Welcome to Steelers Takeaways! – Page 121 – More than 1,000 interviews of Steelers players, coaches, front office staff, media and more with those that played in the 50’s through today’s current roster.

Bob Leahy, Pitt Coach/ Steelers Quarterback, 1970-1971

First, can you let readers know a bit about what you’ve been doing with yourself lately and what’s next?

Well, I’m retired now. I spent my first two years in the NFL with the Steelers, and the last thirty-nine coaching. My last coaching job was at Grambling. My previous seven years were at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, and that’s where I live now.

How hard was it for you to adjust to life after the NFL, and how did you get your start in coaching?

When I look back on it now, I never realized, but my high school yearbook said that “Bob wanted to be a coach.” My dad was my little league coach and I think that was where it got planted in my head. I wanted to be a coach like my dad was mine.

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Donnie Shell, Steelers Safety, 1974-1987

First, congratulations on being elected into the Black College Football Hall of Fame. Especially entering the NFL from a small Southern school like South Carolina State, what does that honor mean for you?

To be inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame means a great deal not only to me but to my family. When you attend South Carolina State University, you receive more than a education. I was mentored and nurtured by my professors and coaches. This process allow me to mature as a young African American male.

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Anthony Trucks, Steelers Linebacker, 2007

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing since you’ve retired from the NFL and how you got started in these new ventures?

When I first got injured and left the NFL I knew that I wanted to stay around sports income capacity, as we all do. So I opened up a sports and fitness training facility in my home town to utilize my experience in sports and my degree in Kinesiology. This allowed me to give back in a way that I best knew how, and I loved it. After six years of running my gym a new world and new calling opened up for my heart and I have now redirected my life to being a speaker, author, consultant, and online life guide.

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Rod Manuel, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1997-1998

First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself since you’ve retired from the NFL, and how you got started doing so?

Well, after I retired from the NFL I was out of football for about a year running my recording studio in Ft. Worth, Texas. After letting my body heal I was offered a contract to play for the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League. That year I joined the team two games before the playoffs, A few big plays later we were the 2001 Arena Bowl champions.

I continued to play three more years in Grand Rapids before retiring from the L.A. Avengers in 07. I worked for AT&T as a technician for four years which led me to the great job I have now. I am a mentor with the Ft.Worth ISD. I have been a mentor for at risk young men at the middle school level for the last 3 1 /2 years.

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Former Steeler Bob Adams discusses Truth About Drugs program

Having played for 4 teams in 8 years in the NFL as a tight end, I saw my share of incidents involving too much liquor, pain killers, weed, and speed. And under our gaze were the real killers, heroin and cocaine, then came crack cocaine in the 80s and that was a killer. After my career in football, I decided to teach our youth to understand what drugs really are, their harmful effects and what addiction is all about. I did not go along with the “JUST SAY NO” theory of teaching. That was to preachy and demanding. I found that most kids and adults don’t like the word “NO!” I’ve given many drug awareness lectures based on my understanding of biochemistry and the toxins. Drugs are toxins or poisons, and it is the amount taken that determines the amount of harm to the body and mind. Some drugs may make you excited or drowsey, more of a drug can put you to sleep. The same drug taken in heavy doses may cause serious damage to the body or kill you. Addictive prescription medications are a leading cause of overdose deaths because they are poisons. The drug culture’s cartels and dealers have flourished and prospered while naive victims are filling hospitals, prisons and morgues.

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Bo Orlando, WVU/Steelers Safety, 1998

First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself since you’ve retired from the NFL, and how you got started doing so?

Since I retired in 1998, I had a few jobs in sales, and dabbled in home improvements. I found a passion for construction, especially the before and after and the fact that I did it with my own hands. I am currently working remodeling Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, can do just about anything. Also started coaching youth football where my two sons played.

I coached several years there, then moved on to coaching the defensive backs at our local 4A HS here in Bethlehem. I coached there for nine years, until my two sons were playing in college at the same time. I took on a consulting defensive back job for Moravian college, here in Bethlehem for two years so I could travel and see both of them play. Then this last season I was an assistant coach for the Defensive backs for Moravian. I am currently doing construction and coaching. I am currently in the process of getting an internship with an NFL team during training camp.

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Max Starks, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 2004-2012

So, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself since the NFL and about you new broadcasting job and charity work?

I’m more of a freelancer right now – I’m exploring options and trying to get on with a network. I’ve been doing a lot of media – radio and TV – getting fully immersed now in the business now that I’m fully retired from the NFL.

My charity work started when I was a kid. My mother took me to the Salvation Army every Christmas and Thanksgiving to serve food to the homeless and that’s where it started.

In high school, I started the Leadership Program that’s still used today. It was started in 1999 when I went to the National Service leadership Conference. It existed to help tutor and mentor kids in failing schools and the program is still going on today.

In Pittsburgh, I worked with the Children’s Literacy and Education Fund – we donated over 10,000 books to area kids and schools in the Central Florida area. The programs help kids understand football, but also life in the classroom. I want kids to be successful athletes and citizens. That’s where my heart is. I want kids to be able to read. People were there for me when I was a kid. They went out of their way for me. Who am I not to repay that kindness?

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Nakia Codie, Steelers Safety, 2000

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing since you’ve retired from the NFL, including your camp, and how you got started in your new ventures?

At this time I’m a Loss Mitigation Manager at Ally Financial Service in the auto division. I also have two other ventures that I do for fun. One is personal football training. I coach speed and agility training as well as personal defensive back or wider receiver training. The second is my football camp that I have been organizing for the past four years. I grew up in a single parent home and couldn’t afford to attend many basketball and football camps that others attended. I wanted to give back to the community that help raise me, and also make it affordable.

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Frank Pollard, Steelers Running Back, 1980-1988

First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself since you retired from the NFL?

I’m a caseworker at a children’s home here in Waco, Texas. I work with at-risk kids.

What made you decide to get involved in that?

I was just always interested in it. Growing up, a lot of folks helped me as a kid. After I retired from the NFL, I decided to work in the youth home and help other kids. I wanted to help them in some way.

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Former Steelers’ Quotes on Jerome Bettis

Excerpts from prior interviews on new HOF inductee Jerome Bettis:

Hines Ward:
I would have to say it was Jerome Bettis. He was like a big brother to me. He taught me how to deal with the fame that came along with winning and as I started to emerge as a starter and team leader. He taught me how to handle all the money that came with that fame too. I am very grateful to Jerome for all his insight. We had a great ride together which is why I took him to Disney World when I was SB MVP

Jeff Reed:
I will tell you that Josh Miller, Tommy Maddox, Mike Schneck, Joey Porter, Clark Haggans, Hines Ward, and Jerome Bettis were my closest buddies…every single one of them made me feel like I could do no wrong…obviously I had a lot to prove, but they put me at ease with their funny stories about kickers, confident personalities, and the “games” we played throughout practice…it was new to me and of course I was anxious and nervous, but those men are special and always will be!

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