First off, congratulations on your retirement! What’s next for you?
Thank you! Now I’m just going to kick back and chill. To relax and take the Summer off. You work hard in this business – you know when it’s time to stop.
Mike Marchinsky will take over the role. He knows a lot of the guys from his marketing job and is a great guy.
How did you get started with the Steelers and in that role?
I had a job right out of college but I didn’t like it. I was young and still living at home. One of the projects included working with Joe Gordon, so I sent him my resume. They had no openings then. After a year I quit and called Joe and told him I was freelancing and to call me if he needed anything. He said that it was funny I called because he was just looking at my resume – that they had a job opening. I started two weeks after that and worked there for over 39 years!
What are the main aspects of the role and how has it changed over the years?
It started off as a PR job. They had no alumni relations role then. I worked with the media and on press releases and game programs. There was no digital media at the time.
I also worked in the press box on game days. The second season someone left the PR department so I took on some of the game entertainment work for Three Rivers – I raised my hand when that opportunity came up. Back then it was just anthem singers and marching bands – it wasn’t as elaborate then.
I also worked on the media guide. Over time the role evolved. Joe Gordon and I became the marketing department and started working on sponsorships.
Dave Lockett and I then split some of the community relations work – setting up players with appearances. It’s not like now – there wasn’t a role dedicated to that 100%. After 17 years though I walked away from the entertainment role. Somewhere along the way the alumni relations work just started. There was no time when it really started officially. Kevin {Colbert} asked me when I started doing the work and I couldn’t give him a real answer. It just kind of happened – it was a natural occurrence of being there. I enjoyed working with the players and their families.
How did you help players in that PR role?
Some players got it, some didn’t. I wasn’t allowed in the locker room then – women weren’t allowed in the locker rooms then. But you could see some just got it and would be good in front of the media – players like Dermontti Dawson and Max Starks. Even as a rookie I knew Max would be good. They were both so natural and well-spoken.
What are some of the more memorable moments in Pittsburgh with the Rooneys and front office staff?
I was fortunate to have been there when The Chief was still alive. He was just a wonderful man – a delight. Seeing him at the coffeemaker and him just asking about how you are doing. He liked my writing – he was always just a gentleman.
And having time with Dan – going to Ireland in ’97 for the game there. I was the lead on that trip. That was a wonderful trip – it was a lifelong dream of Dan to play in Ireland. My in-laws are Irish and came on the trip – my husband got to see the house his grandfather grew up in, which was nice.
Also – the Super Bowls and Barcelona trips were memorable too.
A lot of alumni need support – physical, financial, emotional, etc. How do you help them and their families get that support?
The league saw the need and created the NFL Player Care Foundation. That provides medical and free health screenings and helps guys with financial needs. We refer guys to the foundation and they provide case workers with knowledge in that space. The Rooneys have also helped guys on their own as well, on occasion.
Art loved this – we did quite a number of events at the facility and stadium – all totally free for players. They can receive over $8,000 worth of testing in one day and often find out things they didn’t know about their health.
In 2021 the CBA set it up for the league to provide all players under 65 years old a concierge who would work with a specific hospital in the area to set up medical appointments and provide preventive care. Ed Reynolds in our Legends Community wanted to try it out and got tested and found out he had colon cancer. If he hadn’t done that he wouldn’t likely be alive today.
Tell me more about the Legends Community?
That stated in 2013 – the league recognized the need to honor and connect guys. Roger Goodell felt that if a player signed a contract and played at least in one game, he was truly a legend in the game. He made it further than 99% of those who play football.
The first meeting we had 10 teams attend – it helped us reach guys and provide them with programming and contacts. Every rookie now is registered through the web portal and they can be notified and go to events, webinars – it can be an important help to players. In our last in-person summit in 2022 we had 75-100 people there – all the teams were represented. These players have paved the way – they need to be taken care of.
Any of the events/programs you worked on stand out most to you?
Coordinating the alumni weekend and Hall of Fame weekends. Getting all of the guys together is a lot of work, but sitting in the room with guys – some who hadn’t seen each other in 40 years and watching them reconnect. That was special. They were a brotherhood – especially those 70’s teams that didn’t have free agency, Having them all get together again and bond was great to see.
The Immaculate Reception is what turned me on to football. To be able to plan and be there for the 50th anniversary was fun. It didn’t go as we hoped, of course, but it put a great bow on my career.
Lots of turnover past couple of seasons in the front office – how do they keep their continuity and culture?
I hope they will. People there are still passionate about the team, and as long as that passion remains I think the continuity continues. And I’m always just a phone or email away.
Kevin Colbert is still involved, too. He and Art started the Lend a Hand program. Dan always shook everyone’s hands – they named it after that. This was an important initiative to Kevin – it means a lot to him. They do Zoom calls on different topics – it’s a way to further help players transition from football. He’s passionate about it still.
Change happens. I’ve seen a lot of change in Pittsburgh, but change can be good.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
