Dieter Eiselen
{{Short description|South African-born American football player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Dieter Eiselen
| image = File:Eiselen with the Texans.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Eiselen 2023
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|6|10}}
| birth_place = Pretoria, South Africa
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 315
| high_school = Paul Roos Gymnasium
(Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Choate Rosemary Hall
(Wallingford, Connecticut)
| college = Yale (2016–2019)
| undraftedyear = 2020
| pastteams =
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2020|2022}})
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2023}})
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2024|2025}})*
| status =
| highlights =
- First-team FCS All-American (2019)
- 2× First-team All-Ivy League (2018–2019)
| statleague = NFL
| statseason = 2023
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 26
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 =
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = EiseDi00
}}
Dieter Johann Eiselen (born June 10, 1996) is a South African professional American football guard. He played college football for the Yale Bulldogs at Yale University. Eiselen was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears after the 2020 NFL draft and became the first South-African non-kicker to be active in an NFL game his rookie year.{{cite web |author=Mayer |first=Larry |date=May 26, 2020 |title=Bears rookie followed unorthodox road to NFL |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-rookie-followed-unorthodox-road-to-nfl-south-africa-yale |access-date=June 3, 2020 |work=Chicago Bears}}
Early life
Eiselen was born and grew up in South Africa where he played rugby and competed in Olympic weightlifting.{{Cite web|url=https://yalebulldogs.com/sports/football/roster/dieter-eiselen/11440|title=Dieter Eiselen - 2019 - Football|website=Yale University}} Eiselen came to the United States and played football at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut and helped lead the Wild Boars to an undefeated season and a New England NEPSAC 'A' Championship. Eiselen was also a letterman in track & field and made the Dean's list.
College career
Eiselen graduated from Yale University in 2020 with degrees in economics and political science. Eiselen started 34 games as a 4 year starter for the Yale Bulldogs. In 2017, Eiselen was selected as a HERO Sports Sophomore All-American and an All-Ivy League honorable mention after helping lead the Yale Bulldogs to an outright Ivy League Championship. In 2018, he was selected First-team All-Ivy League. In 2019, he was selected to Phil Steele's Preseason All-American Team, First-team All-Ivy League, the ECAC All-New England Team, the HERO Sports All-American Team, the STATS FCS All-American Team, and the AP FCS All-American Team after helping Yale to a no. 23/22 national ranking and a second Ivy League championship.{{Cite web|url=https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2020/4/25/football-eiselen-signs-nfl-contract-with-the-chicago-bears.aspx|title=Eiselen Signs NFL Contract with the Chicago Bears|website=Yale University|date=April 25, 2020 }} Eiselen was selected to participate in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Pasadena, California at the Rose Bowl.{{Cite web|url=https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2019/12/11/football-eiselen-selected-to-nflpa-collegiate-bowl.aspx|title=Eiselen Selected to NFLPA Collegiate Bowl|website=Yale University|date=December 11, 2019 }} He was also inducted into National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society.{{Cite web|url=https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2020/4/15/football-yale-puts-11-bulldogs-in-nffs-hampshire-honor-society.aspx|title=Yale Puts 11 Bulldogs in NFF's Hampshire Honor Society|website=Yale University|date=April 15, 2020 }}
Professional career
=Chicago Bears=
Eiselen was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on May 7, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/team/transactions/|title=Transactions | The Official Website of the Chicago Bears|website=ChicagoBears.com}} He was elevated to the active roster on November 7, 2020 and became the first South African non-kicker to be active in an NFL game.{{cite news|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-add-five-players-to-active-roster|title=Bears Roster Moves: Bears add five players to active roster|newspaper=Chicago Bears|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=November 8, 2020|access-date=November 8, 2020}} On January 11, 2021, Eiselen signed a reserve/futures contract with the Bears.