Brett Keisel Brett " The Diesel " Keisel ( born September 19 , 1978 ) is an American football defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Brigham Young University , and was chosen in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Steelers . College career . Keisel was red shirted his freshman year at BYU . 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 . Professional career . Pittsburgh Steelers . Keisel was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers 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 . Personal . Lettered four times in football and basketball and twice in track at Greybull 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 . Although Keisel excelled at both football and basketball , he initially wanted to go to college for basketball . He researched the statistics of players that were currently in the NBA at the time and found that his size wouldn ' t compare to those playing basketball at the professional level . He then turned his attention and athletic ability to football and has been a force to be reckoned with ever since . Brett is the son of Connie and Lane Keisel . He has three sisters , Peggy , Kalli and Codi , and four brothers , Tom , Lance , Chris , and Chad . He is married to his high school sweetheart , Sarah . The couple have a three - year - old son named Jacob and a one year old daughter named Grace . " 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 " rally beards " during the playoffs 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 - Gazette " , 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 Super Bowl 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 dubbed the 2011 season " Da Beard Revenge Tour . " On February 9 , 2012 Keisel held " The Second Annual Shear The Beard Event " . Just as in the previous year , proceeds raised went to the Children ' s Hospital of Pittsburgh . It was announced on January 8 , 2013 that " The Third Annual Shear The Beard Event " will be held on February 7 , 2013 at Jergel ' s Rhythm Grille in Warrendale , PA with all proceeds benefiting the cancer program at Children ' s Hospital .