Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First, tell me a bit about what you’re doing with yourself now – what are the next steps for you?

Well, football-wise, I’m staying ready, staying in shape in case I get the phone rings. Even when I was with the AAF in Memphis, I was just staying ready.  That’s all you can do is stay ready until a team hopefully asks you to come in.

I have other things going on too. I have a couple of business ventures with friends, but it’s a little early to talk about those right now.

How hard is it, waiting and just staying ready in hopes for that next call?

It is difficult. It’s something you don’t – you cant plan for. It’s tough not being in that routine of OTAs, camp, then the season. Now I have to have my own programs to stay ready and in shape. It’s different in that regard. There’s no shortage of motivation that’s for sure. But it is frustrating.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Punter Brad Wing, 2014”

First, let me know about your post-NFL career and how you got started?

Well as you know, coming up with an athletic background from a young age, you fall into that athletic identity. I did that myself – you attach your identity to the sport. I leaned on that for stability – that was my safe haven. It carried me through high school, Penn State, Oklahoma and through to the Steelers.

I remember – my second year I was training with Antonio Brown and we were at his house. His chef prepared us dinner and we were talking, when out of nowhere he asked me “Justin, who are you?” It caught me off guard. I told him I was a football player. He said “No you’re not – you’re more than that. Don’t let the game do that to you.”

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Justin Brown, 2013-2014”

First, let me know what you’ve been doing for all of these years since you played in the NFL?

Well, I’ve been in the music and entertainment business for most of my life here in Dallas. I play the banjo and sing DixieLand and country music  – been doing that since high school and my days at SMU.

After my season in Pittsburgh in 1955, I tried to play for a few more years after I went to the service, then came back to Dallas and worked on some homebuilding business. I got married in ’62 – been married now for over 58 years. After that I was able to open up a music venue called the Levee here in Dallas – it was a very popular spot for years. I played the banjo and we had a group – the Levee Singers – and we played every night.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers wide Receiver Ed Bernet, 1955”

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

Yeah I’ve been doing a couple of things work-wise. I have a commercial construction company – the Rossum Group – and we work a lot with the Department of Transportation and the City of Atlanta and state municipalities in Georgia working on everything from libraries to roadwork.

I’m also part of a group that owns apartment complexes in the United States – about 20,00 to 30,000 units across the country. That was formed in 2014 with two good friends, one of who recently passed away.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Kick Returner Allen Rossum, 2007”

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

Well, I’m retired now. In’ ’89 I hurt my knee in training camp and I couldn’t come back from it. I anticipated catching on with another team after the Steelers released me but that didn’t work out, so I walked away from the game.

After that I took it easy. I was young and financially comfortable. I just took it easy and golfed, traveled, and spent time with friends and family. In my late 30’s I had a son, so I got to be a stay-at-home dad for the first eight years or so. I really enjoyed that – I was able to nurture that relationship with my son.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Lineman Keith Gary, 1983-1988”

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

Well, I’ve been retired for six years or so now – since 2015. I was the Supervisor of Athletics for Baltimore City Public Schools up until then.  Since then my wife and I have been traveling a lot – at least before the pandemic. We went to South Africa most recently.

I still do some consulting for local schools to help them with their athletic programs  and spend time with my family. That’s about it though now.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Cornerback Bob Wade, 1968”

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

Well, I went back to NC State and got my Masters in Agriculture. I grew up on a farm – that was always a passion for me. I worked for an agriculture company, got married and had two kids.

I expanded my family, got into some real estate as well. Those were my biggest things!

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End Ralph Britt, 1987”

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

I actually retired 10 years ago. My wife and I moved back to the Western Pa. area where my family is from. My father graduated from high school here though I never lived here in this part of Western Pa.

Since we came back I’ve gotten involved more in family things. I traveled for 40 years as a coach and I wasn’t able to be as involved with family. Now I’m involved in the church where my brother-in-law was the organist and doing things with my grandchildren. My daughter has two stepchildren and my son adopted three kids. Now I wonder how I stay so busy. Some days I just want to sit down! I’m very fortunate.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Line Coach Jack Henry, 1990-1995”

First, can you let me know what you have been involved in since your time in football?

Well, I got out of football after playing for two years. I was going half-time to UCLA’s graduate business school – after three years I got my degree.

I worked for a big conglomerate – TransAmerica – for two years then had the good fortune to fall into a venture capital partnership in San Francisco. I always wanted to get into the start-up scene. I worked there for six-to-seven years – a company called Continental Capital.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Lineman Frank Atkinson, 1963”

First, let me know what you’ve been doing with yourself since stepping down in Pittsburgh?

To be honest, I’m not sure what I’ll do next. I left the Steelers to spend time with my two sons. My youngest is a senior in high school – it’s his last year. I just wanted to go through that journey with him.

My oldest son is a Sophomore at UCLA- he plays football there. I wanted to be able to watch him play. I couldn’t do that if I was coaching. I knew I couldn’t get that time back if I was coaching. I know I would have regretted it.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Safety/Defensive Backs Coach Carnell Lake, 1989-1998, 2011-2017”