Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First, can you tell me what you’ve been doing since your time playing ball?

Well, now I’m semi-retired. I’m self-employed – I do some part time courier work for an auto parts company. I drive to the distribution center in Turtle Creek, then make two stops in Cleveland and come back home. It’s the easiest money I ever made!

Was the post-football transition difficult?

I was a national sales manager for years after football – I worked my way up. Then I got tired of corporate America. After my brother’s death – he was slain as a police office – that set me back a while. I took time off and decided I couldn’t go back to that corporate America bullshit.

But the transition right after football wasn’t hard. The first couple of years, I’d get that fresh smell of cut grass in the Fall and miss it some then. but I never lived and breathed football. I didn’t sleep with a football in my bed.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Frank Pokorny, 1985-1986”

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

Well, not that I’m retired officially, I’ve been in to real estate, broadcasting, and doing a lot of speaking.

I’m doing sportstalk radio in Denver and doing Notre Dame radio broadcasts. I’m also doing work foe the local tv station in Denver – handling post-game work for CBS.

My speaking work is on leadership and teambuilding, based on my experiences in the NFL.

How hard was the post-NFL transition for you?

For me, I remember when Coach Kubiak once said that the guys who are successful in their post-NFL transitions are the ones who jump into something quickly. So my first and second years, I just said yes to everything. I had to change what I was used to doing. Before I would say no to a lot. To tickets, distractions.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Ryan Harris, 2016”

First, tell me what you did with yourself  after the Steelers?

Well, I went back to coaching defensive backs back at my old high school, Woodland Hills. That’s where I played ball, back in the day. I kept myself occupied until the next round of NFL or XFL hiring.

How did you get your start with the Steelers? 

I was coaching at St. Vincent College when Kevin Colbert’s brother coached the offensive linemen there. I met Kevin through him and some of the other folks in the organization when they had camp there.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Scout/Coaching Asst Stephen Meyer 2016-2019”

First, what have you been doing since your time in the NFL?

I’ve been coaching players who are leaving college to play in the NFL. Pre-draft coaching for Stars SoCal. Jason David runs it – he was the corner for the Saints and later won a Super Bowl. I knew him from the lockout year when we all ran big seven-on-seven practices together to stay in football shape. We did special trainings to keep us sharp then during the lockout.

He approached me once I was done with football to coach the linebackers and defensive linemen for Stars. It gave me a chance to stay close to football without having to spend all of that time that college and NFL coaches have to spend. I played for 20 years straight. So it was good to stay close to the game and kick back some knowledge to the younger guys.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Bruce Davis, 2008”

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

I’ve been a school teacher – teaching math to ninth and 12th graders in high school. I also dipped into coaching and was the head coach for a high school in Ft. Lauderdale for five years.

Now, I get to watch my kids grow up. I have two sons – one a senior in high school and one is in college – a starting cornerback for Oklahoma.

Was that post-football adjustment difficult?

It was and it wasn’t. You get so used to being around your guys and smiling and having fun with everyone – and being a part of a team. You all have the same vision and one common goal. Then you go out into the world and everyone has a different vision of how you should think and do things. That was an adjustment. Now you have to do something new – you may like it, but not as much as you did football.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Lorenzo Davis, 1990”

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

Well, I’m a little bit different than some of the other folks. I knew I wanted to be a prison warden since high school. 99% of the prison wardens will tell you they just sort of fell into it – got a job with the agency and then whoa, they are there.

When I was in high school, I was fascinated with prison movies. We took a trip to a local prison and met the warden. I was fascinated with the power they had and what goes on in the prison. And there’s a big element of making a difference every day.

So, even in high school, I wanted to be a prison warden.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Eddie Miles, 1990”

First – what have you been up to lately – how are you doing?

Well, I’m retired! I’m 87 years old!

I have grandkids – one plays basketball and one plays baseball too.

So – tell me how you got started working for the Steelers?

I was drafted by the Major Junior Ontario Hockey Association in 1949 – I ended up playing everywhere after that –  England, Sweden, Italy, Czechoslovakia….I was a goaltender and played in over 870 games.

When I got home in 1962, I played for the Pittsburgh Hornets hockey team. They folded and I was hired by Mr. Rooney as the equipment manager in ’65. That’s when they played at the old stadium – in the old locker room. In fact – I was the one who created the AJR patch for Art when he passed away – I put that together.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Equipment Manager Tony Parisi, 1962-1996”