Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First off, what have you been up to since your time in the NFL?

After I retired I realized financially I was too young – I had a fine career but needed to do something more for a piss! For the first couple of years I didn’t do a ton- I had young kids and my focus was on them. We moved to San Diego where we live now – right around the time I signed with the Steelers.

I was interested finance – that’s what I studied in Australia. I took an initial role with a small fund out here then changed course the last few years and became an analyst on the natural gas trading floor. Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Punter Mat McBriar, 2013”

First off, can you let us know what you’ve been doing since your football days?

Now I’m a practicing attorney in Washington, DC. I’m a criminal defense attorney – its something I always wanted to do. It caught my interest early on and I really enjoyed law school.

Was the adjustment from football to post-football life difficult? Did playing help you as a lawyer in any way?

Indeed it was. I had to get glasses, for starters! In law school I was reading 250 pages a night!

The competitive nature – that need to compete. When I first tried cases I’d find out who the prosecutor was and go to their trials if they had one before mine. I did it kind of like a scouting report. The judge would always laugh when he saw me and ask if there was a reason I was there!

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers/Gladiators Wide Receiver Russell Hairston, 1987”

First off, what are you up to now?

I’m blessed – I’m a husband and father – life is different now. We relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina and I’m doing different things here work-wise.

I have the non -profit thing going on with my brothers – My Brother’s Keeper. We’re doing different events in the Danville, Virginia are where we’re from and have branched out to other areas where we’ve played as well. We’re in the process of opening up an after-school program in January, 2026 so we’re excited about that.

Outside of that I am also working with Pro Athlete Community – PAC – where we help pro athletes transition from professional sports to life after sports. That’s been wonderful.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Trey Edmunds, 2018-2022”

First off, what are you up to now?

I’m living here in Indianapolis now, being a dad.  I have a four-year old dude who is just getting smarter and more active-that’s harder than coaching!

Are you looking to coach again?

If it happens yes. But what happened in Arizona – the issue with me and my wife … we’re still together now. But it was a bad two hours and wasn’t something that was supposed to happen.

I’m not sure what people think now -the landscape changes and if you don’t have those relationships – it’s tough to crack that. It is what it is. I’m not not working because I don’t know how to coach. But I’m trying to be better because of all that happened.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Coach James Saxon, 2014-2018”

First off, can you let me know what you’ve been up to?

It depends on the day of the week! Five days a week I’m working in the natural gas industry – working on excavations and move-outs. My day starts at five a.m. and ends anywhere from 3:30 to 11:30 at night. It depends on the day. I enjoy doing it – every day is different.

In my private life it’s been all about the entrepreneurial ecosystem. My family have all been entrepreneurs – my father was in real estate, my mother has a message therapist business, my older brother owns a landscaping business and my sister is in health and wellness and education for a non-profit.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Toney Clemons, 2012”

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”