Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First off, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your time in Pittsburgh?

I graduated with an engineering degree at Colorado, so after I got cut from the Steelers I started working for a niche federal agency that designs and builds the roads on federal lands and the ones that lead into federal lands – for areas like national parks.

I’ve been doing that for 17 years and have been to a lot of cool places across the Western U.S. My office is close to where I grew up actually.

I’ve worked at Yosemite, Lake Mead, Mesa Verde …it’s all an extension of my engineering degree and I just developed my career since I was cut.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Ryan Olson, 1998”

First, can you let me know how you got into coaching at Northwest Mississippi Community College?

For the most part I’ve been here since 201o teaching the offensive line, with a one-year stint at Pearl River Community College before I went back to Northwest.

I grew up in Chicago and played at Notre Dame – I was never in Mississippi before and never expected to be. But nobody wanted to re-sign me anymore in the NFL. I was never a starter in the NFL – I was always battling to make a roster. For me, it took all I had to make it in the NFL as long as I did. By 2008, no one was going to pay me what it would take to pay a veteran player to be a backup. You can say I was drafted out of football.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Jim Jones, 2004-2005”

First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL?

Well, I am a developer – I’ve been in real estate – have been a  general contractor and loved that work since I was in college. Even in high school really. It stayed with me. It was my first love. My second love was sports. Both required strong work ethics.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Anthony Anderson, 1979”

First off, what have you been up to in the offseason?

I’m just training – working on cardio and strength training. Nothing too crazy. Doing isometrics for and getting my body right for Spring.

I’m also spending time with the family – we just had a son a couple of months ago so spending a lot of time with him. And I like to bowl and fish when I get the chance.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Running Back Jonathan Ward”

First off, what have you been up to since your time working for the Steelers?

When I left the Steelers I was hired by the FBI. I went through the academy then worked there for seven-and-a-half years. It was a great career – I worked undercover – but that took its toll at home. After that I went into corporate security and am working now as a VP of Global Security. It’s been an interesting journey – it’s been an incredible amount of global travel over the last 16 years.

I worked for Bayer than Mylan – in one year I did six trips to India. Those frequent flyer miles paid for a lot of vacations!

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Scout Bill Scheider, 1998-1999”

First, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your time in Pittsburgh – and was it hard to adjust to life after football?

When I was done playing I landed in the scrap metal business with my father. I’m still in that business today – with Omnisource – it’s a large company owned by Steel Dynamics.

It wasn’t bad, the adjustment. I stayed in shape through 2009 to stay football ready. I had some interest from some smaller leagues. The main arena league went out of business – a number of smaller leagues were competing but the money wasn’t there. I realized I could make more money doing a regular job than banging on my body. I realized that the NFL wasn’t in my future.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Jeff Bradley, 2009”