Category: Steelers

First, can you let readers know about your coaching career?

I’m the wide receivers coach now here at USC. I started as a coach at Moorehouse College, coached high school for a while and then was the quarterbacks coach at New Mexico. From there I coached at the University of Kentucky before taking the USC job a couple of months ago.

I always wanted to be a coach – even as a kid. As a quarterback, I was the coach on the field so it’s a natural progression.Coaching was always what I saw as my future after playing.

Continue reading “Tee Martin, Steelers Quarterback, 2000-2001”

First, can you let readers know about the Golden Key International Honour Society and how you’ve been involved in this program?

Golden Key is a collegiate student honor society with chapters on 400 campuses world-wide. We invite to membership students in the top 15% or higher in their respective classifications equivalent to sophomore,  junior, senior and graduate levels. Honorary members include presidents, deans, distinguished faculty, community and world leaders. I have been the advisor to the Penn State chapter since 1988 and Honorary member since 1983.

I currently serve as chairman of the international board of directors.

Continue reading “Bill Asbury, Steelers Running Back, 1966-1968”

First, can you let readers know what you have been doing with yourself since you NFL days and how your NFL career impacted that direction?

I worked at Merrill Lynch for thirty-three years retiring in 2000.  I rose through the management ranks and my last position was Sr. Vice President and Co-National Sales Director of the Private Client Group ( branch office system ).  I retired to Santa Fe, NM.  I see my five grandchildren often and have been involved in many non-profit boards.  I play golf frequently and last year I qualified for U.S. Senior Amateur Golf Championship at 69 years of age ( second oldest qualifier ).

Continue reading “Bob Sherman, Steelers Cornerback, 1964-1965”

You were drafted by Redskins in 1959 – how did you end up in Pittsburgh in 1961 and were you happy about move?

When I was nine or ten I got rheumatic fever – that can cause scar tissue on the heart and valves sometimes. I was in the Army reserves in DC after I was drafted but they turned me down due to the scar tissue I had that caused a heart murmur.

I was ok in high school and at Pitt – I had no issues there and played both ways in college. I always wanted to play offense in the NFL but the Redskins had me play defense at the time until their doctors said I should stop playing and they put me on the expansion list. Minnesota picked me up and I talked to Coach Van Brocklin about playing offense. I got to play some early, but then they put me on waivers. I guess I wasn’t doing was well as I thought.

Continue reading “Dick Haley, Steelers Cornerback, 1961-1964, Steelers Director of Player Personnel, 1971-1990”

You were drafted by Green Bay in 1963. How surprised were you to get drafted by Green Bay?

I was thrilled!

You know, when I was drafted by Green Bay, I hitchhiked from Pittsburgh to Green Bay, signed in with Lombardi;s secretary and picked up my $1,200 signing bonus!

I was rafted by the AFL Chargers and NFL by Green Bay in 1964. Al Davis came to Virginia Tech to see me work out -he was an assistant coach for the Chargers then. The owner, Byron Hilton, did not offer me a contract, so I signed with the Packers.

Green Bay drafted me as a futures player. Back then the NFL tried to draft players early before they would sign with the AFL. Lou Anderson in Green Bay recruited me – he was a close friend of Lombardi’s.

Continue reading “Gene Breen, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1965-1966”

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself since the NFL – especially about Urban Impact and the church you started with former Lion teammate Luther Ellis?

When I retired I moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and helped set up a non-denominational church (with former Detroit teammate Luther Ellis). But then God called me back to Pittsburgh where I could help raise money and expand the ministry for Urban Impact. We developed baseball and basketball programs for kids – and I’m still working on raising money and developing programs.

How difficult was it for you adjusting to retirement from the game?

It wasn’t real difficult. I definitely miss the game and playing – but my body isn’t capable of playing now. That helped with the adjustment knowing I just couldn’t play any more. It wasn’t that I wasn’t wanted.

Continue reading “Jeff Hartings, Steelers Center, 2001-2006”

You’ve been a teacher and have also been involved in the Church of Scientology since the NFL. Can you describe what coaching and playing lessons from your time in the NFL have influenced your work in those areas, and how so?”

I taught in the secondary schools (Jr. High and high school) in Pittsburgh and California for three off-seasons. In fact in the spring of 72 Preston Pearson and I taught at a “continuation high school” for boys who went to our school or they went to juvenile jail. We gave them two rough and tough PE classes and they were very well behaved. They were also exhausted.

I went back to grad school for two off seasons for my Masters and teacher’s credential at the University of the Pacific. But Scientology helped me the most and gave me tools to get along better in life and particularly in my professions and relationships and I was better able to handle stress that accompanies pro sports and life in general.

Continue reading “Bob Adams, Steelers Tight End, 1969-1971”

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

I have done many things since I retired from the NFL – I’m helping people with alcohol and drug addictions as a counselor and doing interventions. When time permits traveling, bowling, going to baseball games and basketball games and visiting my grandchildren.

You started your career with the AFL’s Broncos in 1960 and actually scored the first ever points in Mile High Stadium (18 yard field goal). What brought you to the AFL and was a football career something you expected to realize for yourself? 

No, my first love was baseball – my uncle played in the old negro league and taught me how to be a catcher. I could throw you out from on second base without coming out of my catchers stance. What brought me to the AFL was my wanting to play some kind of sport. I wrote a letter to the Denver Broncos and they signed me to a contract for $6,500.00.

Continue reading “Gene Mingo, Steelers Kicker, 1969-1970”

First, can you let readers know what you have been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL and how you got involved in this line of work?

During my USFL years I got into medical sales  – I worked with a company in the offseason. Once my playing days were officially over  a pharmaceutical company approached me and asked me to work for them. I worked with them for about four years.

I was then offered a job at a local hospital marketing their outpatient physical therapy services and have been with that hospital (that has merged with another system) for nearly 18 years.

Continue reading “Buddy Aydelette, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1987”