Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First, what you are doing now with your time?

Well, I’m teaching criminal law right now here in West Palm Beach. And I’ve gotten involved in horse racing a bit. I’m paying more attention to my kids now. I always wanted to spend just eight to 10 years in Congress before I retired. I didn’t want to miss time with my kids when they were older – I wanted to see their football games and spend time with them. It’s a 180 degree change from Congress!

I was actually going to retire after eight years but stayed longer because I started moving up on some of the committees I sat on – plus I had two more years on the Intelligence Committee and wanted to stay on to wrap up the Russia investigation.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Former US Congressman (FL) and Steelers Minority Owner Tom Rooney”

First, can you let us know how you got involved as member of the Secret Service?

Basically,  going back to when I played at the University of Washington, I was blessed to play with a lot of great guys, But I had a number of injuries, and just like everyone else, you try and battle through them. Even as a rookie after I was drafted by Chicago, I had issues with my neck and back, In those days I had a bad foot and groin issues too.

But I loved playing. I loved being around the guys and loved contact. I loved to hit. As a linebacker I loved to learn the schemes and strategies too. When I was finally let go from my last team – the 49ers, I knew I was done after that. It was a short career – not what I had hoped for. But our bodies are mortal.

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Linebacker Dave Hoffman, 1993”

First, can you let me know what you’ve been focusing on since your time in the NFL?

Well, I’ve been a college football analyst for ESPN – now going on my 29th year. I’ve been calling college football games for the last 12 years with ESPN.

I majored on speech with an emphasis on broadcasting at Penn State. This is what I always though I wanted to do. I just didn’t know for sure until I had a chance to get into it after I stopped playing.

Was the post-NFL adjustment difficult for you?

It’s always hard no matter who you are. There’s nothing like playing the game. I loved playing – and playing it for  living was special, It’s a big hole – a big void to fill. You miss the locker room – the comradery. There’s nothing else that simulates that. I was fortunate to be around the business – to watch and study games film – that helped with the adjustment. I was able to make being around the game a career. But even with that I have to say it was still hard at first and it took me a while to get into the career.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Quarterback Todd Blackledge, 1988-1989”

First, tell me a bit about what you’ve done since you retired from coaching?

I worked for IMG sports Academy for about six or seven years, working with guys like Eli Manning, Chad Pennington, and Thomas Jones, getting them ready for the draft. Worked with a lot of first round guys. IMG – they get good people.

So stepping back – you were a good basketball player and track athlete in high school. How did football become your career?

Oh – I wasn’t good at any of them! Football wasn’t my decision – it just fell that way for me. I wanted to play basketball in high school but in order to play basketball you also had to play football. There were only 190 kids in my school and the basketball coach was the football coach!

My first year playing football there we had to practice in the gym one day because it was raining and we were just throwing the ball around and I caught everything, so the coach moved me to end after seeing that. I liked that because you didn’t get too much attention then at end from the defense – we didn’t throw much then.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Lionel Taylor, Steelers Wide Receiver Coach, 1970-1976”

First, can you let me know what you’re doing with yourself now?

Well, to be honest my post-NFL time hasn’t been all that great. I did have a landscaping company in ’06 to ’07. I recently sold the lawn service to a buddy and gave the landscaping piece to my brother. I do the soliciting for him now.

The NFL has helped me out a lot. I’m now getting total physical and neurological disability from the NFL.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Fullback Jon Witman, 1996-2001”

First, can you explain how you started off as a pastor in Pittsburgh and how you got into this role?

I have been a pastor for 22 years now in the Pittsburgh area. I was a pastor for 10 years in Pittsburgh then moved to Detroit for four years, then I came back to plant a church here in Pittsburgh. That failed wonderfully! It was the hardest year of my life. But I landed after that at a great church and have been there ever since – for 12 years – Northway Christian Community now has seven churches across the Pittsburgh region – I was the campus pastor for the original location.

This past July, I stepped out of that role to become a local missionary for Athletes in Action – hired by them to be the Steelers chaplain.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Chaplain Kent Chevalier”

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

Well, I’m a manager at a boutique hotel  – Hotel Zaza – here in Houston. I’ve been here for over two years and been with the company for six years.

Before that I was doing medical sales – I started that right after football. That was about the time I had my first son. My wife was a flight attendant and was based in Houston so we moved there and I got caught up in the hotel business there. I had relatives in the business who helped me get started.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Lee Mays, 2002-2006”

First, tell me what you’ve been doing with yourself since the NFL?

Well, for the most part, I’m staying out of the limelight now after being in the limelight in Pittsburgh! They could tell you then I was the life of the party! I’m trying not to do that anymore – just here with my beautiful wife, three kids and two beautiful grandkids.

Were you surprised you were drafted by Pittsburgh? Who helped mentor you when you got there?

I was super-surprised. They showed no interest in me before. I ran a slow 40 at the combine – hell, I didn’t even want to run.  But whatever – I just wanted to get into the league and show what I could do.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Cornerback Deon Figures, 1993-1996”