Bern Brostek


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.

High school

Brostek played high school football for Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Iolani is also known for sending Albert Tufono, Mike Pei and Willie Kava to the University of Washington.

College

Brostek attended 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:
Brostek was drafted in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft 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 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, including a string of 35 consecutive starts, but, in his final year, 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.

Retirement

Brostek is currently a high school football coach at Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Hawaii. One of Brostek's former players, Max Unger, is currently playing football for the New Orleans Saints after being part of a trade that sent Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks, and his son, Shane Brostek, committed to the University of Washington on a football scholarship.