Steelers – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Lupe Sanchez, Steelers Safety, 1986-1988

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been up to since your days in the NFL – and about your investment work, including how you got involved in the investment business?

A lot has happened since I left the Steelers. I took advantage of an internship with Merrill Lynch that I found out about through the NFLPA, and got my securities license to become a stockbroker. So I’ve been in the business for over twenty years now.

I currently work for a company by the name of Stifel Nicolaus headquartered out of St Louis. It is a wonderful company to work for. My wife and I are raising two children, our daughter Jacque 19 and our son Christian 15. They are our pride and joy.

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Roy Jefferson, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1965-1969

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself since you retired in ’76?

Back when we played we had to work in the offseason – we didn’t make much money then. In the offseason I worked for WAMO radio station my rookie season helping to cover sports. Porkey Kenwood was one of the DJs then and he used to have sock hops all over the area.

Well, he got calls to do so many of them he had me go to some of the high schools and teen centers and do some for him when he couldn’t do it. I loved it – I would dance while playing the music. It was a ball!

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Larry Brown, Steelers Offensive Lineman/Tight End, 1971-1984

First, can you let readers know about your business ventures since your playing days, how you got involved in those and what you are currently doing these days?

I’ve done two different things. originally, a year before I retired, J.T. Thomas approached m and asked if I wanted to go into business with him working with the Burger King franchise, and I did. I did that from ’84 to ’91 or so, but there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for growth in the market.

We sought another opportunity and pursued the Applebees franchise. It was still early in their stages of growth. We joined them in ’87 and I’m still involved with them today. I’ve been doing that exclusively since.

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Hines Ward, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1998-2011

First, can you let readers know what you are doing with your time these days – what causes and business ventures you’ve been focusing on, and why?

I am spending most of my time trying to improve my broadcast skills with the elite NBC Football Night in America team. I have been blessed to be working with the creme of the crop in Bob Costas, Chris Collingsworth, Dan Patrick, and the rest of the best in the sports broadcast business. I call them the Mt. Rushmore of broadcasting. So I am pouring my time into learning from the greats, studying film, and doing all that I can to add to the NBC Sports team.

As far as causes go, I am still actively involved in my Helping Hands Foundation as well as the Caring Foundation in Pittsburgh. I also do as much charitable and community work for both Atlanta and Pittsburgh as I possibly can. So life has been pretty busy for me even though I am not playing the game anymore.

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Randy Grossman, Steelers Tight End, 1974-1981

First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself these days and how you got involved in the financial industry?

I am an independent financial advisor. The name of my firm is Wealth Management Strategies, www.mywealthmgmt.com.

I’ve been providing asset management services to individuals, businesses, and municipalities for going on 22 years. As well, I satisfied the requirements of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards 10 years ago.

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Jeff Reed, Steelers Kicker, 2002-2010

First, can you let readers know about your post-NFL life. What you’ve been doing since your time with the Steelers and NFL – especially as it relates to the football kicking camps?

Post NFL life has been interesting to say the least…i found myself depressed for nearly 18 months as I loved playing the game and missed it…after I finally snapped out of the “darkness,” I realized i had a degree from UNC in journalism…why not use it!!! I have not always made the best decisions in my life, as I admit I’m human…I helped so many people whom I crossed paths with and got bit by two of them in a very harsh way…”God forgive them” Ii say on a daily basis…

I have moved on to bigger and better things and have to once again resort back to working my way to the top, creating my own happiness, and praying for my family, which includes my parents, sister, grandmother, girlfriend, two beautiful daughters, and the pets! I have become closer to God in the last six weeks…wow what a smart decision that was…my whole outlook on life has changed…I struggle many times, but i also have realized that money does not solely create my happiness as I once thought…

I am on CBS Sports radio in Charlotte, NC…I have my own website, www.thejeffreedshow.com, which features my funny and sometimes serious podcast “Barely Controlled Radio”…I work with some local high school kickers and watch them succeed through their drive and extreme dedication to learning and mastering fundamentals and “the little things”…I am in the process of doing some radio in Myrtle Beach, SC…i’m working on dedicating lots of time to a charity of choice…hell, maybe I’ll kick a football one more time for someone…I haven’t lost it…and I’ll always give back to Steeler Nation and do as many appearances as possible…motivational speaking makes me “move”…those individuals/fans make me feel rather special!

I will give a special shoutout to Gene Muriaty, the man who taught me how to kick a football properly and the man i work for at National Kicking Service camps along the east coast.

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Johnny Dirden, Steelers Return Specialst, 1981

First, can you let readers know about your post-NFL work – how you got started and what aspects of the job do you enjoy the most and why?

Over past thirty years, it was difficult getting work but have settled in with a great career with Oxygen and medical related equipment sales, for past fourteen years.

How did your time in the NFL help prepare you for your post-NFL life?

Post NFL life was challenging to say the least. But somehow managed.

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Mike Vrabel, Steelers Linebacker, 1997-2000

First, can you let readers know about the 2nd and 7 Foundation – how it got started and what your role is with the organization?

Ryan Miller, a former teammate at Ohio State came up with the idea as a way to give back after our time together at school. My involvement was very high until recently when I began coaching.

Why did you choose to align yourself with this particular cause, and how can readers help support the organization?

We were very familiar with the right to read week after participating in it through Ohio State as players and we were comfortable going into second grade classrooms with books. We eventually decided to write out own series of books to read and give to each child. People can contribute online at secondandseven.com, or just check out the website and spread the word.

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Kordell Stewart, Steelers Quarterback, 1995-2002

First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself these days?

Well, lately I just ran my first annual combine and had about 110 kids for the city I live in. It’s a combine more than a football camp – thought next year I may make it into a camp too – have it be a part of something more.

Who is the camp for?

It’s for fourth through twelfth grade kids – to help them get ready for middle school, high school, or college. These are kids that didn’t get as much attention as some others – it helps give them an idea of what it entails to get to the next level. It’s an opportunity for them to see themselves on film – to allow for them to find success and fight the right school that’s the right fit for them.

I just came out of a divorce and have custody of my son. I’m taking care of him so that’s my biggest thing. It’s been a Summer of transition. So not doing anything else major – I want my son to be active. Right now he loves soccer. He likes baseball, basketball….not as much football. I’m trying not to put a lot of pressure on him. I just want him to be a kid.

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Mathias Nkwenti, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 2001-2003

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

Well, I’m back in Africa and enjoying life overseas, back here at home in Cameroon. I’m older now and realize what life is really about. Having two homes – here and in the United States – in both continents is paradise. It’s like being on vacation/

What was it like coming here from Cameron and ending up in the NFL?

There are lots of Camaroonians now in the NFL. Ndamukong Suh is from Cameron – and Romen Oben is as well. I spoke to him a lot when I was playing and looked up to him. I was the second man from Cameroon to be drafted. A lot of people have misperceptions about Africa – it’s a beautiful place. Cameroon is a third-world country but it’s beautiful – and every country has it’s problems. Look at the United States. But once you are on your own and have to pay your own bills, you see what life’s really about.

Continue reading “Mathias Nkwenti, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 2001-2003”