First off, what have you been up to since your playing career?
I got my degree in Pulp and Pivot Technology – so I went into commercial and residential landscaping after football. As I got older I went more into earthworks – septic systems and building and fixing roads. I like working with my hands.
Was the post-football adjustment difficult?
I played for 10 years – I was ready – my body was telling me it was time ot get ready to stop. At the end of my career I was at 285 pounds – I was smart enough to start gradually dropping weight. I didn’t do it immediately – but I got to a healthy weight and maintained that. A lot of guys don’t do that and end up with a lot of stuff – heart conditions and stuff like that. I also did some coaching, donated to the community and public speaking ….I stayed active.
Were you surprised when the Steelers drafted you in 1976?
I know I sound like a kid, but I just had a sense of awe. They had just won two Super Bowls – I loved watching them. I was very pleased.
I wasn’t surprised but I also knew it was going to be an uphill battle to make the team with that defensive line. They actually switched me to offensive line at first. Their Philosophy was that if you play both ways you get a better appreciation for how the other side plays.
A lot more was legal then too – L.C. Greenwood had 75 inch long arms. He would head slap you before you got out of your stance. It was a different brand of football then.
Did any of those guys help you as a rookie – how so?
Everyone. it was constant encouragement – if you did a good job they’d pat you on the ass and if you screwed up they’d take you to the side and talk to you.
Dan Radakovich was a great coach.. We worked so much on technique. The Steelers didn’t manhandle you as much as people think – they out-finessed you. The coaches taught players the finer points of the game. They stressed technique and fundamentals. And once you were under that umbrella you were part of the Steelers family.
I remember when I was with Tampa Bay I tackled Mike Kruczek. He and I was buddies. He drilled the ball in the back of my head as a joke. It was a fraternity of Steelers players.
Any good memories of that time in Pittsburgh?
We trained at St. Vincents and it was run by the nuns – these sweet old ladies who could cook! They would grab Joe Greene and the other guys like they were their aunts or mothers and whack them in the back of the head if they acted up.
I also remember Joe Greene coming to camp in a Lincoln stretch limo, coming out and joking with everyone. Then I saw this finger come out of the window – it was his wife telling him to do something. All of the sudden you see this monster guy cowering! It was a good reminder that we are all just people with families.
What did the team say to you when they released you?
It was just a numbers game. I proved myself – they just said I needed more experience. They had nothing but compliments. It was clear early on if you were going to make it or not. There were just so many spots – especially on that defensive line. And those guys were still young men at the time – they weren’t in their 50’s!
There was an article in a Tampa Bay paper I wanted to ask you about, that had your picture on it, smiling after a loss to the Steelers….I wanted to ask you about that?
Ok we can hang up now!
That was a game where we lost to the Steelers 42-0. We were a team for the record books – we went 0-14! At the end of the game I was walking off the field when Mike Kruczek tackled me from behind. I got up and was like “What the…?” Then I saw it was Mike and laughed. But of course it happened with the scoreboard behind me so a photographer thought it would make for a great picture. The headline read “A real laugher”.
Did the coaches see it and give you grief?
Oh yeah. John McKay was real aloof – when he saw that, when he spoke to the team he said “Ed McAleney – who the hell are you?”
You went to play in the CFL after Pittsburgh – for Calgary. Did you like the CFL?
I just wanted to play – I didn’t care where. I enjoyed Canada. There wee good players there like Warren Moon that I played against. They were very welcoming – then after six years I went back and played for the Maulers.
Was it coincidental to go back to Pittsburgh?
Ed DeBartolo owned the Maulers – it was a different family and league – so it was, yeah. It was nice to go back – it was where it all started and ended. A full circle. They contacted my agent and asked me to play for them. It’s a great working man’s city and I’m a working slug so I was happy.
Do you watch the NFL today?
I watch games and see those roughing the passer penalties – Ernie Holmes would have been out of the league! And the new kickoffs – what is that?
I just don’t watch it much now – I have other things to do. I’ll watch the Patriots since I’m in New England – gives me something to talk about when we have coffee in the morning and I’ll watch the Super Bowl. It’s more of a social thing. And in New England you just have to be a fan of the Patriots.
I have a couple of friends and we laugh about the NIL. Cooper Flagg – I work with him on the local Hall of Fame here. He made 2.7 million in one year. My friends and I together played for over 23 years and didn’t make that combined over that time! I think back then we played more for the love of the game. Guys now go from school to school for more NIL money – I think that takes away from their amateur status. I don’t begrudge them the money – I’m just jealous I was 50 years too late!
Any other good memories to share?
I do have one I wanted to share yes. My son is as big Steelers fan. When he was 13 – about 20 years ago – he wanted to go see them play. We flew to Pittsburgh to see them play New England who was undefeated at the time. We went to the locker room and Dan Rooney greeted us and took my son in. He shook my hand like I was his best friend and introduced my son to Jerome Bettis and Ben Roethlisberger. They treated us so nicely. To this day my son is a huge Steelers fan.
So I would love to do it all again – it was a great thing to be able to say I did in life.