Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First, let us what did you do after your NFL career and why?

After football, I went into the insurance business in Pittsburgh for four years, then I coached at Duquesne University and Baldwin High School.

Then an opportunity came up for me to coach at my alma mater, New Mexico State. I coached the tight ends and special teams for six years. Then the head coach got heart problems and had to bail – he had to retire.

I stayed in the area and got my Masters Degree in Educational Diagnostics and coached and taught at a local high school. I coached there for a while then went back to New Mexico State and coached there again. I coached 10 years in high school and 10 years at New Mexico State.

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Kicker Roy Gerela, 1971-1978”

First, tell me what you’re working on this offseason to get ready for the new season?

Yeah – the mental aspect of the game. I was lacking a bit of the mental side of the game so I’m digging into the playbook now and making sure I understand what I’m doing on every play – and  that I know what the other positions are doing to.

Tomlin talked to me. I have to be in the right place at all times – I have to be on it every play and show them I can be more consistent. I’m in the film room constantly now getting better at it.

And of course, always working on the physical part of the game.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Linebacker Tuzar Skipper”

First, what have you been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?

Well, I have five kids, four that are in sports. It’s definitely been busy – a busy part of the season for us. I work for Farmer’s Insurance – I manage the retirement investment business for most of the Southern United States.

I run around a lot but I also get to work out of the house and be around the for the kids – get to take them to school. So that’s fun for me. I always wanted to have more fun where I am now that where I was before, and I think I’m doing that.

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers offensive lineman Matt Anderson, 2002”

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

Well, I had no plan really coming out of the NFL. I have four boys and am still married. I had a football camp but when all the kids started adding up it kind of fell through the cracks. I’m trying to repurpose it now. I couldn’t really focus a lot on it with so much going on.

Now, my dad-to-day is taking the kids to soccer, Boy Scouts, and that stuff. They go to private school, so it’s pretty hands-on. I’m a bus driver essentially!

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Kendrell Bell, 2001-2004”

First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing with yourself as of late?

Well, I’m just back from my 50-year anniversary cruise, so I am totally relaxed!

I’m still working full-time at the New Community Church. I was the founding pastor but in ’98 I decided to step down and lead the pastor discipleship at the church. i was going in too many directions and wanted to get back to what I was doing when I was with the Steelers and Pirates.

I still work with some of those guys I worked with then and started a citywide discipleship forum to raise awareness on how  to train pastors and ministry leaders on the best strategies. We just finished our first year and I work closely with Leo Wisnewski – he’s a local guy who want to Penn State.  I also work with Tunch Ilkin and Jon Kolb but they don’t have as much time to give – they have so many other things going on.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Chaplain Hollis Haff, 1974-1989”

My personal feeling about what’s going on in the National Football League? The owners have let the league get out of control with the salaries and trying to protect their investment. I only wish they had to go through what we black players did back in the 60’s and 70’s. I have to say that the owners of today are not like Art Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers

He cared about the players that played for him and took care of them. More importantly, I feel that the concussions of the past are just as important as those of today.  And the fans are not seeing football the way it was started back in the day. Too many flags and too much protection for the quarterback and penalties for what the referees think they saw – to me they are fooling the fans that payed good money to see real football. Yes it nice to see a Quarterback throw along pass for touchdown. But what about the defense or linemen who try very hard to do their job. But when they do you can be assured there will be a flag. As I have said too many flags.

Continue reading “In His Own Words: Eugene Mingo”

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

I’ve been in the concrete business – and construction. I started that through my brother. he got his concrete license in the state of California and I work with him there.

How hard was the adjustment to post-NFL life for you?

It was hard. That’s the truth of the matter. When I was released from Pittsburgh I tried out with the Redskins and Green Bay right after I was waived – in 1985. I played about five or six games that season before I was released and then was outside of football for about five games when Green Bay picked me up. I finished my season with Green Bay but didn’t make the final cut the next season there.

I got my Kinesiology Degree at UCLA and got a job at a community hospital heading up their fitness center. I worked there for 10 years heading their Fast Track program in Ventura. But I wasn’t very happy doing that. I wanted to be doing my own thing. It really was a hard adjustment from the NFL

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers OL Blake Wingle, 1983-1985”

First,  tell me about your new fitness center in Georgia – how that got started and what it is?

It was in the process of over eight years. I talked to a lot of guys. I always loved the atmosphere and fellowship of working out and training – and the growth you get out of it. I started training at a training facility and as I progressed I noticed I was motivating others as well as myself through the hard work I was putting in. I kept pushing myself and they saw how hard I worked and started telling me I should open my own gym.

A year or so after I had a vision – I knew I wanted to do something big – that I wanted to help others become better. I put the vision to work – I made my own gym at home first and had guys come over and work out with me at the farm.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers NoseTackle Steve McLendon, 2009-2015”