David DeCastro
{{Short description|American football player (born 1990)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = David DeCastro
| image = David DeCastro.JPG
| alt =
| caption = DeCastro with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2016
| number = 66
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|1|11|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Kirkland, Washington, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 316
| high_school = Bellevue {{nowrap|(Bellevue, Washington)}}
| college = Stanford (2008–2011)
| draftyear = 2012
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 24
| pastteams = * Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2012}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})
| status =
| highlights = * 2× First-team All-Pro (2015, 2017)
- Second-team All-Pro (2016)
- 6× Pro Bowl (2015–2020)
- Unanimous All-American (2011)
- 2× First-team All-Pac-12 (2010, 2011)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 125
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 124
| pfr = DeCaDa00
}}
David William DeCastro (born January 11, 1990) is an American former professional football player who was a guard for nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal, earning unanimous All-American honors. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft, and he was considered one of the best guard prospects available.{{Cite web |title=2013 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile |url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=82440&draftyear=2013&genpos=OG |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=www.NFLDraftScout.com}} He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection with the Steelers.
Early life
DeCastro was born in Kirkland, Washington. Of South African descent,{{Cite news |last=Thamel |first=Pete |author-link=Pete Thamel |date=October 19, 2011 |title=They Turn On the Power |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/sports/ncaafootball/stanfords-offense-is-built-on-rock-solid-linemen.html}} DeCastro grew up in Bellevue and attended Bellevue High School, where he was teammates with Stephen Schilling.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} He grew up a Seattle Seahawks fan, idolizing Steve Hutchinson.{{Cite web |last=Lourie |first=Steven |title=David DeCastro Interview |url=http://www.footballfanspot.com/daviddecastro.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227122509/http://www.footballfanspot.com/david-decastro |archive-date=February 27, 2014 |access-date=April 26, 2012}}
Also a standout athlete, DeCastro competed for the school's track and field team as a shot putter. He got a top-throw of 17.93 meters at the 2008 Washington 3A-4A State T&F Championship, winning the event.{{Cite web |title=Washington 3A-4A State T&F Championship - Boys 3A |url=http://wa.milesplit.com/meets/37206/results/68658 |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=MileSplit.com}} He also competed in the discus (top-throw of 37.24 meters).{{Cite web |title=David DeCastro {{pipe}} Stanford {{pipe}} Steelers OG |url=https://www.trackingfootball.com/players/david-decastro-7815/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023161724/https://www.trackingfootball.com/players/david-decastro-7815/ |archive-date=October 23, 2014 |access-date=October 18, 2014}}
Considered a three-star prospect by Rivals.com he was listed as the No. 11 center in the class of 2008.{{Cite web |title=Rivals.com |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-1827 |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=Sports.Yahoo.com}} He chose Stanford over offers from Washington, Washington State, and Oregon State.
College career
DeCastro attended Stanford University in Stanford, California, where he was a member of the Stanford Cardinal football team from 2008 to 2011. He did not play in any games as a freshman in 2008. As a redshirt freshman in 2009 he started all 13 games at right guard. He was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection and a first-team freshman All-American by College Football News.{{Cite web |title=2009 CFN All-Freshman Team |url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/927275.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003134046/http://cfn.scout.com/2/927275.html |archive-date=October 3, 2013 |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=Scout.com}} As a sophomore in 2010, he started all 13 games and was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection.{{Cite web |title=Coaches All-Pac-10 teams announced |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/16916/coaches-all-pac-10-teams-announced |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=ESPN.go.com|date=December 7, 2010 }} Following his junior season in 2011, he was again a first-team Pac-12 selection, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American. Under head coach David Shaw, the Cardinal finished 11–2 in DeCastro's final season. Afterward, he decided to forgo his final season of college eligibility and enter the NFL Draft.
