Author: pittsburghsportsdailybulletin

First, congratulations on your 10 year anniversary! What were your first thoughts when the team contacted you to be a part of the celebration? Any reluctance? And how did they do so? 

My first thought, this will be a great opportunity to see my old teammates that made this dream come true as a player to win a Super Bowl.  No reluctance at all, I was excited about it.  They contacted me through email.

Continue reading “Exclusive: Steelers’ DB Willie Williams on the 2015 Super Bowl reunion”

First, congratulations on your 10 year anniversary! What were your first thoughts when the team contacted you to be a part of the celebration? Any reluctance? And how did they do so?

First off I would just like to say thank you for having me back – it’s always a pleasure and an honor. A letter and email was sent to me but I have been busy traveling and taking care of some family issues concerning my dad, so I had put it off until knowing the status of recovery. Willie Parker and I spoke a week prior to the events/ceremony and reminded me so I quickly contacted Lynne Molyneaux who works extremely hard and diligently for the Pittsburgh Steelers and putting these events together and she facilitated my travel and hotel arrangements. So needless to say there was no reluctance or hesitation once I knew I had the time.

Continue reading “Exclusive: Verron Haynes on the 2015 Super Bowl reunion”

First, can you let readers know about your post-NFL life. What have you been doing since the NFL and how you got started?

Well the first job I had after playing in the NFL was in the construction field. One of my
college teammates had his own company so I worked with him for several years. My next job was working as a counselor in a residential treatment center. This took place in
Houston, Texas. I moved to Jersey City, NJ in 1997 and worked for the Urban League of
Hudson County. In 2005 I started teaching and coaching football. I have coached football at Lincoln High for eleven years and have enjoyed it tremendously. It took me a while to find my niche but I found it.

Continue reading “Wentford Gaines, Steelers Cornerback, 1978-1979”

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

Well, it’s not really all that exciting, I started teaching high school and coaching wresting, along with some football, track & field, and even some golf – which I didn’t know a thing about! I knew enough not to screw them up I guess – they won a couple state championships.  I coached wrestling at Cedar Grove. We were the conference champions all three years and won the state championship my final year. Then I left Port washington and moved back to Coleman – I was waylaid on my way to Alaska. I coached the wrestling team there – where I used to wrestle.

Continue reading “Roger Pillath, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1966-1967”

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing since you’ve retired from the NFL and how you got started in these new ventures?

I’m currently an Executive Team Leader for a Target store in Alabama. I played pro football for four years on three different teams; the Steelers, Texans, and two seasons in the United Football League with the Las Vegas Locomotives. After my second season in the UFL, I had a decision to make; either continue playing another year in hopes to get back to the NFL with a slim chance considering being the 2nd or 3rd string tight end most of my professional career or start looking for employment to start building my professional resume’,  live in a city more than a few months at a time, and most importantly, leave the game in one piece.

I went to my Alma Mater’s campus at Mississippi State and was recruited by several companies. Having “Super Bowl Champion” and “UFL Champion” definitely stands out on a resume’!  I have been in retail for about three years now and I enjoy it!

Besides work, I like to do races such 5K races, mud runs, and triathlons. Having that competitive drive keeps me active and wanting to do and try new things.

Continue reading “Dezmond Sherrod, Steelers Tight End, 2008”

First, can you let us know a bit about what you’ve been doing since your nine years as a Steeler?

Well after my last year, in 1960 I coached in the AFL with Denver, for five years. I did some scouting for the pros and at the same time I was starting my own independent insurance agency. It took a while to get that jock strap syndrome out of my system – I wasn’t doing so well so I got serious about the insurance business and it became very successful. In ’89, I sold the business to my two sons.

Was it hard adjusting to the life after the NFL?

I don’t really understand the problems some people have with that. I never had a problem. I got married and started a family. If you dedicate yourself to your career like you do your sport….it’s hard work. But if you can’t adjust to that then you probably aren’t going to be a good ball player or in business.

When I started the insurance business others told me that I would never be successful. I was never one for never.

I also enjoy the nature here in Colorado – hunting, fishing, hiking…. I can’t navigate the mountains though like I used to.

Continue reading “Dale Dodrill, Steelers Defensive Tackle, 1951-1959”

First, can you let us know how you got involved in coaching with the Steelers and what you are doing now?

Well, I’m retired now.  After coaching with the Steelers for eight years I went with Bud Carson to coach the Browns for two years. Before that, I worked part-time with Sid Gilman in San Diego and McCarthy in Baltimore.

How did you get started in Pittsburgh?

My friend George Perles was at Michigan State – his assistant there was Henry Bowa. I was helping with the conditioning program there when Henry got a job with the Baltimore Colts. He talked to the coach there and I ended up going up there and spent a month on their conditioning program. They happened to win the Super Bowl that year. So I got calls from every team and every sport!  I went from week to week helping different teams. I worked in Pittsburgh part-time – the other teams I worked with on their Summer programs. In Pittsburgh I was so-called part-time, but it was really full-time. I never missed a practice or a game.

My job in Pittsburgh was to be the conditioning and special teams coach. I did most of the special teams – Chuck handled the quarterbacks – he didn’t have time to spend on special teams. So he put me in charge of probably 75% of the special teams. That way he could just put the blame on me!

Continue reading “Paul Uram, Steelers Conditioning and Special Teams Coach, 1973-1981”