Players

PRO (130-96/16-8): Signed a five-year contract with the Steelers on August 31, 2009 to remain with the team through 2013...named as the third Pro Bowl alternate at DE for the AFC for his success during the 2011 season…earned Steelers Walter Payton Man of the Year honors in 2011 for his efforts on the field but off the field as well…named to his first Pro Bowl for his play during the 2010 season...signed a four-year contract with the Steelers during the 2006 offseason...co-recipient of the “Chief Award”, given annually to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media (in 2006 with Deshea Townsend)...originally drafted by the Steelers in the seventh round (242nd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.

2012 (14-14): Started the first 14 contests at DE…10/7 vs. Philadelphia: Had three QB pressures…10/11 at Tennessee: Led all defensive linemen with four tackles…10/21 at Cincinnati: Had a season-high five QB pressures…10/28 vs. Washington: Led the defensive line with four tackles…added one QB pressure and one pass breakup…11/4 at N.Y. Giants: Led the defensive line with four tackles…added two QB pressures…11/12 vs. Kansas City: Recorded a season-high eight tackles…registered two sacks for a loss of six yards…marked the fourth time during the regular season that he registered two sacks in a game…sacked QB Matt Cassel at the Kansas City 43-yard line for a loss of six yards on a third-and-four on the Chiefs’ first drive of the game…11/18 vs. Baltimore: Was part of a defense that held RB Ray Rice to just 40 yards rushing…11/25 at Cleveland: Recorded a nine-yard sack in the fourth quarter to force a third-and-21 on a drive that resulted in a punt…now has three sacks in his last three games…deflected QB Brandon Weeden’s that LB Lawrence Timmons picked off for a touchdown on the Browns’ first drive of the game…12/2 at Baltimore: Led the defensive line with five tackles…had a team-high four QB pressures…12/9 vs. San Diego: Led the team with five QB pressures and added six tackles…12/16 at Dallas: Led the team with five QB pressures…recovered a fumble in the first quarter to halt a Cowboys’ drive in the red zone.

2011 (14-14/1-1): Started 14 regular-season contests and the lone postseason contest at DE…missed two games due to a knee injury…finished the regular season with 48 tackles, three sacks, nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries…named as the third Pro Bowl alternate at DE for the AFC…named the Steelers 2011 Walter Payton Man of the Year…9/11 at Baltimore: Recorded four tackles and three QB pressures…9/18 vs. Seattle: Had two tackles and two QB pressures…added one pass breakup…was part of a defense that held the Seahawks to 164 total yards and had five sacks…10/9 vs. Tennessee: Started at DE after missing two games with a knee injury…had three tackles and two QB pressures…added one pass breakup…10/16 vs. Jacksonville: Tied a career-high with two sacks, his first multi-sack game since 11/9/09 vs. Denver (2.0) and the fourth of his career during the regular season….added five tackles, four QB pressures and one pass breakup…10/23 at Arizona: Registered three tackles and five QB pressures…10/30 vs. New England: Logged one tackle, four QB pressures and one pass breakup…forced a fumble on a sack of QB Tom Brady with 19 seconds left in the game (the ball rolled out of the end zone for a safety)…was part of a defense that held the Patriots to 43 yards rushing and 213 total yards…11/6 vs. Baltimore: Made his 75^th career start at DE…had five tackles, one QB pressure and one pass breakup…11/13 at Cincinnati: Recorded six tackles and four QB pressures…added two pass breakups…11/27 at Kansas City: Tallied three tackles and two QB pressures…recorded his first fumble recovery of the season and fourth of his career…12/4 vs. Cincinnati: Posted three tackles and four QB pressures…12/8 vs. Cleveland: Recorded five tackles, one QB pressure and one pass breakup…was part of a defense that held the Browns to three points…12/24 vs. St. Louis: Started at DE…had four tackles and three QB pressures…AFC Wild Card Game 1/8 at Denver: Started at DE…left the game in the second quarter with a groin injury and did not return.   