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
In October 2011, Sports Illustrated{{'}}s Tony Pauline ranked him as the No. 17 prospect on his mid-season draft board.{{Cite news |last=Pauline |first=Tony |date=October 24, 2011 |title=Andrew Luck, Trent Richardson high in midseason NFL draft rankings |work=SI.com |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tony_pauline/10/24/top.50/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027214805/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tony_pauline/10/24/top.50/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 27, 2011}} As the season progressed, he solidified his status as a first-round draft pick.{{Cite web |last=Lande |first=Russ |date=February 9, 2012 |title=First-round board fluctuates as Combine approaches |url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-02-09/nfl-mock-draft-first-round-board-fluctuates-as-combine-approaches |website=Sporting News |access-date=March 4, 2012 |archive-date=February 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224101651/http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-02-09/nfl-mock-draft-first-round-board-fluctuates-as-combine-approaches |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |last=Banks |first=Don |date=February 22, 2012 |title=2012 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/don_banks/02/22/2012.nfl.mock.draft.2/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223035849/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/don_banks/02/22/2012.nfl.mock.draft.2/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 23, 2012 |website=SI.com}}{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Bucky |date=February 24, 2012 |title=Skill positions dominate top six picks |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2012/mock-drafts/bucky-brooks/75000 |website=NFL.com}} He attended the NFL Combine and was said to have "excellent movement skills" and was able to complete all the drills and positional workouts. Although he participated Stanford's pro day, he decided to only do positional drills, as he was satisfied with his combine numbers.{{Cite web |date=February 25, 2012 |title=DeCastro's solid performance should make him top-20 pick |url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-02-25/2012-nfl-scouting-combine-decastros-solid-performance-should-make-him-top-20-pic |website=Sporting News |access-date=March 4, 2012 |archive-date=May 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509223020/http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-02-25/2012-nfl-scouting-combine-decastros-solid-performance-should-make-him-top-20-pic |url-status=dead }} He was ranked the best offensive guard by Mike Mayock and NFLDraftScout.com.{{Cite web |title=Post combine position rankings for the 2012 NFL Draft |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d827642a3/article/postcombine-position-rankings-for-2012-nfl-draft |access-date=January 30, 2017 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite news |date=March 31, 2012 |title=Draft positional series: Offensive tackles, guards, centers |work=CBSSports.com |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/18193908/draft-positional-series-offensive-tackles-guards-centers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313001037/http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/18193908/draft-positional-series-offensive-tackles-guards-centers |archive-date=March 13, 2014}}
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4+7/8
| weight = 316
| dash = 5.43
| ten split = 1.84
| twenty split = 3.09
| shuttle = 4.56
| cone drill = 7.30
| vertical = 29+1/2
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 2
| bench = 34
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 32+3/8
| hand span = 10
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/players.php?GenPos=QB&DraftYear=2019&sortorder=TSXPos&order=ASC |title=Draft Scout 2019 QB Player Ratings|work=Draft Scout|access-date=2023-02-08}}
}}
=2012=
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected DeCastro in the first round (24th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft. He was the first offensive guard taken in the first round by the Steelers since Kendall Simmons in 2002 and was one of four Stanford players taken in the first two rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft.{{Cite web |title=2012 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
On June 23, 2012, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed DeCastro to a four-year, $7.81 million rookie contract that also includes $6.35 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $4.12 million.{{Cite web |title=Sportrac.com: David Decastro contract |url=http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/david-decastro-9834/ |access-date=December 9, 2016 |website=Sportrac.com}}
He entered training camp competing for a starting guard position with veterans Willie Colon, Ramon Foster, and Trai Essex.{{Cite web |title=Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart Archive {{pipe}} Ourlads.com |url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/134/PIT |access-date=January 30, 2017 |website=Ourlads.com}}
In the Pittsburgh Steelers' third preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, DeCastro suffered an injury and was forced to leave the game. After DeCastro was carted off the field, Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin stated that the injury was a "potentially severe" right knee injury. The injury occurred when he was engaged with Bills' defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and had his teammate, offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert, accidentally fell on his right leg.{{Cite web |title=Steelers' David DeCastro injures ACL, MCL vs. Bills |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/steelers-david-decastro-injures-acl-mcl-vs-bills-0ap1000000054841 |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=NFL.com}} It was discovered that he had suffered a torn collateral lateral ligament and a dislocated kneecap.{{Cite web |last=Scott Brown |date=December 19, 2014 |title=DeCastro overcomes two major injuries |url=http://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/3644/decastro-overcomes-two-major-injuries |access-date=February 1, 2017 |website=ESPN.com}} On November 26, DeCastro was returned to the active roster, while Gilbert was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite web |last=Hanzus |first=Dan |date=November 26, 2012 |title=Steelers' David DeCastro activated; Marcus Gilbert to IR |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000101543/article/steelers-activate-rookie-decastro-move-gilbert-to-ir |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205012122/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000101543/article/steelers-activate-rookie-decastro-move-gilbert-to-ir |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 5, 2012 |access-date=November 26, 2012 |website=National Football League}} On December 9, 2012, he made his professional regular-season debut in a 24–34 loss at the San Diego Chargers. The next week, he earned his first career start during a Week 15 contest against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished his rookie year starting the last three games of the 2012 NFL season.
