Background
Veingrad was born in Brooklyn and lived in New Jersey from ages three to nine, before moving to Miami. He attended Miami Sunset High School, and grew up in a Jewish household, but never embraced religion until a later point in his life.
Veingrad was born in Brooklyn and lived in New Jersey from ages three to nine, before moving to Miami. He attended Miami Sunset High School, and grew up in a Jewish household, but never embraced religion until a later point in his life.
In high school he participated in football and track and field (discus, shot put). He received a scholarship from East Texas State University (now Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University–Commerce) to play college football and throw the discus. He was inducted into the school"s Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2006.
Veingrad was considered small for his position and wasn"t selected in the 1985 NFL Draft.
He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but was cut after 10 days. The Houston Oilers claimed him off waivers, but eventually released him before the start of the 1985 season.
In 1986 he signed with the Green Bay Packers as a free agent and became the opening day starter at right offensive tackle. He sat out all of the 1988 season with a career-threatening hip injury.
His return and consistent play, kept heralded rookie Tony Mandarich on the bench in 1989.
He also helped the Cowboys reach Super Bowl XXVII, although he was one of two players declared inactive for Super Bowl Sunday (the other was Robert Williams). He rediscovered his Jewish roots, and became an Torah-observant Jew. He now uses his Hebrew first name, Shlomo, wears a kippah and tzitzit, and travels around the world giving inspirational talks about his spiritual transformation.
National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
Alan "Shlomo" Veingrad was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, April 19, 2010.
The ceremony was held at the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center in Commack, New New York The organization chronicles and celebrates Jewish involvement in all sports, and includes Jewish sports legends such as Sandy Koufax, Red Auerbach, Kerri Strug, and Hank Greenberg.
Veingrad lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where he works for AIPAC, to advocate for Israel.