Schweitzer was born on September 11, 1993, in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he graduated from Chaparral High School in 2011.[1] Schweitzer also was a wrestler in high school in addition to playing football, where he joined the starting line up as a sophomore and helped win more than three consecutive state championships. Schweitzer originally planned on joining the U.S. Marines after high school until he began receiving athletic scholarship offers.[2]
College career
As a two-star recruit, Schweitzer committed to San Jose State in 2011 over offers from Air Force, Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, and Utah State.[3][4] He redshirted his true freshman season in 2011 and played in seven games in 2012.[1] In 2013, under new head coach Ron Caragher, Schweitzer started all 12 games at left tackle and helped the offense set a school record average 493.2 yards per game. The offensive line also gave up one sackp per 23.6 pass attempts, and the yards per rush improved by 0.5 from the previous season.[1] Schweitzer started all 25 games in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, including San Jose State's victory in the 2015 Cure Bowl.[1] As a senior in 2015, Schweitzer was elected team captain and earned second-team All-Mountain West Conference honors.[1]
A chemistry major, Schweitzer graduated in 2016.[5] In 2013 and 2014, Schweitzer was an atmospheric chemistry research intern at the San Jose State University College of Science.[1] Schweitzer won four academic all-conference honors and was named to the 2016 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.[1]
Professional career
Schweitzer (#71) during practice with the Atlanta Falcons, 2016
Schweitzer was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round (195th overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft.[7] Schweitzer signed a four-year contract with the Falcons on May 5.[8] Schweitzer was named the Falcons' starting right guard to start the 2017 season, and ended up starting all 16 games.[9] In 2018, Schweitzer was demoted to swing guard and backup center to start the season after losing the starting right guard spot to Brandon Fusco.[10] He was named the starting left guard in Week 3 following a season-ending injury to Andy Levitre, and started 13 games there.
Washington Football Team / Commanders
On March 24, 2020, Schweitzer signed with the Washington Football Team, then known as the Redskins prior to a name change later that offseason.[11] From Week 3 through 5, Schweitzer filled in as the starting right guard after Brandon Scherff suffered a injury in the Week 2 game against the Arizona Cardinals. Starting Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys, Schweitzer was made the starting left guard due to the poor performance of Wes Martin and Saahdiq Charles being placed on injured reserve.[12][13] He played all 16 games of the regular season, starting 13 (three at right guard and ten at left guard).
Schweitzer filled in for an injured Scherff as the starting right guard from Week 5 through 8 of the 2021 season. In the Week 11 win over the Carolina Panthers, he took over at center after Tyler Larsen left the game due to injury.[14] The following week, Schweitzer started at center against the Seattle Seahawks but left the game after suffering an ankle injury and was subsequently placed on injured reserve.[15][16] Schweitzer was placed on injured reserve on October 1, 2022.[17] He was activated on December 3.[18]
New York Jets
On March 16, 2023, Schweitzer signed a two-year contract with the New York Jets.[19] He was placed on injured reserve on October 31, 2023.[20] He was activated on December 2, but placed back on injured reserve a week later.[21]
Personal life
Schweitzer is a fan of rock climbing. He originally picked up the hobby as a way to condition his arms during his time with the Falcons.[22]
.jpg)
.jpg)
