Travis Kirschke

Infobox NFLactive


name=Travis Kirschke
currentteam=Pittsburgh Steelers
currentnumber=90
currentposition=Defensive end
birthdate=birth date and age|1974|9|6
birthplace=Fullerton, California
heightft=6
heightin=3
weight=298
debutyear=1997
debutteam=Detroit Lions
college=UCLA
undraftedyear=1997
pastteams=
* Detroit Lions (1997-2002)
* San Francisco 49ers (2003)
* Pittsburgh Steelers (2004-2007)
status=Active
highlights=
* Glenn Davis Award (1992)
nfl=KIR801429

Travis Kirschke (born September 6, 1974 in Fullerton, California) is an American football defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at UCLA.

High school years

Travis grew up in Yorba Linda, California and attended Esperanza High School. He was named a California High School player of the year his Senior season and also won the Glenn Davis Award for the best high school player in the Los Angeles area.

College career

Kirschke played college football at UCLA where he made 104 tackles and 6.5 sacks.

Professional career

Detroit Lions

Kirschke was selected by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 1997. In his rookie season he played in three games making his NFL debut on August 31 against the Atlanta Falcons. He finished the season with one tackle. In 1998, he spent the majority of the season on the injured reserve list and didn't get any playing time. The following year, he played a far more active role in the Lions starting line up with seven starts and 15 appearances. He finished the campaign with 20 tackles and two sacks. In 2000, he played in 13 games recording 13 tackles and 0.5 sacks. In 2001, his fifth season with the Lions, he played in all 16 games making 20 tackles. In his final year with the Lions he made 15 appearances and 19 tackles.

an Francisco 49ers

Kirschke signed for the San Francisco 49ers before the start of the 2003 season. In his only year for the franchise he started in 15 out of 16 games and had a career-high season recording 43 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Kirschke signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an unrestricted free agent on March 11, 2004. [{http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/players/playerpage/3791} Courtesy of CBS Sportsline] In his first season with the team he played in all 16 games and finished the season with 12 tackles and one sack. In 2005, he was part of the Steelers team who won Super Bowl XL and finished the year 13 tackles and one sack. The following year he made eight tackles and equaled his career-high total of two sacks. Last season was his most successful for the Steelers in terms of stats as he finished the campaign with 26 tackles and two sacks. [{http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4076/career;_ylt=AoZnUX7Moa7ZI5D.c229jp3.uLYF} Stats courtesy of Yahoo Sports]

References

External links

* [http://news.steelers.com/team/player/49199/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio]