Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!
More than 1,000 interviews of Steelers players, coaches, front office staff, media and more with those that played in the 50’s through today’s current roster.
First, what have you been up to since your time with the Steelers?
Currently I’m an endodonist – a root canal specialist. I have practice here in Grand Rapids. I know it’s super fun – I’m sure people are shivering in their boots right now!
I’m married and have three kids – my oldest is five. So I’m in the thick of it now!
Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Tom Korte, 2009”
First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL?
Well, I’ve been volunteering here in Dallas at a private school for the last five years as an offensive consultant and quarterback coach. It’s the same school that Troy Aikman’s kids go to.
After the NFL I tried to figure out what I could do to make some money. When I’d go back and forth from Iowa to Dallas, I noticed the franchises that were there in Iowa and saw new ones opening up. I didn’t see any Wingstops in Iowa though, though I did see them in Dallas. I knew Troy Aikman was a spokesperson for them, so I reached out to him and asked him about the franchise. He told me he didn’t own any franchises but liked the brand, and put me in touch with the CEO. A few months later I was offered the territory in Iowa and now have three franchises in the Ames and Des Moines areas.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Seattle, Cleveland Quarterback Seneca Wallace”
First off, I know it’s been a while, but can you tell me what you did after football career and family-wise and how you got started?
I went into sales and ran the sales for a couple of companies over the years. Since then I dropped out early from my career – that was 28 years ago – because my wife had cancer and wasn’t supposed to live much longer. But she didn’t pass away like they said she would – we are blessed and she’s still alive today, though at our age we both still have issues.
I’ve been blessed in a lot of ways. I started in sales because my uncle worked for a company and got me involved. I started off in insurance but that didn’t work out, then went into sales.
I have two sons – both played at Iowa State, so it was fun to watch them. I have three children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren – with another on the way! And almost all live close by to us.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Quarterback/Punter Vic Eaton, 1955”
First, can you let us know what you’re doing with yourself now?
I’ve been in real estate now for 22 years. We put up and manage apartment buildings in New Jersey. We did houses but changed to apartments – we like that monthly cash flow! We have over 3,600 units and put up a couple new buildings a year.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Browns/Ravens Defensive Lineman Rob Burnett”
First, can you let the know what you’ve been up to since your time n the NFL?
Now I’m coaching my son’s middle school Little League Football team and his NYFL team. It’s something I want to continue doing – I enjoy coaching them and sharing my knowledge with the younger kids and seeing them progress. I want to see how the kids progress all the way through their careers – from 10 years old, to high school and college. Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Ravens Cornerback Duane Starks”
First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing since your time playing football?
Since ’98 I’ve been retired. I was in a car accident when I played for Kansas City that was career-ending – I broke my arm, had internal bleeding and a concussion. What’s crazy is I was number 57. Derrick Thomas was later killed in a car accident – he was number 58. And Wayne Simmons also died in an accident – he was number 59. We all had lockers next to one another.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Reggie Clark, 1994”
Franco Harris: “I always say that the Immaculate Reception was the biggest play in Steelers history and beating the Raiders in the ’74 Championship game was the biggest game in Steelers history. The Immaculate Reception gave us the winning attitude we didn’t have before. The ’74 game – when we won that and went to the Super Bowl – we knew then that we were the best team in the NFL. The ’72 win was about attitude. the ’74 win was when we knew we were the best. I was nervous that entire game until the final whistle blew!”
Continue reading “Celebrating the Anniversary of the Immaculate Reception”
Cliff Stoudt: “I remember in May in mini-camp, I watched Franco take a handoff and run 80 yards downfield into the endzone on his own. He was spinning and pretending to jump over guys. We asked him what he was doing and he told us he expected to score on every play. So the next day all the rookies started doing the same thing – just in warmups.”
John Dockery: “Franco – some thought he was quiet because he was just distancing himself from everyone else. But that wasn’t the case. He was one of my favorite players – he was such a warm guy. He was just quiet.”
Seth Myers: “When I hosted the NFL Honors Award Show, I got to meet Franco Harris. He told me that if I was ever in town to give him a call. Well I had a chance to take my dad with me to dinner with Franco in Pittsburgh. My dad has met Obama, but he could care less about that compared to meeting Franco! Giving that to my dad was a gift. And Franco – his integrity. He’s probably told many of his stories a million times, but when he tells them it doesn’t seem like it. Those stories are like gifts.”
Continue reading “RIP Franco Harris: Steelers Players & Other Comments on Franco”
First, can you let mw know what you’ve been up to since you retired from football?
I’m the Director of the K Club at Kansas State University Athletics – where I went to school. K Club is for all alumni across all Kansas State athletics that ever donned a K-State logo.
My job is to keep them engaged with the athletic department – reunions, connecting with old teammates and friends and to keep them engaged with current student athletes. We want to make it a great experience for current players and alumni.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman B.J. Finney, 2015-2019, 2021”
First off, when and how is the book available?
It’s available as an ebook now wherever you buy ebooks, and the paperback will be available December 20th at bookstores. If people want to order it now though they can go to our site at SteelersSavedPittsburgh and buy it there – we’ll ship it to you.
Ray – as a Dallas fan what on earth possessed you to write about the Steelers?
This was Tom’s passion project. He had been talking about doing the book for 25 years – writing about Pittsburgh’s transformation as a city and what made it different from other rust belt cities like Gary, Cleveland, Detroit that didn’t have a successful transformation. His thesis was that the Steelers and that play helped galvanize the city and he wanted to write about that.