Dan Kreider is a 1995 graduate of Manheim Central. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1999 with a B.S. in Business Administration. In high school Dan earned three varsity letters in football. During those three seasons, Manheim Central went 38-3 and captured three Section Two and three District III titles. Dan was named to the first team Section II All-Star Team as a running back and a linebacker his senior year. While rushing for 1,289 yards and scoring 32 touchdowns, he recorded 86 tackles on defense. He set school records for points scored in a game (30, twice), points scored in a season (194), points rushing in a game (30), points rushing in a season (176), touchdowns in a game (5, twice), and touchdowns in a season (32). He was also named to the All-State Second Team as a linebacker. Dan became Manheim Central’s first Big 33 All-Star Game selection in 1995. He also competed on Manheim Central’s Power Lifting Team for three years and won the 1995 State Powerlifting title in the 220 lb. class.

At the University of New Hampshire Dan played four seasons at fullback. He started his freshman year, had a medical red shirt in his second season and finished his college career starting the last three years. Although he was used mainly as a lead blocker, Dan rushed for 518 yards and caught 25 passes for 275 yards his senior year and was named to the Atlantic-10 Third Team as a running back.

After graduating from college, Dan signed as an undrafted rookie with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Assigned to the practice squad, he was signed to the active roster when Jon Witman was placed on the reserved/injured list. His outstanding play as a blocking back for Jerome Bettis earned Dan the Joe Greene Award given for the team’s Rookie of the Year. On December 16, 2001 he scored his first career touchdown, a four-yard run, which proved to be the game winner. He scored his first receiving touchdown on October 13, 2002, a four-yard pass from Tommy Maddox. But his main responsibility has been to block for such outstanding running backs as Bettis, Amos Zereoue, Duce Staley and Willie Parker. In 2004, Dan was selected as a Pro Bowl Alternate and is considered one of the top blocking fullbacks in the NFL.

The 2005 postseason saw Dan playing a key role in the Pittsburgh Steeler’s drive to the Super Bowl. In the AFC Wild Card Game, he helped the team rush for 144 yards. He had his first career postseason carry in the AFC Divisional Game and became a Super Bowl XL Champion on February 5, 2005.

Dan and his wife, Karen, have one son, McCabe, born June 9, 2004, and one daughter, Vienne, born May 3, 2006.