Brett Faryniarz American football player
Brett Allen Faryniarz (born July 23, 1965) 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 tackler" and an "occasional obstacle. " After starting three years for the Aztecs, Farnyiarz played for the then-Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent, where he played primarily on special teams. He gained moderate local fame for his legendary barcrawls, termed "Brett's Benders" by those fortunate enough to attend. Ultimately, his extracurricular activities were perceived as a distraction by his coaches, resulting in his being cut by four franchises in the final five years of his career. Faryniarz has since reformed his life, becoming a minister in the Ukrainian Orthodox church. He was born in Carmichael, California.