{{Short description|American football player (born 1996)}} {{about|the American football player|the politician|Cal Anderson|poker player|Calvin Anderson (poker player)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox gridiron football biography | name = Calvin Anderson | image = CalvinAnderson.jpg | alt = | caption = Anderson with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025 | current_team = | number = | position = Offensive tackle | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|3|25}} | birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lbs = 300 | high_school = Westlake {{avoid wrap|(Austin, Texas)}} | college = {{ubl|Rice (2014–2017)|Texas (2018)}} | undraftedyear = 2019 | pastteams = * New England Patriots ({{nfly|2019}})* * New York Jets ({{nfly|2019}})* * Denver Broncos ({{nfly|2019}}–{{nfly|2022}}) * New England Patriots ({{nfly|2023}}) * Pittsburgh Steelers ({{nfly|2024|2025}}) | status = | highlights = | statweek = | statseason = 2025 | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 59 | statlabel2 = Games started | statvalue2 = 14 }}
'''Calvin Lee Anderson''' (born March 25, 1996) is an American professional football offensive tackle. He played college football for the Rice Owls and as a graduate transfer one season for the Texas Longhorns.
== Early life == Anderson attended Georgetown High School for the first three seasons of his high school career, before transferring to Westlake High School for his senior season. A undersized lineman for most of his high school career, he committed to Rice as a junior and remained committed to them despite offers from Power 5 schools Texas Tech and Kansas State.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Texas and Michigan lead for Rice graduate transfer OT Calvin Anderson |url=https://www.burntorangenation.com/2018/2/8/16991044/calvin-anderson-leaders-list-visits-texas-longhorns-michigan-wolverines-auburn-tigers |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=SBNation|date=February 8, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Highly Coveted Rice Transfer Calvin Anderson Has His Top Five, With Texas, Michigan in the Lead |url=https://www.si.com/college/2018/02/01/calvin-anderson-rice-transfer-texas-michigan-auburn |access-date=August 22, 2020 |magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=February 2018 }}</ref>
== College career == After redshirting his freshman year, Anderson was a three-year starter at Rice where he started in 36 consecutive games for the Owls.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rice graduate transfer Calvin Anderson a key piece for Texas offensive line |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/college_sports/longhorns/article/Rice-graduate-transfer-Calvin-Anderson-a-key-13175528.php |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=San Antonio Express-News|date=August 22, 2018 }}</ref> He also garnered Conference USA All-Conference Honorable Mentions in 2016 and 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FB: 2016 All-Conference Teams |url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2016/12/6/FB_1206161823.aspx |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=Conference USA|date=December 6, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FB: 2017 All-Conference Awards |url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2017/12/5/FB_1205175027.aspx?path=football |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=Conference USA| date=December 5, 2017 }}</ref> After narrowing his graduate transfer choices down to Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, and Auburn, Anderson announced that he would transfer to Texas for the 2018 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michigan grad transfer target Anderson heading to Texas |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2018/03/10/michigan-grad-transfer-target-anderson-heading-texas/32819663/ |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=The Detroit News}}</ref>
== Professional career == {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 4 1/2 | weight = 292 | dash = 5.31 | ten split = 1.77 | twenty split = 3.00 | shuttle = 4.45 | cone drill = 7.20 | vertical = 31.0 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 4 | bench = 30 | arm span = 33 1/8 | hand span = 9 3/8 | wonderlic = | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=132640&DraftYear=2019 |title=2019 Draft Scout Calvin Anderson, Texas NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> }}
===New England Patriots (first stint)=== After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft, Anderson signed with the New England Patriots.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Here's the Patriots' list of undrafted free agents |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2019/04/27/heres-the-patriots-list-of-undrafted-free-agents/ |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=Boston.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Get to know the Patriots undrafted rookie free agents |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/get-to-know-the-patriots-undrafted-rookie-free-agents |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=Official website of the New England Patriots|date=April 23, 2019 }}</ref>
===New York Jets=== Anderson was waived by the Patriots on May 13, 2019, and claimed by the New York Jets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Patriots Sign WR Dontrelle Inman and OL Jared Veldheer |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-wr-dontrelle-inman-and-ol-jared-veldheer |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=Official website of the New England Patriots}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jets Add WR Xavier Ubosi, T Calvin Anderson |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-add-wr-xavier-ubosi-t-calvin-anderson |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=Official Site of the New York Jets}}</ref> He was waived by the Jets at the end of the preseason and, after being coveted by a few teams, was added to the Jets practice squad and paid elevated practice squad salary for the first 4 weeks of the regular season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jets practice squad: 8 players added to 11-man roster |url=https://www.nj.com/jets/2019/09/jets-practice-squad-7-players-added-to-11-man-roster-luke-falk-kyron-brown-more.html |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=NJ.com|date=September 2019 }}</ref>
=== Denver Broncos === thumb|190px|Anderson with the Broncos in 2021 Anderson was signed by the Denver Broncos from the New York Jets' practice squad on October 1, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Broncos sign Jeremiah Attaochu and Calvin Anderson, place Bradley Chubb on injured reserve, waive Keishawn Bierria |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-jeremiah-attaochu-and-calvin-anderson-place-bradley-chubb-on-injure |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=Denver Broncos}}</ref>
Anderson got his first regular season NFL start during the 2020 season at right tackle in a week 10 game vs the Las Vegas Raiders. During a week 14 matchup with the Broncos and the Carolina Panthers, Anderson garnered attention after having to replace starting left tackle Garett Bolles half an hour prior to the start of the game due to illness.
