Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First off, what has the offseason been like for you – what have you been doing to keep busy?

I was coming off of my injury last year- I tore my pectoral tendon and had to have surgery around Thanksgiving last year. I was rehabbing this offseason in Minneapolis before I signed with the Steelers.

I live in Indianapolis, but I’ve been in Pittsburgh now training with the team – meeting the players and coaches. Spending time in the meeting rooms and learning what the coaches expect from us.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Lineman Dean Lowry”

First, can you let us know what you’ve been up to since your time in the NFL?

After the NFL I took a year off to get my body right. My last season in the NFL was cut short after an injury to my knee that really ended my career.

I lost weight and after that year coached high school football at Pine-Richland then the last couple of years I’ve been helping out at Pitt with some video analysis for the team.

Any coaching lessons over your career influence how you coached?

I think it was really just basic stuff – it was high school so it wasn’t anything crazy I was teaching the kids. Basic stuff like pass protection calls and helping them to find the best way to identify blitzes and make calls.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Kraig Urbik, 2009”

First off, what made you decide to sign with the Steelers this offseason?

Well, I just felt like it was a good fit. A new beginning. Coach T. – everyone told me he was a great coach and when I spoke to him at the combine I could see that too.

Also, Frisman Jackson was my coach at Baylor. We had a great connection and I think we can continue that in Pittsburgh. So it was a good place for me to go.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Wide Receiver Denzel Mims”

First off, what are your offseason plans before camp kicks in?

Well, we went back to Australia a couple of weeks ago to visit my family. That was a lot of fun. It was out son Max’s first birthday so my parents got the chance to meet him for the first time. That was a nice time.

Why sign with the Steelers? Did you talk about what the Steelers want from a punter versus, say, Philly or Houston?

I think teams are pretty consistent all-around with what they want. I just wanted to be a part of such an incredible organization. That was a massive draw. And my wife is from Ohio so being closer to home was a big draw too.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Punter Cameron Johnston”

First off, can you tell me how you got into coaching?

During my time playing at Maine I loved the training aspect of football – preparing to play. I was a nerd about it – I would ask my strength coach Will Beaverstein why we did this or that. He told me I should look into this as a career – I seemed so interested in it. I was a communications major then though and just shrugged it off then – I figured I’d go work for ESPN or something like that – get into broadcasting.

But my Senior year I worked with Loren Seagrave at Velocity Training – he is one of the most prominent track and field coaches around. I was picking his brain and he told me I was so inquisitive – that I should think about it as a career. I asked him how and he told me I’d need to get my Masters, intern, get certified…

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Matt King, 2007”

First off, what are your plans for the offseason?

All I’m doing now really is working out in the mornings and hitting the field some days. I’m not doing too much else though. I’m just waiting to report back to Pittsburgh. I’m just vibing at the house. I do have one trip planned in July – to Jamaica for my pop’s birthday.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Cornerback Kalon Barnes”

First off, can you let me know how it’s going since your time with the NFL?

Well, my son is doing great at Liberty – he’s their safety and I think he’ll get drafted.

Give him any words of advice as a former NFL player?

My only words of wisdom were to stay focused and to keep doing what got you there. Everything else is irrelevant. I’m old school- the noise and lights and social media, they don’t matter. What happens between the lines is what matters.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End Harold Bishop, 1998-1999”

First off,  what’s the offseason plan for you?

I’ve been back here with my family in Ohio, spending my time lifting in a gym I used when I was off and on with the Cardinals last year. But I’ve been bored a lot of the time – I’m not handling the down-time well!

We did get out schedule and I’ll be heading to Pittsburgh April 15th.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Lineman Jacob Slade”

First off, can you let me know how you got started in your current position as Bishop?

I’m the current Bishop now of the Youngstown Catholic Diocese. That oversees six counties in Northeast Ohio. It was a great surprise and through Divine Grace, I got the call and was told the Holy Father wanted me to be the Bishop. I got that call on November 9th, and on November 17th of 2020 I was approved. In 2021 I was ordained.

I like to think that I am continuing on as a pastor, but my parish got much larger!

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Chaplain/Current Most Reverend David Bonnar, Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown”