| Dieter Eiselen | |
| Position: | Center |
| Birth Date: | 10 June 1996 |
| Birth Place: | Pretoria, South Africa |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 4 |
| Weight Lbs: | 315 |
| High School: | Paul Roos Gymnasium (Stellenbosch) Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, Connecticut) |
| College: | Yale (2016–2019) |
| Undraftedyear: | 2020 |
| Pastteams: | |
| Highlights: |
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| Statleague: | NFL |
| Statseason: | 2023 |
| Statlabel1: | Games played |
| Statvalue1: | 26 |
| Statlabel2: | Games started |
| 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.[1]
Eiselen was born and grew up in South Africa where he played rugby and competed in Olympic weightlifting.[2] 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.[2] Eiselen was also a letterman in track & field and made the Dean's list.[2]
Eiselen graduated from Yale University in 2020 with degrees in economics and political science.[2] Eiselen started 34 games as a 4 year starter for the Yale Bulldogs.[2] 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.[2] In 2018, he was selected First-team All-Ivy League.[2] 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.[3] Eiselen was selected to participate in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Pasadena, California at the Rose Bowl.[4] He was also inducted into National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society.[5]
Eiselen was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on May 7, 2020.[6] 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.[7] On January 11, 2021, Eiselen signed a reserve/futures contract with the Bears.[8] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Bears on January 11, 2022.[9] Eiselen was promoted to the active roster on October 26.[10] On February 22, 2023, Eiselen was tendered as an exclusive rights free agent.[11]
On August 31, 2023, Eiselen was signed by the Houston Texans.[12] He was promoted to the active roster on November 11.[13]
On February 24, 2024, Eiselen signed a two-year contract extension.[14] On August 26, he was waived by the Texans.[15]
On October 8, 2024, Eiselen was signed to the Denver Broncos practice squad.[16] On October 19, the Broncos released him.[17]
On October 23, 2024, Eiselen was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad.[18] He was released on November 7.[19]
On November 12, 2024, Eiselen was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad.[20] He was released on November 26.[21]