Former Pro Bowl offensive tackle of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Alejandro Villanueva, had an unusual path to the NFL. He went undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft, tried out with the Cincinnati Bengals as a tight end, but returned to military service after failing to make the team. After his first contract in the military, he once again received a tryout opportunity with the Chicago Bears as a tight end, but failed to make the team and returned for his final tour with the Army Rangers.
After his military career was over, he paid his way into a regional scouting combine and received an invite to the NFL’s super regional combine where he earned his first NFL contract with the Philadelphia Eagles as a defensive end.