The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Brett Keisel in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft. When Pittsburgh took Keisel 242nd overall, not many expected that he would turn into a big-time contributor as the team went on to win two Super Bowls during his career. Though he was only selected to one Pro Bowl in his 13 seasons, his impact on the defensive line was immeasurable.
Jeffrey Phelps / AP photo
Steelers fan favorite, Brett Keisel (#99) displays "da beard" and gets excited in the middle of a regular season away game during his NFL career.
Keisel’s journey in Pittsburgh did not come without some lighthearted bumps along the way. On his very first day as a Steeler, the young defensive end was just trying to get used to a brand-new city and a new way of life. In the process, he managed to embarrass himself in a moment that still makes him laugh years later. Even though his career would be defined by toughness, consistency, and leadership, that early memory reminded fans that every star has humble and sometimes funny beginnings.
Keisel shared the story during his appearance on Good Morning Football Thursday morning. He admitted that when he first arrived in Pittsburgh, he did not know anything about the city, and his early mishap showed just how out of place he felt at the time. Fans enjoyed hearing the tale because it showed Keisel’s sense of humor and down-to-earth personality, qualities that, along with his on-field production, made him one of the most beloved Steelers of his era.
"I knew nothing really about Pittsburgh," Keisel said while speaking on the show. "My images of Pittsburgh was what I saw as a kid in books or anything. Looked like a dark steel town, smoke and smog everywhere. I was so shocked when I came through Fort Pitt Bridge there. We have a front door unlike anything else here in Pittsburgh. And they take us down, I go into the South Side facility. You spend the day meeting everybody after your first coming there."
Keisel was enjoying his first moments in the Steel City.
Not Just Football Podcast
Steelers' Brett Keisel and Casey Hampton on Cam Heyward's podcast.
His arrival and first look at the Fort Pitt Bridge felt special, but the real test came when it was time to meet Steelers owner, the late great Dan Rooney.
"And [Rooney] was the last guy I met," Keisel said. "And I went in this room and there's a guy with khakis on and he is just hanging out. He's got a polo shirt on and he's making copies at the copier. They said, 'This is so and so.' And I was like, 'Hey. It was a long day, nice to meet you,' and I walked out and I told my guy who was showing me around, 'Man, that's awesome, you guys hire senior citizens and stuff around here.'"
Keisel quickly found out that it wasn't just any senior citizen he just met.
"I was like, 'Oh my gosh,'" Keisel said.
Keisel explained that the Rooneys are like one big family. They have always been such an important part of the Steelers organization and the players’ lives.
Steelers' Brett Keisel Visits Team In Dublin, Ireland
He also got a chance to travel to Dublin, Ireland, for the Week 4 contest and shared how much that experience meant to him, especially given the late ambassador Dan Rooney’s deep history and connection to the city.
Shauna Clinton / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers fans waving their Terrible Towels at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, during the Steelers' 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings on September 28, 2025.
It is no secret how much that game meant to the Steelers. Current Team President Art Rooney II even surprised many by doing something he had never done before. He delivered a speech to the team before the game, showing just how significant that contest across the pond was. Keisel attending that game and reflecting on his early moments with the team shows just how much he remains a Steeler for life.
What do you make of Brett Keisel's hilarious story about his early moments in the Steel City? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.
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