Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

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”

First – can you let us know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL and CFL and how you got started in that?

Well after my 2016 season with the Toronto argonauts I settled myself in Fresno, Ca. I attended college here and decided this is where I would buy my first home and grow some roots. The interesting thing about not playing football any longer is there is so much you can do, it just becomes a matter of what do you want to do.

I have always had a heart for this next generation of youth. So I decided to work with foster homes and kids on probation. I have built my brand and message as a life skills coach. My number one goal is to speak life and purpose into those I come in contact with. I’ve become a coach, mentor and speaker here in Fresno. Coached football on the side, invested in the Fresno community becoming a philanthropist, hosting charity events as well as seeking opportunities to go back to school for my masters.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Cornerback Isaiah Green, 2012-2013”

First, congratulations on your retirement! Can you talk about what drove you to that decision at such a young age, and what’s next for you?

Well, I am young I guess, and I’m mostly healthy from my playing days. But I’ve been in the league for over 33 years as a player and a coach. I have three young grandchildren all that live within a five mile radius of me. That’s the first time I’ve had all of my family close to one another. Before my sons and their families would be in different cities, and that wore on me.

I wanted to be able to be with them and do things with them while I was still healthy.

As for wat’s next, there’s nothing big ahead of me. I just want to spend time with my wife and family and travel. I guess if we had a hobby travel would be it – that’s the biggest thing we have going.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End, (1989-1991) and Coach/Coordinator (1996-2003) Mike Mularkey”

First, can you let us know what you have been doing with yourself since your time in Pittsburgh?

Well, I’m now the Assistant Head Coach/Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs at Mississippi State

When I left the Steelers, I went back to Florida and coached at my high school. Later that year, in ’98, I got a call from Randy Edsall who recruited me out of high school to join him at Connecticut and coach there. From there I accepted the offer to coach at Mississippi State.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Terry Richardson, 1996”

First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing with yourself since you retired from the NFL?

Sure – I was with the Steelers for three years then I was bounced to Detroit for one season. I had injuries here and there and was banged up in camp  – they had Grossman and Larry Brown there too so they traded me to Detroit for a future draft pick.

In Detroit I got a hairline fracture in my middle toe. So much for the glamour of football! That constant pounding and two-a-days caused a stress fracture and I was in a cast for a few weeks. I ended up backing up Charlie Sanders in Detroit and the next year was picked up by Seattle in the expansion draft for their first season before retiring,

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End John McMakin, 1972-1974”

First, how is the offseason going so far- what are you focusing on right now?

Right now I’m just resting my body a bit for a good month or so before getting after it again.  I’ll pick it up again in March and hit the ground running. I’ll start doing some little things after the after the Super Bowl to start getting ready too.

I’m just looking to work on small things – you can always get an edge on everything.

Did the coaches talk to you about working on anything specific this offseason?

I’ve been around a while so they know what I bring in all phases of the game – special teams and defense. They would probably like to see me make more plays and stand out more on defense. I love special teams though and stay in my lane – they know I play well there, They didn’t ask me to work on much – but there’s always young guys coming to take your job so I know I need to keep working on everything.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Safety Jordan Dangerfield”