A Sad Goodbye to a Longtime Icon

 “Fear the beard,” will forever be embedded into Pittsburgh Steelers’ fans lives thanks to one man who became a loved symbol for thousands of fans. Yesterday, March 9, 2015, the Steelers announced that they will release long-time defensive lineman, Brett Keisel. For Steelers' fans, this is a goodbye to a man that everyone loved watching, year in and year out. No one can replace the bearded beast that everyone fell in love with in Pittsburgh.

We all loved watching him walk around in his helmet and the beard sticking out, still covering almost his entire neck. Even during the Steelers' bad games, no fans were ever able to pick anything out that Keisel did wrong. The lineman just never seemed to show a flaw. Watching him on Sundays made Steelers’ games much more enjoyable because who didn’t love talking about his beard every time the camera showed him and yelling “the beard!” whenever he made a tackle.

There are few players that represented the Steelers as much as Keisel has over the last 14 years. Keisel was never the ultimate defensive lineman and was never considered the best one in the league, not once. That didn’t matter though; Steelers’ fans loved him and never wanted anyone else on the field except him. Keisel was the sense of security and leadership fans loved to watch. You knew no one was going to get past him if he had any opportunity to make a tackle. Only a one-time pro bowler, Keisel never seemed to steal the hearts of anyone but Steelers’ fans. Even in 2002 when he was drafted in the seventh round, the Steelers still knew he was going to be special.

There’s never been a defensive lineman that has had such an impact on Steelers’ fans than Keisel. Watching him leave is one of the saddest moments as a Steelers’ fan. Although most fans knew this was coming, we all hoped that they would find a way to bring him back or he would retire. For many fans, we are experiencing the same feelings as we felt when future hall of famer, Hines Ward, had to decide whether to join another team or retire. I know many of us are hoping Keisel is going to choose to retire a Steeler and end his career as one of the most impactful Steelers in history.

Every Steelers' fan is going to miss Brett and the beard. Everyone will remember his shampoo commercials with Troy Polamalu and his outgoing personality both on and off the field. This sad goodbye to a longtime icon is one that I wish wasn’t ending this way. As much as I love to watch number 99 on the field every Sunday, with the full beard waving in the wind, it’ll be a disheartening moment when he’s lined up in other colors than black and yellow.