Dominic Raiola is a former American football center who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He was born on December 30, 1978, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and attended Saint Louis School in Honolulu. Raiola played college football at the University of Nebraska, where he was a consensus All-American in 2000.
Raiola was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played his entire career with the Lions, starting in 203 out of 219 games. Raiola was known for his toughness, durability, and leadership on the field. He was a team captain for several seasons and was respected by his teammates and coaches.
Raiola was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, earning the honor in 2006, 2009, and 2010. He was also named to the All-Pro team in 2010. Raiola was a key member of the Lions' offensive line, helping to protect quarterbacks such as Joey Harrington, Jon Kitna, and Matthew Stafford. He was also a strong run blocker, helping to open up holes for running backs such as Kevin Jones, Jahvid Best, and Reggie Bush.
Raiola was involved in several controversial incidents during his career. In 2008, he was fined $7,500 for making an obscene gesture towards fans during a game against the Minnesota Vikings. In 2013, he was fined $10,000 for a low block on Chicago Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson. In 2014, he was fined $10,000 for a chop block on New England Patriots defensive tackle Zach Moore.
Raiola announced his retirement from the NFL on December 29, 2014, after the Lions' final game of the season. He finished his career with 219 games played, 203 starts, and 16 penalties for 128 yards. Raiola was one of the most respected and durable players in the NFL during his career, and he will be remembered as one of the best centers of his generation.
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