Brett Keisel
Encyclopedia
Brett "The Diesel" Keisel (born September 19, 1978 in Provo, Utah
) is an American Football
player who starts at defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers
. Brett hails from Greybull, Wyoming
.
. He played defensive end his sophomore year and then the following year transferred to Snow College
. He then returned to BYU to finish his college football career. Keisel had a total of 66 tackles, with 39 being solo tackles, 9 quarterback sacks, and 19 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
in the seventh round (242nd overall) in the 2002 NFL Draft
. In his rookie year he made five appearances making four tackles. In 2003 he was on the injured list for the entire season after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury. He returned in the 2004 season with 13 appearances and nine tackles. The following year, he appeared in all 16 games recording 33 tackles and three sacks, the first of his NFL career. After the departure of Kimo von Oelhoffen
via free agency for the New York Jets
in March 2006, Brett signed a new four year contract with the Steelers worth a reported 14 million dollars. That season he won the 1st team position at right defensive end and played in all 16 games making 55 tackles and 5.5 sacks, a career high. In 2007, he made 16 appearances recording 39 tackles and two sacks. On August 31, 2009, the Steelers signed Keisel to a new five-year contract worth $18.885 million and includes a $5 million signing bonus.
In 2010, Keisel had his first career interception and first career touchdown in week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, when he intercepted a pass thrown by Josh Freeman
and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown. Keisel was also added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster for the first time in his career.
He is the son of Connie and Lane Keisel, he is married to Sarah and has a son, Jacob, and a daughter, Grace and a sister named Kodi.
, he said he wanted to change the team's luck, because it missed the playoffs the previous season. Keisel refers to his beard as a "beautiful thing" and "the greatest beard of all time" and has encouraged other Steelers to grow beards as well. After the Superbowl several videos were made about Keisel's beard, including one that portrayed him as a Hasidic Jew. On February 24, 2011, The Beard was removed during a ceremony titled "Shear The Beard" in downtown Pittsburgh. The event raised over $40,000 for the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Keisel stated that "Da Beard" will most likely return for the upcoming season. He stated, "Da Beard will decide when the time is right to come back," he said, "and it will all of a sudden appear." Keisel has dubbed the upcoming 2011 season "Da Beard Revenge Tour"
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
) is an American Football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who starts at defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. Brett hails from Greybull, Wyoming
Greybull, Wyoming
Greybull is a town in Big Horn County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,815 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Greybull is located at ....
.
College career
Keisel was red shirted his freshman year at BYUBYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
. He played defensive end his sophomore year and then the following year transferred to Snow College
Snow College
Snow College is a rural, two-year state college located in Ephraim, Utah, U.S. It offers certificates and associate degrees in a number of areas...
. He then returned to BYU to finish his college football career. Keisel had a total of 66 tackles, with 39 being solo tackles, 9 quarterback sacks, and 19 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Keisel was selected by the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in the seventh round (242nd overall) in the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
. In his rookie year he made five appearances making four tackles. In 2003 he was on the injured list for the entire season after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury. He returned in the 2004 season with 13 appearances and nine tackles. The following year, he appeared in all 16 games recording 33 tackles and three sacks, the first of his NFL career. After the departure of Kimo von Oelhoffen
Kimo von Oelhoffen
Kimo K. von Oelhoffen is a retired American football defensive tackle. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played college football at Boise State....
via free agency for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in March 2006, Brett signed a new four year contract with the Steelers worth a reported 14 million dollars. That season he won the 1st team position at right defensive end and played in all 16 games making 55 tackles and 5.5 sacks, a career high. In 2007, he made 16 appearances recording 39 tackles and two sacks. On August 31, 2009, the Steelers signed Keisel to a new five-year contract worth $18.885 million and includes a $5 million signing bonus.
In 2010, Keisel had his first career interception and first career touchdown in week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, when he intercepted a pass thrown by Josh Freeman
Josh Freeman
-2009:On November 8, 2009, Freeman started his first professional game at home against the Green Bay Packers. The Buccaneers won, ending an 11-game losing streak. He completed 14 out of 31 passes for 205 yards, 3 passing touchdowns, and 1 INT, including a fourth down touchdown pass to rookie Sammie...
and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown. Keisel was also added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster for the first time in his career.
Personal
Lettered four times in football and basketball and twice in track at Greybull (Wy.) High School. Keisel was a four-time All-Conference selection and earned All-State honors as a tight end and linebacker (1995–96), he was USA Today Wyoming Player of the Year in his final season and also earned Sportslink Player of the Year and Conference Player of the Year honors in 1996.He is the son of Connie and Lane Keisel, he is married to Sarah and has a son, Jacob, and a daughter, Grace and a sister named Kodi.
"Da Beard"
Keisel began growing "Da Beard" while on a summertime hunting trip with his father. Keisel's facial hair gained fame during the end of the 2010 NFL season. Many NFL players grow "playoff beards" to bring them good luck, but Keisel's has a significant following. His beard has its own Facebook page and Twitter account and has been mentioned repeatedly in the media during the Steelers' playoff run. In an interview on Steelers.com, he decided to grow out his beard after having a discussion about the lack of characters in the NFL. In another interview, though, to the Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, he said he wanted to change the team's luck, because it missed the playoffs the previous season. Keisel refers to his beard as a "beautiful thing" and "the greatest beard of all time" and has encouraged other Steelers to grow beards as well. After the Superbowl several videos were made about Keisel's beard, including one that portrayed him as a Hasidic Jew. On February 24, 2011, The Beard was removed during a ceremony titled "Shear The Beard" in downtown Pittsburgh. The event raised over $40,000 for the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Keisel stated that "Da Beard" will most likely return for the upcoming season. He stated, "Da Beard will decide when the time is right to come back," he said, "and it will all of a sudden appear." Keisel has dubbed the upcoming 2011 season "Da Beard Revenge Tour"