Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing with yourself since the NFL and how hard the post-NFL adjustment was for you?

I’m the owner of an investment practice. I’ve been in the financial services industry for seventeen years. Now, I provide retirement planning and investment  services.

The adjustment,…it wasn’t an illustrious career – but I fulfilled a childhood dream. I was a bubble guy – not a superstar. It was a childhood dream but it comes to an end.  It was difficult at first – difficult to figure out what I should do for the rest of my life. You get used to everyone taking care of you and then that dries up. That was a difficult adjustment. Then I got challenged financially, trying to keep up after the other guys.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Running Back Steve Avery, 1993-1995”

First, tell me about your new career s a coach – what made you decide to become a coach?

I enjoy it – sports has been such a large part of my life. It shaped who I am today. That’s why I wanted to do it. It’s been great. When I retired I helped the basketball coach at Eaton and then  the football coach asked me to help them. It’s a dream come true to be able to coach both sports.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Aaron Smith, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1999-2011”

First, let’s talk about your Tae Kwon Do experience – I’m curious how you got started with that and why?

It was my first year in the league. I tore my ACL the second day of camp and I needed total reconstructive surgery on my left knee. Terry Long was taking Tae Kwon Do and he took me with him. I wanted an edge to help me with my rehab. Terry told me about the master at his studio and now I’ve been seeing him for twenty-plus years.

I started it to make my knee stronger, but before I knew it I was doing competitions and fighting and competing, I was in competitions for a while but due to my contract I had to stop competing, Now, I don’t so it as much as I used to. Everyone wants to get to the ninth degree black belt – I’ll keep it going and we’ll see.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Greg Lloyd, Steelers Linebacker, 1988-1997”

First, tell me a bit about what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL?

Now, I’m actually helping out at a local high school here in Miami – coaching their secondary. I’m coaching the varsity and JV team.

Also – me and my father-in-law also started a contracting business. I’m just trying to keep busy and get out of the house a bit!

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Cornerback Ricardo Colclough, 2004-2007”

First, can you tell us about your broadcasting career – how you got started any why?

When I finished with the NFL after playing for the Jets, I thought I’d find something that involved working with my hands. My dad was a NASCAR guy – he built race cars and was good with his hands. I had a friend who was a homebuilder. I figured I’d apprentice under him for a year. That was the plan.

But as I was about to do that I got a call from WPXI. They were interested in having me do their pre and post game shows for the Steelers and some preseason games. I thought about it and told them I’d be happy to do it for a year. But I demanded to do a feature story each week as well. If I did it I wanted to learn the business and do it right. I had no TV background so they were reticent but tried it for a year. Week in and week out I got better and better at it. I asked them for unfettered access to their news reporters so I could learn the business more. They were happy to allow that – they weren’t paying me more to do the extra work. I spent four-to-five nights a week with Sam Nover seeing how they put pieces together. Mind you this was before we had the twins. I’d do mock broadcasts to practice.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Mark Malone, Steelers Quarterback, 1980-1987”

First, as the offensive line coach now for UCLA – tell me about about who has influenced you as a coach, and how?

It’s funny. Reflecting back, my dad was a huge influence. He coached me all the way up to high school in every sport – baseball, basketball…on the travel teams.. He influenced me. always wanted to coach – he was my first ever coach, from day one, since I was six.

Joe Hammond was my high school coach – hs a legendary coach in Maryland where I grew up. And of course I had Joe Walton and Dan Radakovich at RMU. Joe was a top fifty ballplayer at Pitt and coached for twenty-plus years in the league and in college.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Hank Fraley, RMU/Steelers Center, 2000”

First, tell me what you’ve been doing with yourself since you retired?

Well, I’ve been keeping things low-keyed. I’m not on social media – I don’t know what’s going on with anyone except for some of the guys I keep in touch with. The big thing is my family. I retired at thirty. My kids now are nine, six, and five. Taking care of them is a lot harder work – no days off. I used to look forward to the Summer – now it’s the hardest time of my life. But I love it.

I like having that – I didn’t have a father around me when I was younger. I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to be with my family. I played long enough to accumulate the wealth I needed so I can take care of my family, Now I can help my wife and be with the kids. Less is more.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Offensive Lineman Marvel Smith, 2000-2008”

First, tell us about your job as a Defensive Line coach at Snow College. How did you start your career as a coach?

Well I always knew I wanted to be a coach. Even before I stopped playing I was pursuing a career as  a coach. I asked Coach Tomlin, LeBeau and all those guys advice all the time and wrote notes religiously. I was always surrounded by good coaches and players.

John Mitchell – there was a method to his madness. He was always mad. But I learned a lot from him. How to get players to match a coach’s personality – the toughness that he expected. You knew he meant business. But man, if you give the guy a glass of wine, he’ll sing for you.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Lineman Hebron Fangupo, 2012-2013”

First, tell us a bit about your work with III and Long – your foundation?

Well, I founded III & Long by myself, with four other people. My son has a rare disease that has plagued my family and cost us lives over the years. Sickle Cell Disease has touched so much of our lives – I lost many family members years do to Sickle Cell.

Personally, I just want to build on who I am as a sports figure and be more proactive in helping families fight against causes they can’t control.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers WR Santonio Holmes, 2006-2009”

First, let us know what you’re up to now?

Well, I’m training. Just waiting for a call. You know, the free agency process.

Has your agent told you anything? Any teams you are hoping for?

Just that I need to take it week to week. We’re just looking for a situation that works to get signed by a team. I’m not looking to get signed by any specific team really.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Shamarko Thomas, Steelers Safety, 2013-2016”