The Broncos placed an exclusive-rights free agent tender on Anderson on March 16, 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=DiLalla, Aric |date=March 16, 2021 |title=Broncos place second-round tenders on RFAs Tim Patrick, Alexander Johnson, also tender Phillip Lindsay, several ERFAs |work=DenverBroncos.com |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-place-second-round-tenders-on-rfas-tim-patrick-alexander-johnson-also-te |access-date=March 17, 2021}}</ref> He signed the one-year contract on May 17.<ref>{{Cite news |last=DiLalla, Aric |date=May 17, 2021 |title=Broncos sign three tryout players; Calvin Anderson signs exclusive rights tender |work=DenverBroncos.com |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-three-tryout-players-calvin-anderson-signs-exclusive-rights-tender |access-date=May 19, 2021 |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517213703/https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-three-tryout-players-calvin-anderson-signs-exclusive-rights-tender |url-status=dead }}</ref> He entered the 2021 season as the primary swing tackle for the Broncos. He started three games in the middle of the season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Broncos activate T Garett Bolles off Reserve/COVID-19 list, place T Calvin Anderson on IR|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-activate-t-garett-bolles-off-reserve-covid-19-place-t-calvin-anders|author=DiLalla, Aric|website=DenverBroncos.com|date=December 2, 2021}}</ref>
On March 14, 2022, Anderson signed a one-year $2.5m dollar fully guaranteed contract extension with the Broncos. Anderson started 7 games in 2022 season for Denver, all of which came at left tackle. Anderson also started all pre-season games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Broncos sign T Calvin Anderson to one-year deal|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-t-calvin-anderson-to-one-year-deal|author=DiLalla, Aric|website=DenverBroncos.com|date=March 14, 2022}}</ref>
=== New England Patriots (second stint)=== On March 16, 2023, Anderson signed a two-year contract with the Patriots.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-tackle-calvin-anderson-release-qb-brian-hoyer|title=Patriots Sign OT Calvin Anderson; Release QB Brian Hoyer|work=Patriots.com|date=March 16, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Analysis: Patriots Reportedly Sign Former Broncos OT Calvin Anderson to Two-Year Deal | url=https://www.patriots.com/news/analysis-patriots-reportedly-sign-former-broncos-ot-calvin-anderson-to-two-year-|author=Lazar, Evan|website=Patriots.com|date=March 14, 2023}}</ref> He spent much of 2023 training camp on the non-football injury list; in April 2024 Anderson revealed it was because he had contracted malaria while doing philanthropic work in Nigeria.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Hurley |first1=Michael |last2=Sports |first2=WBZ com |date=2024-05-07 |title=Patriots' Calvin Anderson battled life-threatening case of malaria before 2023 NFL season - CBS Boston |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/patriots-calvin-anderson-life-threatening-case-of-malaria-heart-contusion/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He was placed on injured reserve on November 3, 2023,<ref>{{cite web|title=Patriots Place OL Calvin Anderson on Injured Reserve|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-place-ol-calvin-anderson-on-injured-reserve|website=Patriots.com|date=November 3, 2023}}</ref> after suffering a heart contusion in practice.<ref name=":0" />
On August 27, 2024, Anderson was placed on injured reserve and released a few days later.<ref>{{cite web|title=Patriots Make Roster Moves to Reach the 53-Man Roster Limit|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-release-16-players-place-three-players-on-injured-reserve|website=Patriots.com|date=August 27, 2024}}</ref>
===Pittsburgh Steelers=== thumb|Anderson with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025 On September 24, 2024, Anderson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Steelers make multiple roster moves|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-make-multiple-roster-moves-x9042|website=Steelers.com|date=September 24, 2024}}</ref> He finished his first season in Pittsburgh playing in 10 games with no starts.<ref name="h436">{{cite web | title=Calvin Anderson (OT): Bio, News, Stats & more | website=Steelers.com | date=March 25, 1996 | url=https://www.steelers.com/team/players-roster/calvin-anderson/ | access-date=July 25, 2025}}</ref> He and the Steelers ended the season with a 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card round on January 11, 2025.<ref name="p232">{{cite web | title=Ravens 28-14 Steelers (Jan 11, 2025) Final Score | website=ESPN | date=July 25, 2025 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401671879/steelers-ravens | access-date=July 25, 2025}}</ref>
