All Articles – Page 44 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Exclusive with Tom O’Lenic and Ray Hartjen, Authors of Immaculate: How the Steelers Saved Pittsburgh

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.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Alvester Alexander, 2013

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

I’m an Athletic Director now at a middle school and high school. We’ve started a new school and are in year three here. This is the first year of sports – we have a number of different sports teams we’re launching, so I’m excited about that.

How difficult was that post-NFL adjustment and how did you come about that direction?

It’s something I always wanted to do. Growing up I had a good mentor who was an athletic director where I played. What he did for me was great – he was a mentor for me and I wanted to be that same kind of voice for kids.

The opportunity came so fast and at such a young age for me. I was still interested in playing football but to get that kind of opportunity…I spoke to my wife and family and decided to take the opportunity.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Alvester Alexander, 2013”

Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Jarron Jones, 2020-2021

First off, can you let me know your next steps in your football career?

I’m deciding now on which Spring league to play for. The XFL or USFL or maybe the Canadian Football League. I’m working in sales and marketing while I wait to make the decision.

Of course I’d like to be in the NFL but it doesn’t always work out the way you want it to. So now I’m seeing what happens with the CBA in the XFL and USFL – waiting to see how things unfold. Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Jarron Jones, 2020-2021”

Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Bill Priatko, 1957

First off, can you give some highlights on your life after football?

Back when we played the players all needed offseason jobs – we didn’t make the money these guys make today! So I had a job selling Wrigley’s gum – I was a gum salesman! I stayed with that for a time then after 12 years I decided that I wanted to work with young people – to teach and coach.

I went back to Pitt and got a Masters in Education and got my teachers certificate. I taught and coached at high school and became an Athletic Director. After that I coached at California State University and then went to work at Robert Morris College for 11 years as their Assistant Athletic Director. Then I became a high school Athletic Director at the end of my career.

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Exclusive with Travis Dorsch, Founding Director of the USU Families in Sport Lab

First, can you tell me what you are doing now and what prompted you to start the USU Families in Sport Lab?

After a couple of years in the NFL and overseas in NFL Europe, I went back to Purdue to get my Masters. I stayed and then got my PhD in Sports Psychology.

I was interested in studying the connection between better family life and sports – that’s when I founded the USU Families in Sport Lab . There we study the intersection between how sports influence family life and the reciprocal intersection of how family life influences sports.

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Exclusive with Former Ravens Wide Receiver/Return Specialist Jermaine Lewis

First, what have you been up to since your NFL playing days?

Oh it’s been a long time. I’ve been through a lot. Currently I’m working with Under Armour’s camps – they run them around the country for All Americans – and we’ve incorporated Football University in that as well. I’ve been doing that for six years. I started off at the bottom there and worked my way up to doing this.

Also, just recently I started job at a lumber company. It keeps me busy – I like it way more than I thought. I love the outdoors and learning the landscaping skills.

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Exclusive with Former Browns/Ravens Defensive Lineman Anthony Pleasant

First, tell us about the post-playing adjustments and how you got started in coaching?

I started off coaching Little League for my two boys. I enjoyed that. Then in ’09 Scott Pioli was hired by the Chiefs and I asked if I could come in and do an internship. I liked that and what I was doing there. They hired me as their defensive line coach the next season there.

I liked teaching the guys how to be physically and mentally tough. I liked doing that.

How do you teach guys to be mentally tough?

You have to show them how to endure change – to deal with what you can’t control. No matter what – no excuses – just continue to work hard and grind. You have to show them they need to play through pain sometimes and to be mentally tough that way. It’s a mindset you have to instill in them.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Anthony Brown, 1999

First, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since football and how you made the transition to post-NFL life?

I’m living here in San Antonio, Texas – I got my real estate license and have begun selling and buying houses here.

For me the transition was a little bit difficult. My career ended sooner than I anticipated. I signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh and was released after that first year. I wasn’t picked up by anyone after that.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Anthony Brown, 1999”

Exclusive with Mark Kirchner, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1983

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

Well, I retired in April of 2019. My goal was always to retire at 59 1/2. My wife and I were doing a lot of traveling before Covid so we’re hoping to be able to pick that up again.

I was the GM of a Nissan dealership for 25 years before I retired here in Houston. Before that I was in the banking industry for five years or so.

I’ve become an avid mountaineer, strangely being from flat Texas. I started climbing Mount Rainier in Washington state. I made the summit twice and started on a quest to climb the tallest peak on every continent. I’ve now climbed four of the seven highest peaks – Kilimanjaro Africa, Aconcagua South America, Mt Elbrus Europe, and Mount Kosciuszko Australia. Three more to go!

Continue reading “Exclusive with Mark Kirchner, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1983”

Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Clarence Washington , 1969-1971

First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL? What work/profession you got involved in and how you got started in that?

Due to my injury I received a settlement from the Steelers and temporarily retired from
football. Before leaving Pittsburgh in 1972, I served as Acting Assistant Principal at Rankin High School.

In 1975, when L. C. Greenwood was being courted by the World Football League, he
chose to stay with the Steelers, but encouraged me to join the new league. I made the team and helped lead the Birmingham Americans to the championship of the fledgling, World Football League. I was sidelined by a knee injury near the end of the season though and officially retired from football.

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