The Washington Commanders invested a chunk of their free resources into improving the offensive line, signing starters as well as backups who could provide valuable depth. Guard Nick Allegretti could fill either role, and he's ready to compete with a new team. Here are five things to know about the former Chiefs offensive lineman.
1. He was an all-state wrestler and dominant high school athlete.
The term "athlete" is mostly associated with skill players in the NFL, but Allegretti is proof that there are offensive linemen who go against that stigma.
Allegretti, ranked as the No. 11 high school center in the country by 247sports, was a stalwart for the Lincoln-Way East High School. Not only did he know how to finish plays -- he did not allow a sack during his junior or senior seasons -- but he also knew how to finish blocks. He had 125 pancake blocks in his career, highlighted by 56 in 2013.
Allegretti drew heaps of praise during his senior campaign, earning all-state Army All-American accolades as he helped his team reach the IHSA class 7A quarterfinals. Allegretti also wrapped up an impressive wrestling career, finishing with a 45-2 record and ranking third in class 3A.
2. He collects coins.
Everyone has a hobby, and for Allegretti, that involves collecting coins.
Allegretti's interest in coins goes back to his childhood, when he collected wheat pennies -- a penny that had two wheat stalks rather than the Lincoln Memorial. His passion for it, however, didn't develop until he took a trip with a family friend to a local coin store when he was 13. He was hooked by the history behind each coin and why they were valuable. Eventually, it turned into a healthy obsession.
Allegretti now has thousands of coins, and he'll occasionally share some insight on some of his favorites. **He was a guest on The Coin Shop Podcast that aired March 11 to talk about a coin he found dating back to the 1700s.**
"Every coin, whether you think you're gonna remember it or not, you do," Allegretti said. "There's a story behind coins."
Allegretti isn't the only Commanders offensive lineman who likes to collect historical objects. Andrew Wylie is an avid card collector and specializes in Pokémon, football and Marvel cards. So, perhaps he and Allegretti can bond over the excitement of hunting down a rare item.
Take a look at Nick Allegretti's time in Kansas City before coming to Washington. (Photos via The Associated Press)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Nick Allegretti (73) and offensive guard Cameron Erving (75) in action during an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Bengals, 38-17. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) takes a moment to pray on the sideline prior to an NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (David Gray/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) celebrates with guard Trey Smith (65) as confetti falls following an NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22 in overtime. (David Gray/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) celebrates with guard Trey Smith (65) following an NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22 in overtime. (David Gray/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) celebrates following an NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22 in overtime. (David Gray/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Blaine Gabbert (9) and Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) celebrate after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) blocks during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs defeated the 49ers in overtime, 25-22. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) receives the ball during the NFL championship playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Bills 38-24. (Alika Jenner via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) runs across the field during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs won 17-10. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) blocks during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (Steve Sanders/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) lines up during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs won 17-10. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Nick Allegretti (73) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Chiefs defeated the 49ers 44-23. (Greg Trott via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) defends against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Rams, 26-10. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) stands on the sideline during an NFL game against the Houston Texans, Thursday, Sep. 10, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs beat the Texans 34-20. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) blocks against the Los Angeles Rams during a NFL football game Sunday, Nov 27. 15, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Rams, 26-10. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti celebrates with teammates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) blocks during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Nick Allegretti (73) moves in to block Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Steve McLendon (96) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) downs a punt near the end zone ahead of Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Keanu Neal (42) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Nick Allegretti (73) waits to snap the ball during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Chiefs defeated the 49ers 44-23. (Greg Trott via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Nick Allegretti (73) celebrates catching his first NFL Touchdown during the wildcard playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, January 16, 2022 in Kansas City. (Steve Sanders/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Mike Remers, Andrew Wylie, Austin Reiter, Nick Allegretti and Eric Fisher walk to the line as they break the huddle against the Denver Broncos during a NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Broncos 22-16. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) motions prior to the play during the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) blocks during the AFC Championship NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. The Chiefs won 17-10. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) and tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrate during an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in Kansas City. The Chiefs beat the Browns 22-17. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) in action during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) and offensive tackle Donovan Smith (79) step up to block during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs won 17-10. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) in action during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024 (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) lines up during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10. (Joe Robbins via AP)
3. He caught a touchdown pass.
Offensive linemen almost never get the chance to catch touchdown passes. We say "almost" because Allegretti is one of the few who can claim to have accomplished it.
The Chiefs were on the cusp of putting things away in their playoff matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the ball at the Steelers' 1-yard line in the third quarter, Patrick Mahomes rolled to his right before dumping off the pass to Allegretti, who had just slung T.J. Watt to the ground.
Allegretti made the easy grab at the goal line to put the Chiefs up 28-7. His fellow offensive linemen were the first to congratulate him, and he celebrated by spiking the ball. Even more impressive was that Allegretti didn't even know the ball was coming to him.
"I go in there and I'm hyping everybody up, selling it the best I can," **Allegretti said.** "Usually by the time I turn out, the ball's gone, and I'm going to celebrate with somebody else. I turned around, and the ball was coming. I'm glad I didn't have 100% [knowledge] that ball was coming to me, because I probably would have been a little more nervous."
The play was probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but perhaps offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury can replicate the play this season.
4. He was a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year.
Allegretti wasn't just a leader on the football field at Illinois; he was a fervent supporter of giving back to the community and often got recognized for it.
Allegretti, a two-time Wuerffel Trophy nominee for his community service, was named as one of 20 semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award during his senior season. The award is presented annually to the FBS college football player who "has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field."
Each winner receives a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school's athletic scholarship fund.
Wisconsin's D'Cota Dixon ended up with the award that year, but that doesn't take away from all that Allegretti did for his community at Illinois. Allegretti was an active volunteer with the Tom Jones Challenger League, which provides an opportunity for people with physical or mental challenges to participate in physical activities. He also served as a chapter president for Uplifting Athletes, which raised over $88,000 for rare disease research and awareness.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is looking for players who know how to win, both on and off the field, and Allegretti certainly checks that box.
Excitement was in the air the Washington Commanders' incoming free agents made their first trips to the facility. Check out the top photos of their arrival.
5. He wants to compete.
Allegretti has started in 13 regular season games and the Chiefs' Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers, but he's never been a full-time starter at any point in his five-year career.
Allegretti was looking to change that in 2024, and he wanted to join a team where he had an opportunity to compete. He viewed Washington as the prime spot for that.
"This was a great opportunity," Allegretti said. "I have a ton of respect for Coach Quinn and what he's been able to accomplish in his career. It looked like I had a great opportunity to come in here and compete. That's all I wanted."
The Commanders entered the new league year with several open spots on the offensive line. Starters like Charles Leno, Nick Gates and Saahdiq Charles are gone, leaving Sam Cosmi and Wylie as the only holdovers. Allegretti doesn't have much starting experience but was part of a unit that protected Mahomes as he put together an MVP season in 2022 and earned another Pro Bowl in 2023.
Allegretti isn't looking for guarantees; he just wants a chance to show what he can do to contribute.
"I have a ton of respect for the guys in Kansas City," Allegretti said. "I enjoyed my role there, but I think I had gotten to the point in my career where I wanted to come and be a starter in Week 1. That's my goal."
