Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First, can you talk about what inspired your move into politics?

After I left the Steelers I went into banking for several years as a lending officer – then the bank was bought out. After that I worked as a CFO for a broker-the dealer that bought that company got bought out too.

I saw the Mahoning County Auditor role open up and I looked at the job description – it looked a lot like what I had done before. So, I ran for office in 2014 and beat the incumbent then ran unopposed two times since. I’m the first Republican to be elected into an office here in Mahoning County.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers CFO Ralph Meacham, 1988-1991”

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

Hell, since then I’ve been retired. I’ve had two hip replacements and other physical issues. While I’ve been retired my wife has been working as a real estate attorney. I help her out sometimes running packages around, that sort of thing.

Have the injuries all been football-related?

They all have been, yes. I threw my back out in ’99 in Cleveland and in turn those back issues affected other things. I started having hip and groin problems and went to Atlanta to get it looked at and they told me there was nothing left there. The cortisone shots and everything else just took their toll.

Continue reading “Exclusive wth former Steelers Punter Chris Gardocki, 2004-2006”

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

After I was done playing, I went back to Notre Dame and got my Bachelors. I met my wife – she was in San Antonio getting her degree, so I moved down there with her and we got married and had kids.

She’s in education and wanted me to get into education too. I got in there and have been doing that for five years now. I started off as a PE Aide and am now coaching at Kitty Hawk Middle School.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Cornerback Vontez Duff, 2004-2005”

First off – tell us about your coaching experience and how you got started at QBMotion Midwest?

I come from a background of coaches. My uncle was a coach and my brother is a high school coach. I’ve always loved quarterback development.

After I decided that my NFL football career was over – I knew I didn’t want to play in the UFL or CFL. I worked at the University of Minnesota as an offensive analyst for a year, but knew I didn’t want to get into coaching at that point and the coaching lifestyle. I had worked with QBMotion and Robb Williams when I was a player and knew how much it had helped me. So I called Robb really just asking for his blessing and advice as a coach, and he said that we should build a coaching program together and that’s what we’ve done.

It’s fun now seeing the differences and solutions we can provide on the private side to help young quarterbacks develop.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Quarterback Tanner Morgan, 2023”

First off, I know you’re coaching now – tell me a bit about your coaching career so far?

After I retired oaI started coaching at my alma mater as their running backs coach. I coached there for six years and won four state championships there in total – one as a player and three as a coach!

Then I went to American Heritage and coached there under Jeff Dellenbach. We have an NFL staff here and I started off as the defensive backs coach, then became their defensive coordinator and am now their assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. I’ve worked with 17 guys now who are in the NFL – guys like Patrick Surtain, Brian Barnes and Brandon Johnson who’s with the Steelers now.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Safety Daryl Porter, 1997-98”

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

Currently I’m the Managing Director at Brown Brothers Harriman – we’re a private partnership bank. We’re headquartered out of New York but I work here in Chicago – I moved here after I retired from football.

We’re a merchant bank – we give capital and advice to business owners – family and founder led businesses. We also help manage their liquidity – we’re a multi-family office as well that manages over $60 billion – $6 billion here in Chicago.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Quarterback Spence Fischer, 1996”

First off, what prompted the move to media after your time in the NFL?

It’s not something I thought about when I walked off the field. I had no idea what I was going to do after football. I started first doing some regional shows covering the Jets – some shorter spots. I credit my wife really for putting the battery in my back. She told me that if I took it seriously it could become something. It could be a good bridge for me.

I was skeptical at first. Mentally I wasn’t retired – I didn’t want to give up on the game at first. My heart and mind were in the game, my body just wasn’t aligned.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Willie Colon, 2006-2012”