he became just the second Huskie to appear in two Super Bowls when he started in Super Bowl XLIV for Indianapolis.