Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First, can you let me know what you’re doing with yourself since you’ve retired from the NFL? 

Well, I’m on the path to getting my MBA. I’m working on logistics and strategy in business. The holdup for me is that I have the have a certain amount of work experience – I was conditionally accepted for the program but I need real experience. I tried to convince them that my time on the NFL counted – to twist that, but they didn’t accept that understandably. So I have to build my resume.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers WR Isaac Blakeney, 2016”

First  – you’re a busy guy – tell me about the various things you have going on right now

The first thing is my energy business –  we ship coal to utilities and export them from West Virginia.

But I’m now in the Agro-Med business – we have obtained a license for growing medical cannabis and are constructing greenhouses in Pennsylvania. We were one of twelve companies to be issues licenses by the state and have to have them up and running by the end of the year. So that’s obviously on the frontburner…

And I’m still doing the broadcasts for Penn State – I’m staying busy…

Continue reading “Exclusive with Jack Ham, Steelers Linebacker, 1971-1982”

First – we’ve been chatting back and forth on Twitter as you’e been traveling across the country. Tell me about the trip – what drove you to start the trip and how it’s going.

Well I ride a lot – I have a couple of bikes. I stay on the West Coast normally – I usually go back and forth from Kansas City since I had kids in the area – I’ve probably done that ten times already. But I’m riding now to West Point to see my son – he’s a law major there. He plays football there and there’s a list of things other than football he can do. He’s struggling a bit – his older brother started at the Naval Academy and I think my younger son is trying to hold himself up to that too. I guess I’m going there to tell him it’s ok to walk away from the game – the game ends for us all at some point.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers OL Lonnie Palelei, 1993-1996”

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

I was coaching youth football for the past two years but stopped now since my son’s now playing baseball instead of football. I’m following him full-time – following him and his dream.

I’m retired now. And I’m giving back to the inner city community – that’s my passion. Seeing kids follow their dreams through athletics and coaching them to succeed.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Tight End Eric Green, 1990-1994”

First, how did you find your way to Pittsburgh as their Linebackers  Coach in 1973 when you started with the Steelers?

I was the Linebackers Coach at the University of Minnesota previously, but I had coached at Michigan State before that. George Perles was the coach there and he used to be the Steelers Defensive Coordinator. So when the job opened up he recommended me to Chuck and I interviewed with him and he hired me.

Why do you think he wanted you to take over?

I had no experience as a player or coach in the NFL. But he told me he was looking for a teacher. That was his primary goal – he wanted someone to come in and teach his stuff to the players.

Continue reading “Exclusive: Woody Widenhofer, Steelers Linebacker Coach & Defensive Coordinator, 1973-1983”

You’re a busy guy! So let’s start with some of the work you’re doing now with your LaMarr Woodley Camp5 6 program – tell us about that?

Well, Camp 56 is designed for all kinds of athletes. High school athletes who aren’t getting attention from colleges come to the camp – and we have coaches from D2 and D3 schools come in to work wth them to try to find those diamonds in the rough. Many of these kids are from small school, schools with bad teams or who have coaches that don’t do a great job of getting the word out about their players.

We give these kids the college feel – we bring it to life. I’ve been doing this for two years now. We had eighty kids last year – we try to keep it small so that all of the kids get reps and exposure. So far twenty-two of these kids have gotten scholarships.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Linebacker LaMarr Woodley, 2007-2013”

First, you more excited or nervous about camp starting this week?

I’m more excited about the opportunity ahead of me. It’s my first NFL camp – I’m just excited to get started.

How has being a local guy and Pitt alum helped you – especially as you’ve practiced as a college player next to the Steelers players? And how has having fellow Pitt alums like Orndoff, Conner, and Galambos helped you?

Yeah they’re familiar faces. You see those guys and they’re all faces you know and it makes you want to be the next guy. I’m just thankful as lots of guys don’t get that opportunity.

All of us Pitt guys – we all push each other. To do this or that and figure out what works and doesn’t work.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Cornerback Terrish Webb”

First, how is the offseason going for you – what have you been up to before camp starts?

Well, I’ve been back in Utah with my family – getting ready to move to Pittsburgh. I’ve been working out every day – twice a day – running at 6 am every morning…keeping my body healthy.

Coming off OTAs and your first camp, what were you biggest takeaways from those experiences?

The biggest thing is getting used to the speed of the game. The tempo – it slows down when you huddle but when it’s live, the speed is way different than college.  The terminology is different too. But the OTAs were great – minicamp was great too. Getting to work with the older guys helped a lot.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Cornerback Brian Allen”

First, let us know what you’ve been doing with yourself over the Summer between camps?

I’m down here in West Palm Beach with my family. I’m working out in the Florida heat – it gets hot in Pittsburgh but not like here.  It’ s a different type of heat. I’m working out in Boca Raton – running and lifting twice a day.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Safety Jordan Dangerfield”