Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

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

Well, I’ve been a school teacher and high school football coach for 34 years and an administrator – the city coordinator for high school football before I retired.

You’ve been a legendary high school coach in the Chicago area – what made you such a good coach?

Number one – I had a good feeling for getting kids to want to play for you. I had two great college coaches in Joe Gilliam Sr. and John Merritt at Tennessee State.  They were both hard workers who showed me how to get guys to want to play for you. I also was a quarterback in high school and college and that helped me to learn the game. I knew the game as a player and that carried over into coaching.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Roy Curry, 1963”

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

Well, right now I’m selling real estate here in Dallas and working with my foundation. We help with breast cancer prevention for low income families. We provide free mammograms – my mother passed away over 20 years ago from breast cancer so this means a lot to me.

Was the post-NFL transition difficult for you?

I knew a lot of guys struggled with retirement before I got to the NFL.  Some couldn’t adjust- it was their whole focus and way of life. But I didn’t have any problems. I played for 13 years and am grateful I could. I don’t miss any of it now. I’m totally happy. I think something must be wrong with me because I don’t miss it at all! Maybe because of my longevity it made it easy.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Offensive Lineman Flozell Adams, 2010”

First, tell me about your work in the XFL – your role that you had there?

Well, all is in flux now that the XFL shut down and is starting up again. I was the Manager of Football Operations and Player Personnel – I was the liaison between the league and head coaches. I did everything from help formulate the rules for the league to helping with the ramp-up operations – including R&D.

With player personnel, I helped set up the Summer Showcases, which were like our combines. We did some new things – GPS testing on specific football movements and one-on-ones and seven-on-sevens, so coaches could see the real football acumen of players. 30% of the players in the XFL came out of the showcases.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Cornerback Justin KIng, 2012-2013”

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

I’m just trying to be humble and grateful about all that God has gotten me in my life. I’m working at U.S. Pipe making steel pipe. I’ve been doing that for 27 years now.

How hard was the post-NFL adjustment for you?

Well, it is hard getting adjusted to the real world. A lot of guys, maybe they take stuff for granted. I put God ahead in my life and everything else worked out fine with my family and personal life.

It can be frustrating. I’m so grateful because you hear about guys who struggle after football. I had my struggles but I put my trust in God and that helped me to prioritize things in my life. You can hurt the people you love when you try to keep up wit the Jones’. I stayed grounded. I did what God asks us to do. He opens our eyes to the things he promises us when we follow him.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Anthony Henton, 1986-1988”

First, can you let me know what the next steps are for you?

Well, I don’t know really. I’m probably not going to coach again. It depends on the situation I guess. I’m definitely taking time away from coaching now. But I’m  keeping my eye on it. You never say never.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Coach Dick LeBeau, 1992-1996, 2004-2015”

First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing with yourself lately that you’d like people to know about?

Well, I’m as busy as ever even at my age and stage. I don’t see myself slowing down any time soon. The Super Bakery business has succeeded beyond my wildest dreams – it’s been a lot of fun and I’ve been able to share that success with a couple of Penn State buddies- Lydell Mitchell and Ron Rossi who does the marketing. I’ve been managing the Super Bakery business for over 30 years now.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Franco Harris, 1972-1983”

First, can you tell us how you got into coaching and how you arrived back at USC?

I’m the Offensive Analyst at USC. Once I was done playing in ’06 I took a year off to figure things out – like a lot of guys end up doing. I was like “Damn. What do I do now?”

In ’07 I got an opportunity as a Graduate Assistant at San Diego State. I wanted to go back to USC but they didn’t have any openings then. That’s how I got started. After that in ’08 I went to the University of San Diego to coach tight ends – it was a restricted earnings salary so I only made $20,000, but it was an opportunity for me to coach my own room. I didn’t have kids then so it was something I could do.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Lenny Vandermade, 2005-2006”

First, let me know what you’ve been up to since your time in the NFL and how you got started?

I work for Direct Supply, Inc. as the Director of National Accounts. We supply equipment – and build – long-term care facilities – the equipment, ventilators, technology and e-commerce platforms – everything . I work with C-Suite relationships across the country.

After I finished my NFL career – I ran left and my leg went eight and tore my ACL, MCL – that was God’s way of saying it’s time to get a real job. So I went back to school at Wisconsin and got my business degree in marketing, and was then recruited by Altria. I think they liked the attributes that many of us as athletes have – leadership, discipline, commitment – hard work. But between football and moving around for that job, I moved six times in nine years. My wife looked at me and we talked about raising a family and growing roots somewhere.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Donnel Thompson, 2000”

First, any divided loyalties when the Steelers play San Diego?

Not at all! I’ve been a Steelers fan since I was a kid. Swann and Stallworth were my guys. I’d imitate them in my backyard and wore 88 in high school. I was happy I got to wear 82 when I got to Pittsburgh.

Any big differences you remember between the two organizations?

Unfortunately I didn’t play in San Diego for very long. I was only on their active roster for four games in that one season. It’s hard to remember the differences. When they let me go I was excited to be able to play in Pittsburgh. They let me play at the weight I was comfortable at. San Diego wanted me to play at a lighter weight than I was used to playing at. Problem was I was a fit guy and had low body fat. Getting down to that weight meant me having to lose muscle. In practice I would start off ok early on, but by the end I could barely move.

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Wide Receiver Yancey Thigpen, 1992-1997”

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

Well, I’m a retired teacher. I also coached the past few years as an assistant at Youngstown State. I was a volunteer working with the wide receivers and special teams guys. And I also worked as an assistant to Mike Tomczak too.

You broke a number of receiving records at Youngstown State and decided to go to Pittsburgh afterwards as an undrafted free agent. Why Pittsburgh?

A few teams called with interest. Cliff Stoudt was in Pittsburgh and he was the Youngstown State quarterback when I was a freshman. He and I were good friends and stayed in touch.

I think he mentioned me to the Steelers’ scouts. Once they called I knew that gave me the best opportunity to be able to compete for a job. I dropped everything and went to Pittsburgh and stayed with Cliff. We worked out every day – it helped give me an idea of what to expect in camp.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Jim Ferranti, 1979-1980”