Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First, what have you been up to since your NFL days?

Well, right now my partner – she and I are just trying to stay out of the rocking chair! I’m an historical nut about a lot of things and am proud of my three years in the NFL.

Getting there was a tough story. Just being able to play the league average of three years, then ending up as the best salesperson in Bear Stearns – that’s a book in the making! I sat on a number of boards including The National Football Foundation too.

You’re also speaking to the only guy you know that owns a soccer team in Mozambique! I took kids there that were shooting rhinos for money and created a 12-team league. I also have a four-team woman’s league. The kids benefit and the rhinos benefit. And I benefit from it too! Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Bob Simms, 1962”

First, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your playing days?

I’m in the trucking business – doing that right now. I’ve been doing that since I was done playing – started that after my time with the Steelers. A buddy of mine who played for the Giants jumped into it and told me about it.

How was that post-NFL adjustment for you?

It was great for me. You have to find that peace within yourself after football and find things that make you happy. Some people feel like football is the one thing in life that made them happy but that wasn’t the case for me. It wasn’t my only love. Some throw all of their eggs in one basket and that wasn’t the case for me. That’s why the transition was easier for me after I retired.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Cornerback Brandon Dixon, 2016-2017”

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

I’ve been working as a behavioral interventionalist at the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District in Carrollton Texas  – I’ve been here for over 19 years now.

After Pittsburgh I worked for 15 years as a juvenile probation officer in Fort Worth and owned a couple of business. I’ve always worked with children and families.

What inspired you to work with children?

I was raised in a family of servant leaders. My father was a pastor – he was a mover and a shaker in his small town for civil rights issues. I grew up in that vein.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Xavier Warren, 1987”

First, what have you been up to since your time with the Steelers?

Currently I’m an endodonist – a root canal specialist. I have practice here in Grand Rapids. I know it’s super fun – I’m sure people are shivering in their boots right now!

I’m married and have three kids – my oldest is five. So I’m in the thick of it now!

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Tom Korte, 2009”

First off, I know it’s been a while, but can you tell me what you did after football career and family-wise and how you got started?

I went into sales and ran the sales for a couple of companies over the years. Since then I dropped out early from my career – that was 28 years ago – because my wife had cancer and wasn’t supposed to live much longer. But she didn’t pass away like they said she would – we are blessed and she’s still alive today, though at our age we both still have issues.

I’ve been blessed in a  lot of ways. I started in sales because my uncle worked for a company and got me involved. I started off in insurance but that didn’t work out, then went into sales.

I have two sons – both played at Iowa State, so it was fun to watch them. I have three children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren – with another on the way! And almost all live close by to us.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Quarterback/Punter Vic Eaton, 1955”

First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing since your time playing football?

Since ’98 I’ve been retired.  I was in a car accident when I played for Kansas City that was career-ending – I broke my arm, had internal bleeding and a concussion. What’s crazy is I was number 57. Derrick Thomas was later killed in a car accident – he was number 58. And Wayne Simmons also died in an accident – he was number 59. We all had lockers next to one another.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Reggie Clark, 1994”

Franco Harris: “I always say that the Immaculate Reception was the biggest play in Steelers history and beating the Raiders in the ’74 Championship game was the biggest game in Steelers history. The Immaculate Reception gave us the winning attitude we didn’t have before. The ’74 game – when we won that and went to the Super Bowl – we knew then that we were the best team in the NFL. The ’72 win was about attitude. the ’74 win was when we knew we were the best. I was nervous that entire game until the final whistle blew!”

Continue reading “Celebrating the Anniversary of the Immaculate Reception”