On April 7, 2025, Anderson signed a two-year contract extension with the Steelers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Varley |first1=Teresa |title=Anderson signed to two-year contract |url=https://www.steelers.com/news/anderson-signed-to-two-year-contract |website=steelers.com |access-date=10 April 2025}}</ref> He made nine appearances for Pittsburgh during the year, playing primarily as a reserve tackle. On December 10, Anderson was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steelers Place Veteran OT on Injured Reserve|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/onsi/news/pittsburgh-steelers-calvin-anderson-injured-reserve|access-date=January 21, 2026|website=si.com|language=en}}</ref> He was released on March 2, 2026.
== Personal life == Anderson was born in Philadelphia and raised in Austin Texas. Anderson's father played college football at Army and was a military flight surgeon who also obtained a Master of Business Administration, became an ordained minister, and served as a physician before retiring as a full-bird colonel in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 53rd guy on the Broncos' roster is kind of a genius: Meet Calvin Anderson |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1367083/2019/11/11/calvin-anderson-denver-broncos-rubiks/ |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=The Athletic | last1=Jhabvala | first1=Nicki }}</ref> Anderson himself has gained notoriety for having the ability to solve a Rubik's Cube in different ways, such as behind his back or blindfolded.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 30, 2019 |title=Rubik's Rookie: Jets' Calvin Anderson has puzzling talent |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/07/30/rubiks-rookie-jets-calvin-anderson-has-puzzling-talent/39865617/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606215627/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/07/30/rubiks-rookie-jets-calvin-anderson-has-puzzling-talent/39865617/ |archive-date=June 6, 2023 |access-date=2026-01-11 |work=USA TODAY |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref> In his rookie season in the NFL Anderson was named a brand ambassador for Rubik's Cube by the company, representing the company at international events in the offseason. Calvin became the first professional athlete in history to be a brand ambassador for Rubik’s Cube.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The puzzling talent of Broncos' tackle Calvin Anderson |url=https://www.9news.com/article/sports/nfl/denver-broncos/the-puzzling-talent-of-broncos-tackle-calvin-anderson/73-ff7fac81-d6a8-44ed-8e6f-e21e1709eac6 |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=9News|date=October 31, 2019 }}</ref> A mathematical economic analysis major while at Rice University, Anderson once made a PowerPoint presentation for his parents to get them to invest in Nintendo prior to the revolutionary creation of the first 3D gaming app Pokémon Go.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How OL Calvin Anderson went from Rice to Texas |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/college/article/How-OL-Calvin-Anderson-went-from-Rice-to-Texas-13204260.php |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=Houston Chronicle|date=September 4, 2018 }}</ref> During the 2022 offseason Anderson enrolled in and completed a graduate course at Harvard Business School.
Anderson is in a long term relationship with Dutch/Nigerian model, lawyer and real estate investor Sherée Olaiya Lanihun from Amsterdam. Sherée obtained a Bachelor of Laws from The University of Amsterdam, a Master of Laws from Erasmus University, and a Master of Business from Cambridge University in the UK.
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category}} * [https://www.steelers.com/team/players-roster/calvin-anderson/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio] * [https://texassports.com/sports/football/roster/calvin-anderson/8492 Texas Longhorns bio] * [https://riceowls.com/sports/football/roster/calvin-anderson/719 Rice Owls bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Calvin}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Philadelphia Category:Players of American football from Austin, Texas Category:American football offensive tackles Category:Rice Owls football players Category:Texas Longhorns football players Category:New England Patriots players Category:New York Jets players Category:Denver Broncos players Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players