Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First, can you let us know a little about you?

I’m not great talking about myself. It’s been 20 years since my dad passed away, My family has been on pause  as we waited for the final decisions on the lawsuit with the NFL – trying to figure out where we go no from here,

For me – I feel like I don;’t know what I do from here – I’m in a state of arrested development – at least that’s how I feel. I don’t have much of a direction – I’m just not sure if it’s generational  – or what we’ve been through or both.

Past generations – I feel like they knew what they were going to do early in their lives. They had more direction – my dad was going  to be a football player and if that didn’t work out he knew he would be a soldier or a farmer. He was a Wisconsin boy and always enjoyed talking about tractors and irrigation techniques. I never had that kind of direction. I think many in my generation were just paralyzed by the opportunities.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Garrett Webster, Son of Steelers’ Hall of Fame Center, Mike Webster”

Let’s start by talking about how you ended up in Pittsburgh as their tight ends coach in 2001?

Well, I was in the league coaching already with the Jets. Dan Henning – he drafted me as a player and always helped me. When Al Groh got the head coaching job with the Jets he hired Dan Henning as their offensive coordinator, who brought me in as their tight ends coach. The idea was that Dan would groom me so that when he stepped down I would take over as coordinator.

But Groh went back to Virginia and that blew the whole thing up. I was looking for a job and Pittsburgh had an opening . They hired Mike Mularkey as their offensive coordinator and Mike and I knew one another. When I was with the Redskins and he was with the Steelers we’d  scrimmage each other in preseason and I got to know him then. I talked to Coach Cowher – we met at the Senior Bowl to talk about the position. After that he and Mike offered me the position and that’s how I got started there.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers TE Coach/Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, 2001-2006”

First, can you tell us a bit about how your career started?

Prior to my football interests, well largely so anyway, I went to an engineering high school in Baltimore- the Baltimore Polytechnical Institute. Then I went to the University of Maryland and had a pretty good go of it there – Maryland had a pretty good team at that time. They had good sound players and Coach Tatum who did a wonderful job there. Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers 1956 Quarterback Jack Scarbath”

First, what’s next for you now that the Shear Da Beard event is done?

Well, it was an awesome ride from 2010 – a decade of beards. It was a great accomplishment – I’m not bashful when I say that it’s been a great 10 years where we raised over a million dollars for sick kids at Childrens Hospital.

The Steelers fans made it happen with their support – them showing up is the reason why we had such great success.

Next up for me is a wide canvas. I have lots of options. I started Mighty Oak Adventures a few years ago – that offers leadership and teambuilding exercises in outdoor settings. It’s a refreshing way to get people out of the office. I’ve been doing that since 2015 and it’s been growing  as well.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Brett Keisel, 2002-2014”

First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL – and how hard was the post-NFL transition for you?

Well, I’m currently coaching. I started off as a teacher’s assistant – and I’m now coaching basketball and football for my old high school.

It wasn’t really that hard. I always knew I wanted to get into coaching. So it wasn’t really a big culture shock. And I managed my money well – I’m in good financial shape.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Jamon Meredith, 2011”

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

Man…I’m just here raising my family. I have seven kids – three boys and four girls. I’m working hard raising them and also have a landscaping company here in Manatee Florida.

You also coached some correct?

I coach some youth leagues, high school and seven-on-sevens too. I let the kids know what to expect as they get into college and the pros. A lot of kids go to college and the NFL from here. There are great high school coaches here and I spend some time mentoring kids when I’m not working. It’s a rough neighborhood – I’m not sure how much you know about Manatee, but there’s a lot of drugs, gangs and crime here. I’m proud of the kids I work with here. They are getting out of a rough situation.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Cornerback Alvoid Mays, 1995”

First, getting tired of the interview circuit yet?

For a while before I joined Barstool I was getting a little bit tired I have to say, but at the same time that was everything I wanted to accomplish, so it is hard to complain about it. Before Barstool it seemed like very sports station and podcast wanted me on their shows to do impressions.

You worked hard to get to where you are now. Any advice to others  trying to replicate your success?

Yeah – first, it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a lot of long hours and times where you doubt yourself and ask if it is worth it. You just have to keep chipping away. It’s like that motivational meme of the two guys hacking away for buried treasure and the one guy quits when he was like one hack away from it. It can feel like that – you just have to keep on hacking away,

Continue reading “Exclusive with Joey Mulinaro”

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

Well, I coached in the CFL for 18 years. After I was cut by the Steelers, I played in the CFL for three years for Calgary. After that I broke my arm and that ended my career. I got a job after that coaching in the CFL as a secondary coach.

I came back to the states in ’96 and started teaching and coaching football. I did that until I was 65 and then retired here in the Villages in Florida.

How hard was the post NFL adjustment for you?

Well, as I like to say, life just dropped in my door. I just got opportunities I was grateful for and was able to make the most of what I did. I really enjoyed the CFL. It was a passing league which was much more fun playing safety.
Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Safety Dennis Meyer, 1972-1973”

First, tell me a bit about how your career got started in Pittsburgh?

I’ll always be thankful for my brief time in Pittsburgh. I spent two years in San Diego but it didn’t end well. I’d point the blame on ownership there but it’s been 50 years now.

I pulled my hamstring in San Diego and it nagged me going into my third year.  They put me on waivers but I wasn’t picked up. I think what happened was I went back that third season into camp in San Diego and asked to negotiate a new contract. I started six games the year before before the hamstring injury and came back to start the last game of the season.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Chuck Dicus, 1973”