Dan Kreider
Encyclopedia
Dan Kreider is an American football
fullback
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers
as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football
at New Hampshire
.
Kreider earned a Super Bowl ring
with the Steelers in Super Bowl XL
. He has also played for the St. Louis Rams
.
's Manheim Central High School. He attended the University of New Hampshire
and was an A student and letterman in football. In football, he was a three-year starter at fullback, and as a senior, he posted 92 rushing attempts for 518 yards (5.6 yards per rushing attempt avg.), and 25 receptions for 275 yards (11.00 yards per reception avg.) and a touchdown. He majored in business administration.
in which he was not selected. After playing on the team's practice squad, he was signed to the active roster on October 17, 2000, to replace Jon Witman
, who had been injured. He remained on the active roster for the remainder of the season and was named the Steelers' Rookie of the Year, playing better than draftees Plaxico Burress
and Marvel Smith
. Started at FB in Super Bowl XL
vs Seattle, threw a key block on QB Ben Roethlisberger
's extremely controversial one-yard touchdown run, which he later admitted was not a TD on Jay Leno, late in the second quarter to give the Steelers a 7-3 lead.
It was announced on September 7, 2007 there may be some games during the 2007 season that Kreider may not even dress. It was also announced at the same time that he would not be the starting fullback, but rather Carey Davis
would assume that role for at least the first game. After tearing his ACL during the Miami Dolphins game, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve on November 29.
On July 22, 2008 Kreider was signed by the St. Louis Rams
but later released on November 23, 2008 . Kreider was the Rams' No. 1 fullback and played in all 11 games this season. He had one carry for no yards. Kreider wore number 36 for the Rams, the same number worn by the man Kreider once blocked for in Pittsburgh, Jerome Bettis
. Bettis played his first three years with the Rams before being traded to the Steelers. Kreider had previously worn number 35.
on April 2, 2009. The move reunited him with Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt
, who had previously been an assistant coach for the Steelers during Kreider's time in Pittsburgh.
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...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college 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...
at New Hampshire
New Hampshire Wildcats
The New Hampshire Wildcats, or Cats, are the athletic teams of the University of New Hampshire. The wildcat is the school's official mascot, the colors are UNH Blue and white...
.
Kreider earned a Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
with the Steelers in Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
. He has also played for the 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,...
.
College career
Kreider earned state Section II Best Player honors as a senior at Manheim, PennsylvaniaManheim, Pennsylvania
Manheim is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,784 at the 2000 census.-General information:*ZIP code: 17545*Area code: 717*Education: Manheim Central School District and Manheim Central High School-History:...
's Manheim Central High School. He attended the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
and was an A student and letterman in football. In football, he was a three-year starter at fullback, and as a senior, he posted 92 rushing attempts for 518 yards (5.6 yards per rushing attempt avg.), and 25 receptions for 275 yards (11.00 yards per reception avg.) and a touchdown. He majored in business administration.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Kreider entered the league when the Steelers signed him following the 2000 NFL Draft2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
in which he was not selected. After playing on the team's practice squad, he was signed to the active roster on October 17, 2000, to replace Jon Witman
Jon Witman
Jon Doyle Witman is a former professional American football player who played full back for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers-Biography:...
, who had been injured. He remained on the active roster for the remainder of the season and was named the Steelers' Rookie of the Year, playing better than draftees Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Antonio Burress is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers eighth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
and Marvel Smith
Marvel Smith
Marvel Amos Smith is a former professional American football offensive tackle. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State....
. Started at FB in Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
vs Seattle, threw a key block on QB Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
's extremely controversial one-yard touchdown run, which he later admitted was not a TD on Jay Leno, late in the second quarter to give the Steelers a 7-3 lead.
It was announced on September 7, 2007 there may be some games during the 2007 season that Kreider may not even dress. It was also announced at the same time that he would not be the starting fullback, but rather Carey Davis
Carey Davis
Carey Alexander Davis is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
would assume that role for at least the first game. After tearing his ACL during the Miami Dolphins game, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve on November 29.
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,...
but later released on November 23, 2008 . Kreider was the Rams' No. 1 fullback and played in all 11 games this season. He had one carry for no yards. Kreider wore number 36 for the Rams, the same number worn by the man Kreider once blocked for in Pittsburgh, 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...
. Bettis played his first three years with the Rams before being traded to the Steelers. Kreider had previously worn number 35.
Arizona Cardinals
Kreider signed a one-year contract with the Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on April 2, 2009. The move reunited him with Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt
Ken Whisenhunt
Kenneth "Ken" Moore Whisenhunt is the current head coach of the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team, leading them to the first Super Bowl in franchise history during the 2008 season...
, who had previously been an assistant coach for the Steelers during Kreider's time in Pittsburgh.