{{cite news |author=Mayer |first=Larry |date=January 11, 2021 |title=Roster Moves: Bears sign 10 to reserve/future deals |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-10-sign-to-reserve-future-deals |access-date=February 16, 2021 |website=ChicagoBears.com}} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Bears on January 11, 2022.{{cite web |author=Mayer |first=Larry |date=January 11, 2022 |title=Roster Moves: Bears sign 11 to reserve/future contracts |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-sign-11-to-reserve-future-contracts |website=ChicagoBears.com}} Eiselen was promoted to the active roster on October 26.{{cite web |author=Mayer |first=Larry |date=October 26, 2022 |title=Roster Moves: Bears promote Eiselen, sign Fountain to practice squad |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-promote-eiselen-sign-fountain-to-practice-squad |website=ChicagoBears.com}} On February 22, 2023, Eiselen was tendered as an exclusive rights free agent.{{cite web |author=Shapiro |first=Alex |date=February 22, 2023 |title=Bears re-sign OL Dieter Eiselen, per agency |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/bears-sign-free-agent-ol-dieter-eiselen-agency |website=NBCSports.com}}
=Houston Texans=
On August 31, 2023, Eiselen was signed by the Houston Texans.{{cite web|title=Houston Texans Transactions (8-31-2023)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-8-31-2023|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=August 31, 2023}} He was promoted to the active roster on November 11.{{cite web|title=Houston Texans Transactions (11-11-2023)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-11-11-2023|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=November 11, 2023}}
On February 24, 2024, Eiselen signed a two-year contract extension.{{cite web|title=Houston Texans Bolster Offensive Line with Dieter Eiselen Signing|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/texans-re-sign-ol-dieter-eiselen|website=nbcsports.com|date=February 24, 2024}} On August 26, he was waived by the Texans.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Cole |date=2024-08-26 |title=Texans roster cuts: Tracking the path to 53 players |url=https://texanswire.usatoday.com/lists/texans-roster-cuts-tracking-the-path-to-53-players/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Texans Wire}}
= Denver Broncos =
On October 8, 2024, Eiselen was signed to the Denver Broncos.{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Jon |date=2024-10-08 |title=Broncos sign veteran center to practice squad |url=https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/2024/10/08/denver-broncos-news-dieter-eiselen-signed-to-practice-squad/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Broncos Wire}} On October 19, the Broncos released him.{{Cite web |last=DiLalla |first=Aric |date=2024-10-19 |title=Broncos sign RB Blake Watson to practice squad |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-rb-blake-watson-to-practice-squad |access-date=2024-10-19 |work=Denver Broncos}}
=San Francisco 49ers=
On October 23, 2024, Eiselen was signed to the San Francisco 49ers.{{cite web|title=49ers Place Aiyuk on IR, Promote Anderson to 53-Man Roster and More Moves|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-place-aiyuk-on-ir-promote-anderson-to-53-man-roster-and-more-moves|website=49ers.com|date=October 23, 2024|access-date=October 23, 2024}} He was released on November 7.{{cite web |last1=Bonilla |first1=David |title=49ers bolster practice squad with linebacker signing |url=https://www.49erswebzone.com/articles/185868-49ers-bolster-practice-linebacker-signing/ |website=49ers Webzone |access-date=8 November 2024}}
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
On November 12, 2024, Eiselen was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars.{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Jaguars Make Four Moves to the Practice Squad During Week 11|url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/k000030-roster-moves-jaguars-make-four-moves-to-the-practice-squad-at-the-start-week-11|website=Jaguars.com|date=November 12, 2024}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2025.{{cite web|title=Jaguars sign 7 players to reserve/futures contracts for 2025 season|url=https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/2025/01/08/jaguars-sign-7-players-reserve-futures-contracts-2025-season/|work=Jaguars Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=January 8, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://yalebulldogs.com/sports/football/roster/dieter-eiselen/11440 Yale Bulldogs bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eiselen, Dieter}}
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:American football centers
Category:Choate Rosemary Hall alumni
Category:Alumni of Paul Roos Gymnasium
Category:Sportspeople from Stellenbosch
Category:South African players of American football
Category:Yale Bulldogs football players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:Denver Broncos players