Brett Faryniarz


Brett Allen Faryniarz is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for seven seasons in the NFL. In college, he was a defensive standout for the San Diego State Aztecs, starring on the team's much-maligned "Ocean Breeze" defense. The name derived from a comment by former UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman, who compared the team's pass defense to "just playing catch in the open air." Despite the defense's generally poor caliber, Faryniarz developed a reputation as a "solid quarterback sacker" and laid out Aikman twice during the SDSU UCLA game in the Rose Bowl. After starting three years for the Aztecs, Faryniarz played for the then-Los Angeles Rams, where he played linebacker. He finished his career on the inaugural Carolina Panthers team in 1995.
He was born in Carmichael, California.