Former Raider great and second-year assistant OL coach, Steve Wisniewski, reportedly cleared out his locker and left the Alameda facility this morning. ESPN reports have confirmed that Wisniewski made the decision to leave in order to “spend more time with his family”, but nothing more elaborate than that.

Steve Wisniewski played offensive lineman for the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders from 1989-2001. For anyone who may not already be aware, Steve is also second-year G (now transitioning to C) Stefen Wisniewski’s, uncle. Unfortunately, Big Wiz will not be around to welcome Little Wiz to training camp in Napa Valley this coming Sunday.

Package Deal: 2011 second-round draft choice, G Stefen Wisniewski, being introduced around Raiders headquarters along with uncle & former Raiders legend OL, Steve Wisniewski (right), as new assistant OL coach. Photo taken by Raiders.com, Tony Gonzales, on April 30, 2011.

Apparently Wisniewski has not left the team altogether; he will continue in an ambassador role and will be used in game-day only situations when needed. Assistant coaches sometimes put in 100+ hours per week during the regular season, so this will cut down his workload substantially.

Having been on the sidelines since the late 80s, as both a player and now as a coach for a short time, I hope the gap that the eight-time Pro Bowler has occupied over the years that is now void will not affect the team in a negative way. Front office has also decided not to fill his position of assistant offensive line coach, according to the Raiders official website in a statement today, and will go ahead with new OL coach, Frank Pollack, at the helm. (This is an interesting decision, to say the least – having a new OL coach in Pollack go ahead, alone. We will see how it pans out in training camp.)

Hoping everything is okay at home and best wishes to you, Wiz!

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