Bern Brostek
Encyclopedia
Bern Orion Brostek is a former American football
offensive lineman in the National Football League
for the Los Angeles
and St. Louis Rams
from 1990 to 1997.
for Iolani School
in Honolulu, Hawaii
. Iolani is also known for sending Albert Tufono, Mike Pei and Willie Kava to the University of Washington
.
where he lettered in football
. Brostek was one of the top offensive linemen in the nation while at Washington, and received numerous honors during his time there.
His honors included:
by the Los Angeles Rams with the 23rd pick. Brostek played center
and guard
for the Rams throughout his career. After playing left guard for part of 1991, he replaced Doug Smith (offensive lineman) as the starting center for the Rams in 1992. Brostek did not miss a down during the 1992 season
. He remained the starting center up to the 1996 season
. Brostek started
every game for the Rams in 4 seasons (1992,1993,1995,1996), including a string of 35 consecutive starts, but, in his final year (1997), he played only a single game. On October 9, 1997, Brostek was placed on the injured reserve
list for back problems, and his career ended. In that 1992-1997 span, the Rams never had a winning season, though Brostek blocked
for 1,000 yard rushers such as Cleveland Gary
and Jerome Bettis
. In 1997, the Rams finished in last place in the NFC west division with a won-lost record of 5-11, and he was replaced at starting center by Mike Gruttadauria
.
Some of Brostek's teammates included Jackie Slater, Keith Loneker
, Jim Everett
, Henry Ellard
, Flipper Anderson
, Lawrence Phillips
, Tony Banks, Chris Miller, Sean Landeta
, and Isaac Bruce
.
coach
at Hawaii Preparatory Academy
in Hawaii. One of Brostek's former players, Max Unger
, is currently playing football for the Seattle Seahawks
. Prior to that, he was an all conference lineman at the University of Oregon
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive lineman in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Los Angeles
History of the St. Louis Rams
The following is a detailed history of the St. Louis Rams a professional American football team and member of the National Football League .-AFL Cleveland Rams :...
and St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
from 1990 to 1997.
High school
Brostek played high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
for Iolani School
Iolani School
Iolani School, located at 563 Kamoku Street in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a private coeducational college preparatory school serving over 1,800 students. Founded in 1863 by Father William R. Scott, it was the principal school of the former Anglican Church of Hawaii. It was patronized by Kamehameha IV...
in Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. Iolani is also known for sending Albert Tufono, Mike Pei and Willie Kava to the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
.
College
Brostek attended the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
where he lettered in football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. Brostek was one of the top offensive linemen in the nation while at Washington, and received numerous honors during his time there.
His honors included:
- 1988 Rising Award (given to the most outstanding lineman at Washington).
- 1989 John P. Angel Award (given to the most outstanding offensive lineman at Washington).
- 1989 Morris Trophy (given to the most outstanding lineman in the Pac-10).
- 1989 Pete GrossPete GrossPeter R. Gross, a Northwest sports announcer, was a household name in Seattle, Washington for 17 years as the "Voice of the Seahawks." He spent most of his career as a radio play-by-play announcer with KIRO...
Player of the year Award (given to the most outstanding player at Washington).
Ram center
Brostek was drafted in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft1990 NFL Draft
The 1990 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990...
by the Los Angeles Rams with the 23rd pick. Brostek played center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
and guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
for the Rams throughout his career. After playing left guard for part of 1991, he replaced Doug Smith (offensive lineman) as the starting center for the Rams in 1992. Brostek did not miss a down during the 1992 season
1992 Los Angeles Rams season
The 1992 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 55th year with the National Football League and the 47th season in Los Angeles.-Staff:-Schedule:-See also:Other Anaheim–based teams in 1992* California Angels ...
. He remained the starting center up to the 1996 season
1996 St. Louis Rams season
The 1996 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 59th year with the National Football League and the second season in St. Louis. It was marked by a 59-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in week 11. The Rams' point tally in that game was the highest by an NFL team since 1989, when the Cincinnati...
. Brostek started
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
every game for the Rams in 4 seasons (1992,1993,1995,1996), including a string of 35 consecutive starts, but, in his final year (1997), he played only a single game. On October 9, 1997, Brostek was placed on the injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
list for back problems, and his career ended. In that 1992-1997 span, the Rams never had a winning season, though Brostek blocked
Blocking (American football)
In American football, blocking is a legal move occurring when one player obstructs another player's path with his body. The purpose of blocking is to prevent defensive players tackling the ball carrier, or to protect the quarterback while attempting to pass or hand-off the ball...
for 1,000 yard rushers such as Cleveland Gary
Cleveland Gary
Cleveland Everette Gary also known as Cleveland Edward Gary , is a former professional American football player who was selected in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams...
and Jerome Bettis
Jerome Bettis
Jerome Abram "The Bus" Bettis is a retired American football halfback who played for the NFL's Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. Bettis is considered one of the best big backs ever because his footwork and power, and is currently fifth on the National Football League's all-time...
. In 1997, the Rams finished in last place in the NFC west division with a won-lost record of 5-11, and he was replaced at starting center by Mike Gruttadauria
Mike Gruttadauria
Michael Jason Gruttadauria is a former center who played eight seasons in the National Football League with the St. Louis Rams and the Arizona Cardinals.-NFL center:...
.
Some of Brostek's teammates included Jackie Slater, Keith Loneker
Keith Loneker
Keith Loneker is an American actor. For much of his short career, his large football-lineman build has garnered him roles largely as thugs or football players...
, Jim Everett
Jim Everett
James Samuel Everett III is a retired professional American football quarterback who played for twelve seasons in the National Football League ....
, Henry Ellard
Henry Ellard
Henry Austin Ellard is a former American football wide receiver who played for the Los Angeles Rams , Washington Redskins , and the New England Patriots . Ellard qualified for Olympic trials in 1992 with his 54.1 foot triple jump.-High school and college:Ellard attended Hoover High School in...
, Flipper Anderson
Flipper Anderson
Willie Lee "Flipper" Anderson, Jr. is a former American football wide receiver who played for the Los Angeles Rams , the Indianapolis Colts , the Washington Redskins , and the Denver Broncos...
, Lawrence Phillips
Lawrence Phillips
Lawrence Lamond Phillips is a former professional American football and Canadian football running back. Phillips's trouble with the law and inability to produce in the NFL have led many critics to label him as a bust....
, Tony Banks, Chris Miller, Sean Landeta
Sean Landeta
Sean Edward Landeta is a former American football punter who played in both the United States Football League and the National Football League...
, and Isaac Bruce
Isaac Bruce
Isaac Isidore Bruce is a retired American football wide receiver. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Memphis....
.
Retirement
Brostek is currently a high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
at Hawaii Preparatory Academy
Hawaii Preparatory Academy
Hawaii Preparatory Academy is a coeducational, boarding, independent school in Kamuela, Hawaii teaching kindergarten through the twelfth grade. Founded in 1949 by The Right Reverend Harry S. Kennedy, Episcopal Bishop of Honolulu, the school came of age under the leadership of James Monroe Taylor...
in Hawaii. One of Brostek's former players, Max Unger
Max Unger
Maxwell McCandless Unger is an NFL center for the Seattle Seahawks. He played high school football at Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Kamuela, Hawaii, and college football for the University of Oregon.-College career:...
, is currently playing football for the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. Prior to that, he was an all conference lineman at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
.