=2013=
With the departure of Willie Colon and Trai Essex, DeCastro entered the season as the Pittsburgh Steelers' de facto starter at right guard. He earned the start for the Steelers' season-opening 16–9 loss to the Tennessee Titans. During the tenth play of the game, DeCastro accidentally whiffed during a cut block and fell down onto the back of Maurkice Pouncey's right knee. Pouncey tore his ACL and was placed on injured-reserve for the remainder of the season. He was replaced by Guy Whimper during the Steelers' Week 9 matchup with the New England Patriots after suffering an ankle injury.{{Cite web |last=Scott Brown |date=November 1, 2013 |title=David DeCastro ruled out with ankle injury |url=http://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/2137/david-decastro-ruled-out-with-ankle-injury |access-date=February 1, 2017 |website=ESPN.com}} He finished the season starting 15 games and was ranked the fifth best right guard by Pro Football Focus, as the Steelers finished 8–8 for the second year in a row.
=2014=
DeCastro returned in 2014 to complete his first full season after starting all 16 games of the regular season as the Pittsburgh Steelers finished 11–5. On January 3, 2014, he played in his first career postseason game as the Steelers lost in the AFC Wildcard to the Baltimore Ravens.{{Cite web |title=NFL player profile: David DeCastro |website=NFL.com |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/daviddecastro/2533043/profile |access-date=December 17, 2015}}
=2015=
On April 9, 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers exercised the fifth-year option on DeCastro's rookie contract, paying him a salary of $8.07 million for 2016. He also received a $3.20 million signing bonus for 2016.
In his fourth season with the Steelers in 2015, DeCastro started in all 16 regular-season games and was elected to his first Pro Bowl.{{Cite web |title=3 Steelers are Pro Bowl bound |url=http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/3-Steelers-are-Pro-Bowl-bound/0a04dee7-1319-4d23-834a-13d122c6ee2e |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=Steelers.com |archive-date=June 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610080725/http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/3-Steelers-are-Pro-Bowl-bound/0a04dee7-1319-4d23-834a-13d122c6ee2e |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Pittsburgh Steelers: David DeCastro |url=http://www.steelers.com/team/roster/David-DeCastro/77df3eb5-6638-4fa8-88a0-74a43a25a457 |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=Steelers.com}} Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 83.4 and ranked him the 15th-best offensive guard in 2015.{{Cite web |title=Offseason to do list for the Pittsburgh Steelers |url=https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-offseason-to-do-list-for-the-pittsburgh-steelers/ |access-date=January 30, 2017 |website=profootballfocus.com|date=January 27, 2016 }} He was ranked the ninth best offensive guard by Sports Illustrated after he surrendered only 1.5 sacks in 590 pass blocking attempts and was flagged for three penalties (all false starts) all season.{{Cite web |title=The NFL's best guards, No. 9 David DeCastro |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2016/07/13/david-decastro-steelers |access-date=January 30, 2017 |website=SI.com}}
=2016=
On September 8, 2016, the Steelers signed DeCastro to an additional five-year, $50 million extension. The contract includes a signing bonus of $16 million. Together, both extensions bring his present contract to a six-year, $58.07 million deal including a total signing bonus of $16.00 million and signs him throughout 2021.{{Cite web |title=DeCastro signed to new 6-year deal |url=http://www.steelers.com/news/transactions/article-1/DeCastro-signed-to-new-6-year-deal/0fafc309-9905-4b18-9743-1ca877bf34eb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121121456/http://www.steelers.com/news/transactions/article-1/DeCastro-signed-to-new-6-year-deal/0fafc309-9905-4b18-9743-1ca877bf34eb |archive-date=January 21, 2017 |access-date=October 11, 2016}}
He started all 16 regular season games and brought his consecutive games played streak to 56 in-a-row. The Pittsburgh Steelers finished first in the AFC North after achieving an 11–5 record in 2016.{{Cite web |title=NFL Player Profile: David DeCastro |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/daviddecastro/2533043/profile |access-date=January 31, 2017 |website=NFL.com}} They went on to defeat the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Wildcard, the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional, and lost the AFC Championship to the New England Patriots. The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line was ranked the third best by Pro Football Focus, with DeCastro being ranked as the Steelers' top run blocker. He was named to his second-straight Pro Bowl for the 2016 season.{{Cite web |date=December 20, 2016 |title=NFL announces 2017 Pro Bowl rosters |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-announces-2017-pro-bowl-rosters-0ap3000000760503 |website=NFL.com}} He was also ranked 97th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.{{Cite web |title='Top 100 Players of 2017': No. 97 David DeCastro |url=http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-top100-2017/0ap3000000805749/Top-100-Players-of-2017-No-97-David-DeCastro |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=NFL.com}}
