Jan 2, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (35) and linebacker Shaq Petteway (36) celebrate a fourth down stop against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second half of the 2016 Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. The Mountaineers won 43-42. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Former WVU Star Nick Kwiatkoski Gives Back in a Big Way to Mountaineer Football

Originally posted on West Virginia Mountaineers on SI
By Schuyler Callihan | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 9:40 AM ET

The saying, "Once A Mountaineer, Always A Mountaineer," still rings true to this day, even in the age of the transfer portal.

Don't believe me? Look how much Beanie Bishop entrenched himself into WVU and the rivalry with Pitt despite spending just one season in the Old Gold and Blue. It still means a lot to those who come to Morgantown, including one former Mountaineer who WVU plucked out of Pitt's backyard, linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski.

On Tuesday, WVU announced that Kwiatkoski " made a significant leadership gift to the football program that now places him in the Summit Society – WVU athletics' philanthropic giving group, which recognizes donors making transformational gifts to help impact Mountaineer athletics."

"I grew tremendously as a player in the weight room, mentally, and in the film room. That time there was huge part of my life and helped me grow into the football player I became and just the person that I became," Kwiatkoski said. "Once you get there, the time you put in before you leave is a huge chunk of your life."

Details of the gift are still being worked out and will likely be announced at a later date. In this era where money is more important than ever in college athletics, every gift by a former player, alum, or employee will mean 10X more to the university.

During his time with the Mountaineers (2012-15), Kwiatkoski totaled 302 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 12 passes defended, 6.5 sacks, and six interceptions. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, where he spent the first four years of his career. The Bethel Park native then spent two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders and one with the Atlanta Falcons. He registered 293 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 12 passes defended, 10 QB hits, seven sacks, six forced fumbles, and two interceptions throughout his career.