2010 (11-11/3-3): Started 11 regular-season games at DE, missing five due to a hamstring injury...named to his first Pro Bowl...finished with 35 tackles, three sacks, 12 QB pressures, six pass breakups and six forced fumbles...recorded his first career interception and first career touchdown in Week 3 at Tampa Bay...was part of a defense that held opponents to an NFL-best and Steelers’ team-record 62.8 rushing yards per game...started all three postseason contests, tallying eight tackles and one forced fumble...9/19 at Tennessee: Had two tackles, one sack and forced a fumble... was a part of the defense that forced six Tennessee turnovers and held the Titans to only 46 yards rushing...9/26 at Tampa Bay: Recorded four tackles and four QB pressures...had his first career interception and returned it 79 yards for the first touchdown of his career...10/3 vs. Baltimore: Had five tackles and two QB pressures...10/17 vs. Cleveland: Left the game prior to halftime with a hamstring injury and did not return...inactive for the next two games due to a hamstring injury...11/8 at Cincinnati: Started at DE, but left the game in the first quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return...12/5 at Baltimore: Returned to the starting lineup after missing three games with a leg injury... had three tackles, two QB pressures and one pass breakup...was part of a defense that held the Ravens to less than 50 yards rushing and had four sacks...12/12 vs. Cincinnati: Tallied six tackles, one QB pressure and one pass breakup... was part of a defense that held the Bengals to 34 yards rushing, had three sacks and forced three turnovers...12/23 vs. Carolina: Had six tackles...posted a 10-yard sack in the third quarter…added two QB pressures and two pass breakups...was part of a defense that held the Panthers to 119 total yards...1/2 at Cleveland: Posted a five-yard sack in the third quarter, giving him three on the season...forced his second fumble of the year on that sack...AFC Divisional Game 1/15 vs. Baltimore: Recorded four tackles and one QB pressure...recovered his second career postseason fumble in the third quarter...was part of a defense that held the Ravens to 35 yards rushing, had five sacks and forced three turnovers...AFC Championship Game 1/23 vs. N.Y. Jets: Had one tackle,  one QB pressure and one pass breakup...was part of a defense that held the Jets to 70 yards rushing...Super Bowl XLV 2/6 vs. Green Bay: Had three tackles and one QB pressure...was part of a defense that had three sacks and held the Packers to 55 yards rushing.

2009 (15-15): Started 15 games at DE...had 63 tackles and three sacks...also forced one fumble...9/10 vs. Tennessee: Tied for second on the team with seven tackles (five solo) and had a team-high four QB pressures...9/20 at Chicago: Recorded three tackles (two solo) and two QB pressures...9/27 at Cincinnati: Finished with five tackles (three solo), one pass defensed and two QB pressures...10/4 vs. San Diego: Tallied one solo tackle and one pressure...10/11 at Detroit: Finished with four tackles (three solo) and two pressures...10/18 vs. Cleveland: Recorded three tackles (one solo), one pressure and one blocked pass...10/25 vs. Minnesota: Recorded six tackles (four solo), one pressure, one sack and one forced fumble...11/9 at Denver: Made his 50th career start at RE...recorded two solo tackles, two QB hits and two sacks...11/15 vs. Cincinnati: Recorded four solo tackles, one QB hit and three pressures...11/29 at Baltimore: Logged four tackles (three solo), one tackle for a loss and two QB hits...12/6 vs. Oakland: Registered eight tackles (four solo) and one QB hit...12/10 at Cleveland: Recorded six tackles (four solo) and two pressures...12/20 vs. Green Bay: Registered two tackles (one solo) and one pressure...1/3 at Miami: Was inactive due to a stinger.

2008 (10-10/3-3): Started 10 regular-season games at RE...missed three games from Weeks 3-5 with a calf injury...missed three games from Weeks 13-15 with a knee injury...finished with 34 tackles (25 solo), one sack and one pass defense...tied his career high with eight tackles (six solo) on 10/26 against the Giants...started all three postseason games...finished with 12 postseason tackles (eight solo), one sack and one pass defensed in the postseason...recorded his first career postseason fumble recovery near the end of Super Bowl XLIII clinched the Steelers’ victory...9/7 vs. Houston: Registered two solo tackles and led the team with three QB pressures...9/14 at Cleveland: Played in his 53rd consecutive game and made his 34th consecutive start at RE...had one assisted tackle before leaving the game in the first quarter with a calf injury...10/19 at Cincinnati: Returned to the lineup after missing three games with a calf injury...recorded three solo tackles and had two QB pressures...10/26 vs. New York Giants: Finished third on the team with a career-high (tied) eight tackles (six solo)...had one QB pressure…11/9 vs. Indianapolis: Recorded three tackles (one solo) and had one QB pressure...11/16 vs. San Diego: Finished with six solo tackles and recorded his first sack of the season…added one pass defense and one QB pressure...11/20 vs. Cincinnati: Made his 40th career start at RE...finished with four tackles (two solo) and one QB pressure...left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury...12/21 at Tennessee: Returned to the starting lineup after missing three games with a knee injury...finished with two solo tackles and one QB pressure...12/28 vs. Cleveland: Tallied three tackles (two solo) and two QB pressures...AFC Divisional Game 1/11 vs. San Diego: Finished with five tackles (three solo), one QB pressure and one pass defense...recorded his third career postseason sack... AFC Championship Game 1/18 vs. Baltimore: Registered two tackles (one solo) and had three QB pressures...Super Bowl XLIII 2/1 vs. Arizona: Made his fourth consecutive postseason start at RE...finished with five tackles (four solo), one QB pressure and recovered a fumble that the sealed the victory in the final seconds.

