Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First, how has the offseason been going? Still working out at the Minnesota farm?

Yeah I’m back at the house in Minnesota. I have my trainer and doctors out here and a nice workout routine. It’s a nice home base here.

A big difference since last time we spoke pre-Covid. What’s been the biggest thing for you in terms of how things have changed for you?

The biggest thing was playing and getting experience. I was fortunate to get the chance to start some games. Every game I play I try to take something away from it and become a better player. Technique, learning about the player I play against – just something to make me a better player.

I’m an especially self-analyzing player – I never just take what the coaches or other players say about me. I have my own system for taking my own notes to see where I struggled and did well.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Offensive Lineman J. C. Hassenauer”

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

I work for Eli Lilly in their Oncology Division. When I finished playing I thought I’d go the coaching route and coached with Coach Rodriguez for a year at Glenville State. But I realized after that that coaching wasn’t for me. I wasn’t willing to make that sacrifice away from my family that I saw coaching took.

I was dating my now wife then. She was in Glenville but I saw her more playing for the Steelers than I did coaching for Glenville State. So after that I looked for that competitiveness I loved in football in sales. I sold ads for Fox television before taking a job with Merck, then moved on here to Eli Lilly where I’ve been now for over 20 years.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Chris George, 1996-1997”

First, tell me what prompted you to want to become a coach?

I always knew I wanted to be a coach. My dad was a coach my whole life – we were a sports-oriented family. Basketball was number one and football after that. We always stayed around the game.

I watched my dad’s impact on the community. He was more than a head coach – he was a leader in the community. I knew that’s what I wanted to do, but I wanted to take it to the next level and coach in college.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Coaching Intern/Akron DB Coach Tre’ Bell”

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

I live in California and work in the surfing industry – I’ve been involved in it for 25 years or so. It’s a family brand called Toes on the Nose- we create surf and lifestyle apparel. We have a couple of stores in California and sell wholesale as well.

I also coach high school football and am entrenched with five kids!

How difficult was the post-NFL adjustment for you?

You know, I didn’t have a plan. Life just directed me by allowing me to be active and outside, where I love to be. I love keeping my feet moving. I can’t sit in front of a computer in a cube banging things out. It’s not me. I tried, but it didn’t work out for me.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End John Allred, 2002”

First off, how have the OTAs and your first camp gone? What surprised you most?

Nothing really surprised me. The whole process – nothing was surprising. You have to be ready for everything throughout the draft process as it is. But the one thing that remains is its football – 11 guys on each side. The terminology is very different and I’m learning something new every day, like different coverages I’ve never seen. So I’m learning to adjust to what I’m seeing.

But it’s all been fun – I love competing and learning. It challenges you to get better every day.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Wide Receiver Calvin Austin III”

First, can you let me know what you have been up to since your time in the NFL?

Well, I was raised in Canton, Ohio and I came back here and worked for an equipment company when I was done with football. I was a salesperson for nine and a half years but over those last four years I went to night school to get my law degree. After that I practiced law from 1976 until I retired in 2012.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Tim Powell, 1966”

First, can you tell me a bit about the Skyline Mansion and how you got involved with it?

Oh man. I’m kind of doing an historical lesson with the Mansion. It was in 1920 – the house was owned by one of the original owners and political figures in Tulsa then. He and the Mansion are significant because a lot of the Tulsa racial riots and Tulsa Race Massacre were initiated by the owner. He was one of the head people who enforced the violence on the people of Greenwood and the Black community there. It was the home of the Ku Klux Klan.

Now, the fact it’s owned by a Black man is something special. I’m able to spread the history of what happened here to the people of Tulsa. To change the narrative and let everyone know the history here. And to change what the future will be like. It’s big in that aspect.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Felix Jones, 2013”

First off, what excites you about Pittsburgh – and why did they tell you they wanted you?

The tradition first of all. That’s the thing I’m most excited about. Being on a winning team is the best thing in the NFL – I’ve had former teammates tell me that and Pittsburgh is a first class, winning team. I’m excited for the chance to win a Super Bowl here.

I know you said you thought Pittsburgh was going to draft you – what made you think that and did they talk to you about that when they signed you?

The Steelers told me they loved me coming out of the draft when they signed me. I had a couple of meetings with the GM at my pro day and at the combine – and they brought me in for a top-30 visit. They played against me as well so knew what I was capable of. So they told me they were excited to have me here.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Wide Receiver Miles Boykin”

First, tell me a bit about what you did after the NFL and how the adjustment was for you after football?

I owned my own business for a while – a landscaping business. It was something I was ready for after football. I just knew I could do my own thing and run my own business.

You were drafted by Baltimore in round one in 1964 but ended up in Pittsburgh – how did that happen and what were your thoughts on playing in Pittsburgh?

I was traded for Lou Michaels – I think Baltimore needed a kicker and Michaels could kick and play defense. I didn’t care much really. I just wanted to play football. It didn’t make much of a difference to me where I played.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Cornerback Marv Woodson, 1964-1969”