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First off, how did you get into scouting?

It started with Kevin Colbert in Detroit when I was playing. We developed a friendship and after I was done playing I started coaching high school football. He and Ron Hughes then offered me a part-time job scouting there with the Lions and I did that for three years.

Why did you come on board with Pittsburgh?

When Kevin left for Pittsburgh he brought me with him. I think he liked that I offered my honest opinions and I liked that they accepted those, right or wrong. I knew what kind of person he was after being around him for so long.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Scout Bruce McNorton, 2000-2022”

First, can you let me know how you got started with Nehemiah Builders, Inc. and the Ram Athletic Foundation, Inc. – including your contributions to youth sports after your NFL career? What prompted you to start those endeavors?

After retiring from the NFL, I moved back to my hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. My twin brother Ronald was in the construction business and a few of my family members were licensed general contractors. After working with family and learning the business, I decided to take classes to prepare for licensing.

After successfully becoming licensed, I started my own plan, design-build and renovation company. Coming from humble beginnings, my twin brother Ronald and I were the youngest of 18 children and my father passed when we were a year old. The poverty we endured compelled me to do better and be better. It is fulfilling to help others and give them an opportunity to excel and become their best self.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Donald Evans, 1990-1993”

First, can you let me know what you got into after football? Was the transition difficult?

I got into developing real estate – subdivisions and that kind of thing. My brother was involved in it and we both decided to form a company together.

I don’t remember the transition being difficult – it was seamless for me. After that first season with the Steelers I had to do my military service obligation and went into the Air Force. I was assigned to the Hamilton Air Force Base in San Francisco and ended up playing for their football team as well. Guys like Frank Speno, Bob McElwee and Charles Eckerly were all good players there too.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Lou Baldacci, 1956”

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

I work for a pharmaceutical company – Merck – as their operations manager. I’ve really been managing people since I stopped playing ball. I supervised group homes for kids and spent years in security first, since I had a criminal justice degree. I’ve been at Merck now for 19 years.

Was the post-NFL adjustment difficult?

After I was released in my second year in Pittsburgh I started working in the criminal justice system, so I was able to transition in the offseason. I worked with court-adjudicated delinquents. That made the transition easy for me before I started getting into other things.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End Michael Hinnant, 1988-1989”

First, can you let us know what you’ve been up to since your playing days?

After football, I moved to Michigan and got married and had a son. We bought some property here and built a house. We’re on 20 acres of land here.

My old roommate at Wayne State – he worked at Enterprise Rent-a-Car and helped get me a job there. I started off as a trainee and went on to manage their vehicle repair and maintenance for Southeast Michigan for three years.

Now, I just recently took a job with Amazon working in their fulfillment center in Detroit.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Joe Long, 2012-2103”

First – seems like you have a ton going on. Coaching, podcasts… What have been some of the key things you’ve found interest in post-NFL?

The biggest thing is getting to explore the different schemes that people run now on Pat McAfee’s show. I was in a Bruce Arians scheme for much of my career – now I can dive into other schemes and watch film as a coach and see the creative and different things others are doing. It’s fun to learn all of that and go talk about it.

Pat McAfee and I have been friends for years – we went to each other’s weddings. He asked me to come on and talk about offensive line stuff – to break down what was going on around the league on camera and show what I know and what allowed me to be successful over the years.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Center A.Q. Shipley, 2009”