2007 (16-16/1-1): Started all 16 games at RE for the second consecutive season (32 straight starts)...has played in 51 consecutive games dating back to Week 14 of the 2004 campaign...also started the playoff loss against Jacksonville, recording seven tackles...finished with 49 tackles and two sacks...led team with 31 QB pressures...added five pass defenses and a forced fumble...9/9 at Cleveland: Tallied two tackles (one solo) and one quarterback pressure...was a big part of a defense that allowed only 46 yards rushing in the game...9/23 vs. San Francisco: Credited with one tackle and six quarterback pressures...also batted down one ball...part of a defensive line that held Frank Gore to 39 rushing yards...9/30 at Arizona: Recorded two solo tackles, two quarterback hits, four quarterback pressures and one pass defensed...10/7 vs. Seattle: Part of a defense that allowed only 144 total yards, 38 rushing yards, 106 passing and only eight first downs...10/21 at Denver: Recorded four solo tackles and one quarterback pressure...10/28 at Cincinnati: Finished with three tackles (two solo) and three quarterback pressures...11/5 vs. Baltimore: Finished the game with two tackles (one solo), one hit on the QB and one pass defensed...part of a defensive unit that allowed the Ravens only 104 total yards and five first downs...11/11 vs. Cleveland: Logged two tackles (one solo), one quarterback pressure and two passes defensed...11/18 at New York Jets: Racked up six solo tackles, including one sack for a loss of two yards...11/26 vs. Miami: Finished the game with five tackles (two solo), including one sack for a loss of three yards on Miami QB John Beck...was the second time in his career (2006) he recorded a sack in back-to-back games…12/2 vs. Cincinnati: Finished the game with three hits on Bengals’ QB Carson Palmer and added three more quarterback pressures...12/9 at New England: Tallied six tackles (three solo), one hit on the QB and one pressure on Patriots’ QB Tom Brady...12/20 at St. Louis: Finished with one solo tackle and one pressure on the quarterback...AFC Wild Card Game 1/5 vs. Jacksonville: Registered his seventh consecutive playoff appearance and first postseason start at RE and tallied seven tackles (two solo) with one pass defensed.

2006 (16-16): Started all 16 games in his first season as a starter...finished with 58 tackles, including 37 solo...also posted a career-high 5.5 sacks and had one fumble recovery...9/7 vs. Miami: Made his first career start at RDE...recorded two tackles (one solo) and one quarterback hurry/pressure...threw two key blocks to spring Joey Porter on a 42-yard interception return for touchdown that clinched the game...helped limit Miami to just 38 yards rushing, the lowest against Pittsburgh since Nov. 7, 2004 vs. Philadelphia (23 yards)...9/18 at Jacksonville: Registered four solo tackles and two quarterback hurries/pressures...9/24 vs. Cincinnati: Led the team with two quarterback hurries/pressures...added three tackles (one solo) and a sack for a loss of eight yards...10/8 at San Diego: Registered five tackles (four solo) and two quarterback hurries/pressures...recorded his second sack of the season...10/15 vs. Kansas City: Led the defensive line with four tackles (three solo) and two tackles for losses...helped hold Kansas City to 38 rushing yards...also had two quarterback hurries/pressures...10/22 at Atlanta: Recorded six tackles (five solo) and two passes defensed...added two quarterback hurries/pressures...10/29 at Oakland: Recorded three tackles (two solo) and one quarterback hurry/pressure...11/5 vs. Denver: Finished with two tackles (one solo) and a quarterback hurry/pressure...11/12 vs. New Orleans: Recorded eight tackles (five solo) and collected one sack...registered two quarterback hurries/pressures, first career fumble recovery and one pass defensed...11/19 at Cleveland: Recorded two solo tackles and two quarterback hurries/pressures...11/26 at Baltimore: Collected five tackles (two solo) and two quarterback hurries/pressures...12/3 vs. Tampa Bay: Collected five tackles (three solo)...added one sack for a loss of six yards...12/17 at Carolina: Collected two solo tackles and one quarterback hurry/pressure...dropped Chris Weinke for 1.5 sacks for losses of 6.5 yards...12/31 at Cincinnati: Collected two tackles and three quarterback hurries/pressures.

