Brett Keisel
A Pittsburgh Steelers cult hero whose mountain-man beard and relentless play embodied the blue-collar soul of a championship defense.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American football player·Birthday: September 19·Generation X
Biography
Brett Keisel's story is one of patience and persistence paying off in the most dramatic fashion. Drafted in the seventh round—almost an afterthought—by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2002, he spent his first years primarily on special teams, learning behind veteran defensive ends. When his chance came, he seized it with both hands, and soon his distinctive, bushy beard became a symbol of the Steelers' tough, physical identity. Keisel was not a flashy stats machine; he was the anchor of the defensive line, a powerful and intelligent player who occupied blockers so linebackers like James Harrison and Troy Polamalu could wreak havoc. His career peaked as a vital starter on two Super Bowl-winning teams (XL and XLIII), embodying the Steelers' ethos of team-over-self. Beloved by fans for his everyman personality and community work, "Da Beard" retired as a Steelers lifer, a testament to the impact a late-round pick can have when he perfectly fits a team's heart and soul.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Brett was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brett Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Brett's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two Super Bowls (XL and XLIII) as a key starting defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Recorded a 79-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 2010 AFC Championship Game against the New York Jets.
- Was named a second-team All-Pro in 2010 and selected to the Pro Bowl in 2011.
- Played his entire 13-season NFL career for the Pittsburgh Steelers after being a seventh-round draft pick.
Did You Know?
His famous beard became a fundraising tool; he shaved it annually for charity in an event called "Shear Da Beard."
He worked as a janitor and a bouncer while walking on to the football team at Snow College before transferring to BYU.
He is an avid outdoorsman and hunter, which fueled his 'mountain man' public persona.
He and his wife hosted a long-running weekly radio show in Pittsburgh during his playing days.
“They drafted me last, so I had to prove I belonged on that line.”
