Calvin Anderson

Calvin Anderson's Biography

Calvin Lee Anderson has made his name as a celebrated American professional football offensive tackle, currently part of the prestigious Pittsburgh Steelers team in the National Football League (NFL). Anderson, born on March 25, 1996, began his illustrious journey to professional football in his days of high school. But his roots also take him to a rich familial ancestry– he is the son of a retired full-bird colonel who used to be a military flight surgeon and football player himself. This 2,500-word biography attempts to capture Anderson’s extraordinary life in detail.

While in high school, Anderson displayed an immense passion and potential for the game. His early schooling took place at Georgetown High School, where he spent his initial three seasons, eventually migrating to Westlake High School for his concluding year. Although smaller than his counterparts on the offensive line, Anderson’s commitment to the craft was unwavering. As a junior, he committed to Rice University despite tempting offers from Power 5 schools like Texas Tech and Kansas State. Now his path was set; football would be his muse.

Anderson’s tenure at Rice began with a redshirt year, after which he became a vital part of the team – a three-year starter. His consistency and diligence were exemplary, with a record 36 consecutive game starts for Rice’s Owls. These remarkable feats didn’t go unnoticed. Anderson received honorable mentions for the Conference USA All-Conference in the years 2016 and 2017.

With multiple choices for his graduate transfer, including reputable options like Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, and Auburn, Anderson decided to don burnt orange and white for Texas in the 2018 season.

The crowning moment of his college career past, Anderson now embarked on a new journey, a leap towards professional football. After not being picked in the 2019 NFL draft, Anderson finally found a berth with the New England Patriots.

However, his time with the Patriots was short, and he was waived by May 13, 2019. This setback didn’t dampen his spirits though, and he was soon claimed by the New York Jets. Yet again, he faced a waiver by the Jets at the end of the preseason. After a short period of being courted by various teams, Anderson was added to the Jets practice squad. He received an elevated practice squad salary for the first four weeks of the regular season.

Determined additions to his resume followed when Anderson was picked up by the Denver Broncos from the Jets’ practice squad on October 1, 2019. His first regular-season NFL start took place in a 2020 season game against the Las Vegas Raiders, playing as a right tackle. Anderson enjoyed more attention during a game against the Carolina Panthers, where he replaced starting left tackle Garett Bolles, who fell ill just before the game.

Anderson was offered an exclusive-rights free agent tender on March 16, 2021, by the Broncos and signed a one-year contract with them on May 17. As the 2021 season began, Anderson was the primary swing tackle for the Denver Broncos and even started three games mid-season. His tenure with the Broncos teams continued with Anderson signing a contract extension worth a fully guaranteed $2.5 million. He started seven games in the 2022 season, all at left tackle, along with all the pre-season games.

In an unexpected twist, he returned to his former team, the Patriots, on March 16, 2023, signing a two-year contract. He spent much of the 2023 training camp on the non-football injury list. In April 2024, it was revealed that Anderson had suffered from malaria contracted during humanitarian work in Nigeria. Later in the same year, he was placed on injured reserve post a heart contusion suffered during practice and was released in August. However, nothing could keep Anderson away from the game for long, and he soon signed up with the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 24, 2024.

A man of many talents, Anderson has also attracted attention for his extraordinary ability to solve a Rubik’s Cube in puzzling manners, such as blindfolded or behind his back. This unique skill led to him being named a brand ambassador for Rubik’s Cube during his rookie season, making him the first professional athlete to land this honor. He went on to represent the company at various international events during the offseason.

Off-field, Anderson continued his interest in academics. While attending Rice University, he majored in Mathematical Economic Analysis. His academic curiosity is best summarized by a PowerPoint presentation he once made to persuade his parents to invest in Nintendo before the revolutionary launch of Pokémon Go.

Ever ambitious, Anderson took up postgraduate coursework at Harvard Business School during the 2022 offseason. Even his personal life is just as interesting. He is currently in a serious relationship with Dutch/Nigerian model, Sheree Olaiya Lanihun, who doubles as a lawyer and real estate investor based out of Amsterdam. She is a highly qualified individual, holding a Bachelor of Laws degree from The University of Amsterdam, a Master of Laws degree from Erasmus University, and a Master of Business from Cambridge University in the UK.

From his humble beginnings to becoming a key pro-athlete, Calvin Lee Anderson’s exciting life continues, both within and outside of football. His exemplary journey demonstrates what can be achieved with sheer dedication and drive, making him an inspiration for aspiring footballers everywhere.