Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

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

Currently I’m working at a company that makes calibration testing systems here in Baton Rouge. We work on equipment and accessories in industrial and electrical industries. We have eight locations – we’re a pretty large international company.

I work in the rental division and make sure the materials we work on are updated and in the system for lab technicians and customers to see.

How hard was the post-NFL adjustment for you?

After my career ended, it was somewhat of a bitter moment. I didn’t have the long tenure in football like I planned on having.

So, it was quite an adjustment. It was a different lifestyle – facing the reality that my football days were over wasn’t easy. I started playing football when I was in fourth grade. Not being able to play any more – that was hard to take.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Safety Anthony Tuggle. 1985-1987”

First, you’re involved in so many different things outside of football – what are the biggest things on your plate right now?

Well, I’m still practicing law – I’m the Chair of the Board of Directors at Eckert Seamans, Duquesne University, and the Pittsburgh Foundation. Those are the biggest things.

Your family and the Rooneys are always deeply involved in charity and community causes. Why do you think your families are so involved?

That’s a great question and one I often ask myself as well. There are a few of us that are more involved in charities. I’ve honestly thought about this over the years and I think there are multiple origins.

My grandfather and his wife – and my father and Aunt Rita – they were all very involved. On the Rooney side, Art was in his own ways too. We all had have been very concerned about the people in our community.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Minority Owner Jack McGinley, Jr.”

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

Well, I settled into the greater DC area. I’ve been here seven years now. I opened up a men’s clothing boutique called Core in Pentagon City in 2012 with my buddy- we sell women’s clothing now too. I also have some real estate investments in Michigan and the DC area. We’re opening another in Montgomery County soon too.

So it’s fashion and real estate is the thing,

Was it hard to adjust to post-NFL life?

Yes – because my career ended sooner than I anticipated.  I wasn’t as fortunate as some players. You spend time getting your body ready to perform for teams and lose time trying to plan for the next move. I had a good support system though. My parents in Michigan were helpful. I went back and had a couple of classes left to take to graduate from Michigan. I worked out for a few teams but didn’t get picked up.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Safety Grant Mason, 2007-2008”

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”