Steelers Fan Favorite Brett Keisel Tells The Story Of Why “Da Beard” Unexpectedly Originated In 2010

He was asked about the massive amount of hair on his face and admitted that his career and everyday life has been different since growing it out. He also credited the beard to a sport other than football.

“Big time. It totally changed my life. Grew it out in 2010. It was kind of an accessory to my hair. I was growing my hair out too. It was coming from the [Stanley Cup] win the year before in 2009.”

“I totally ripped it from hockey. There’s some good beards in the hockey world. The whole playoff beard and watching those guys, even if it’s a little shady,” Keisel said.

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After the Penguins’ championship, the Steelers went on to compete for one themselves and that’s what sealed the deal for Keisel in terms of his facial hair.

“We went all the way to a Super Bowl [against the Green Bay Packers] and we didn’t end up winning, but it was fun because afterwards we got to do something great and came up with ‘Shear The Beard.’ We raised a million bucks for Children’s Hospital and kids fighting Leukemia,” Keisel said.

On a more sentimental side, Keisel’s charity event had a personal meaning to him as friend and teammate, Aaron Smith had a son battling cancer while the two were playing together.

“Aaron Smith, his son Elijah had a battle with Leukemia when I was playing and that kind of inspired me and it has just been amazing and if you’re from around here, Steelers fans go crazy in supporting the team. Where else, other than Pittsburgh can you find someone to pay to a mountain man makeover and watch a guy shave?”

Keisel was asked if his beard helped him look and feel a little more intimidating when he was playing and he unequivocally said that without it, he would pretty much look like a baby.

“I look like a cupcake under this [beard]. It definitely adds some meat to the table. It’s been great. You play a little bit of a character and you go out there and you feel good. You look good, you feel good, you play good,” Keisel said. “It’s all about confidence, it’s all about believing in yourself. It’s all about swagger. If you don’t have those things, you’re going to second guess and question. I tell young kids too, go out there and believe in yourself and play hard.”