2005 (16-0/4-0): Finished the season with 13 tackles (12 solo) and three sacks...also had a productive postseason, finishing with two sacks (at Denver) and seven total stops...9/11 vs. Tennessee: Played 14 snaps on defense and saw action on special teams...9/18 at Houston: Recorded two solo tackles, defensed one pass and made three special teams stops (two solo)...9/25 vs. New England: Recorded one special teams assist...10/10 at San Diego: Recorded one special teams tackle...10/16 vs. Jacksonville: Recorded one solo tackle and one solo special teams tackle...10/23 at Cincinnati: Finished with two special teams tackles...10/31 vs. Baltimore: Made one of the biggest plays of the game when he sacked quarterback Anthony Wright on third down on the Ravens’ final drive, his first career sack...11/6 at Green Bay: Registered one solo tackle and a quarterback hurry/pressure...also added a solo special teams tackle...11/13 vs. Cleveland: Registered one solo tackle and one solo special teams tackle...11/20 at Baltimore: Made one tackle and one special teams tackle...11/28 at Indianapolis: Registered one solo tackle...added one solo special teams tackle...12/4 vs. Cincinnati: Recorded one pass defense on seven snaps...had one solo special teams tackle...also returned one kickoff for 11 yards...12/11 vs. Chicago: Recorded one solo tackle and a quarterback hurry/pressure...also had three special teams tackles (two solo)...12/18 at Minnesota: Recorded two solo special teams tackles... 12/24 at Cleveland: Recorded his first two-sack game for losses of 17 yards and his first forced fumble...added two special teams tackles (one solo)...1/1 vs. Detroit: Recorded one solo tackle on defense...made two solo special teams tackles...recovered a fumbled punt return by Detroit’s Eddie Drummond...AFC Wild Card Game 1/8 at Cincinnati: Recorded one assisted special teams tackle...AFC Divisional Game 1/15 at Indianapolis: Recorded one tackle and one special teams tackle...AFC Championship Game 1/22 at Denver: Recorded four solo tackles including two sacks and forced one fumble on defense...sacks totaled 10 yards in losses...the sacks and forced fumble were the first of his career in the postseason...Super Bowl XL 2/5 vs. Seattle: Recorded two solo tackles and one solo special teams tackle.

2004 (13-0/2-0): Saw action in 13 games and the two postseason contests...9/19 at Baltimore: Was credited with one special teams assist...10/31 vs. New England: Credited with one solo special teams tackle...11/14 at Cleveland: Was credited with one quarterback hurry/pressure...11/21 at Cincinnati: Suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter and did not return...was credited with two special teams assists...12/18 at New York Giants: Dressed for the first time in four weeks as a result of a hamstring injury...AFC Divisional Game 1/15 vs. New York Jets: Registered one solo special teams tackle...AFC Championship Game 1/23 vs. New England: Played on special teams.

2003 (0-0): Was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on August 31, 2003 following shoulder surgery.

2002 (5-0/2-0): Came on strong as a dynamic special teams player...played in five regular-season games and two postseason games...finished with seven solo special teams tackles...was inactive for first nine games...11/17 at Tennessee: Dressed for his first game in the pros...did not play...12/15 vs. Carolina: Made some big plays again on special teams...recovered a fumble on a muffed punt that led to a Steelers TD...was credited with three special teams tackles (all solo).

COLLEGE: Finished his career with 66 tackles (39 solo), nine quarterback sacks and 19 stops behind the line of scrimmage...was a Super Sleeper Team selection by The NFL Draft Report...majored in health sciences. 2001: Received All-Mountain West Conference honorable mention honors...had a banner senior campaign in his first year as a starter...recorded 41 tackles (23 solo) and ranked second on the team with four sacks, and third with nine tackles for losses...also forced one fumble... played in every game at defensive end. 2000: Made 22 tackles (13 solo), five sacks and 10 tackles for losses...transferred to Snow (Utah) Junior College in 1999...made three unassisted tackles at defensive end in 1998...redshirted in 1997.

PERSONAL: Lettered four times in football and basketball and twice in track at Greybull High School (Greybull, Wyo.)...was a four-time All-Conference selection...earned All-State honors as a tight end and linebacker (1995-96)...was USA Today Wyoming Player of the Year in his final season...also earned Sportslink Player of the Year and Conference Player of the Year honors in 1996...is the son of Connie and Lane Keisel...is married to Sarah...has two children, Jacob and Grace...Full name: Brett Keisel.