This week, Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke with New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz about his work in the community, earning his first-ever NFLPA Community MVP nomination, and his thoughts on being versatile on the offensive line, a quality that coaches have emphasized in the Kansas City Chiefs roster.
“I always told myself I had the opportunity to do big things with football or just my life overall, and I would come back and do things positively for the community,” said Ruiz. “I’ve been blessed to be able to do that. There’s just one thing of many that I’m going to start doing for the community, and I’m just trying to think of as many creative things I can do for them.”
Ruiz’s versatility extends to his work on the field. After initially entering the league as a center in the 2020 NFL Draft, he has played multiple positions on the offensive line. Chiefs offensive line coordinator Andy Heck and head coach Andy Reid have frequently promoted this ability.
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“Yeah, it’s just, you don’t really want to have to get out of your position and play different things that you’re not doing,” said Ruiz, “Being as though I have experienced everything, I finally can tell my friends that because I have played tackle in a game before. I had some experience with (offensive) tackle snaps after playing center in college, and as a primarily NFL guard, I’ve played all the positions. So it’s just good that none of it is unfamiliar to me now.”
Ruiz hosted “Let’s Ride with Cesar Ruiz,” a family-friendly bike giveaway and celebration in his hometown of Camden, NJ. The event was about more than just bikes: It promoted safety, encouraged active lifestyles, and reminded Camden kids that they mattered.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Cesar Ruiz discusses community work, versatility on the offensive line