=2017=
On December 19, 2017, DeCastro was named to his third-straight Pro Bowl along with fellow Steeler offensive linemen Alejandro Villanueva and Maurkice Pouncey.{{Cite web |date=December 19, 2017 |title=NFL announces 2018 Pro Bowl rosters |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/updated-player-rosters-for-2018-pro-bowl-in-orlando-0ap3000000895772 |access-date=December 23, 2017 |website=NFL.com}} He was ranked 44th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv3CsUpkxrg NFL Top 100 Players of 2018 - No. 44 David DeCastro]
DeCastro started and played in the first 15 games of the season and skipped week 17's game against the Cleveland Browns because the Steelers' had clinched a playoff berth.{{Cite web |title=David DeCastro 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DeCaDa00/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=www.pro-football-reference.com}}
=2018=
In week 1 against the Cleveland Browns, DeCastro fractured his right hand and was forced to miss the next two games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was able to play again in week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens.{{Cite web |last=Fittipaldo |first=Ray |date=September 26, 2018 |title=David DeCastro feels good, hopes to return to Steelers lineup soon |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2018/09/26/david-decastro-injury-broken-hand-steelers-ravens/stories/201809260155 |access-date=March 31, 2019 |website=post-gazette.com}}
DeCastro started and played in 14 games during the regular season.{{Cite web |title=David DeCastro 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DeCaDa00/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=www.pro-football-reference.com}}
On December 18, 2018, DeCastro was selected to play in his fourth straight Pro Bowl.{{Cite web |last=Varley |first=Teresa |date=December 18, 2018 |title=Six Steelers selected to the Pro Bowl |url=https://www.steelers.com/news/six-steelers-selected-to-the-pro-bowl |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=steelers.com}}
He received an overall grade of 71.7 from Pro Football Focus in 2018, which ranked as the 11th highest grade among all qualifying offensive guards.{{Cite web |last= |title=Pro Football Focus: David Decastro |url=https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl/players/david-decastro/7640 |access-date=March 31, 2019 |website=profootballfocus.com}}
=2019=
File:David DeCastro 2019.jpg ]]
In week 11 against the Cleveland Browns, Browns' defensive end Myles Garrett hit Steelers' quarterback Mason Rudolph on the head with Rudolph's helmet. Afterwards, DeCastro grabbed Garrett, pushed him onto the ground, and laid on top of him to prevent an even larger fight from escalating. After the game, Garrett himself praised DeCastro for his actions. The next day, it was announced that DeCastro would not be suspended for his actions in the brawl.{{Cite web |last=Lauletta |first=Tyler |date=November 15, 2019 |title=Steelers lineman David DeCastro praised as peacemaker for his role in 'Thursday Night Football' brawl, including from Myles Garrett |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/myles-garrett-david-decastro-steelers-browns-fight-mason-rudolph-2019-11 |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=businessinsider.com}}
DeCastro started and played in all 16 games during the regular season.{{Cite web |title=David DeCastro 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DeCaDa00/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=www.pro-football-reference.com}}
On December 17, 2019, DeCastro was selected to play in his fifth straight Pro Bowl.{{Cite web |last=Strackbein |first=Noah |date=December 17, 2019 |title=Five Steelers Named to the 2020 Pro Bowl |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/news/five-steelers-named-pro-bowl |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=si.com}}
DeCastro was released by the Steelers on June 24, 2021.{{cite web|website=Steelers.com|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-release-decastro|title=Steelers release DeCastro|date=June 24, 2021|accessdate=June 24, 2021|first=Teresa|last=Varley}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons}}
- [http://www.steelers.com/team/roster/David-DeCastro/77df3eb5-6638-4fa8-88a0-74a43a25a457 Pittsburgh Steelers bio]
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614033304/http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/decastro_david00.html |date=June 14, 2012 |title=Stanford Cardinal bio }}
{{2011 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{2012 NFL Draft}}
{{SteelersFirstPick}}
{{Steelers2012DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:DeCastro, David}}
Category:Players of American football from Bellevue, Washington
Category:American people of South African descent
Category:All-American college football players
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:Stanford Cardinal football players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Unconferenced Pro Bowl players