Welcome to Steelers Takeaways! – Page 97 – More than 2,000 interviews of Steelers players, coaches, front office staff PLUS interviews with Pittsburgh actors, musicians, authors and more

Exclusive with Former Browns Head Coach Sam Rutigliano

First, what have you been involved with lately -family, work, etc.

Well, I moved 19 times and my kids have gone to 28 schools. So I’m making up time with my family after all of that time I spent in the NFL. And I also help out some of the coaches here in Cleveland at Notre Dame College. So I’ve had fun helping them too.

Your work on the Inner Circle is well-known and lauded – how did that start and what you think about the legacy and impact its having on players today?

Well, it started when a player came to me who was on drugs. We helped save many players’ lives because Art Modell paid for all of their treatments. It all started with Art because his son had the same type of problems so he helped the players who had issues. He helped eight-to-10 players on those Cleveland teams.

The Inner Circle Foundation is now a nonprofit that serves at risk kids in the Cleveland Metropolitan District. Dr. Greg Collins worked with me to create the first substance prevention program in the NFL and created Coach Sam’s Inner Circle Foundation 10 years ago. You can learn more about it at coachsams.org

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Exclusive with Steelers Safety Tray Matthews

First, what are you looking to improve on most this offseason – I know you just got on the phone after working out?

I always try to find something to be better at. One day it’s trying to get my hands on the ball more and get more turnovers in practice, one day it’s working out more in the slot, another more on man defense. You can choose what you want to work on in practice and I try to work on everything.

The coaches say anything to you about what they want you to focus on?

Well I came in late, so I think they’re still learning me too.

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Exclusive with Former Bengals Head Coach Sam Wyche

First, let us know what you’e been doing lately?

Well, first of all everyone seems to be worried about my health. I had a heart transplant three years ago and it went without a problem. I was very fortunate though – I was in my last hours – maybe minutes of life – when the heart showed up. It had to be the right fit and blood type and I got it just in time. I’m blessed beyond words.

It’s funny – the doctor made a mistake when he was talking to me about the heart. He said it’d take two hours to get the heart and two hours to get back, and I needed it in me by four hours latest. I did the calculation and actually figured that two hours from me was very likely Pittsburgh – so I could have the heart of a Terrible Towel waving Pittsburgh Steelers fan in me right now!

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Clark Haggans, 2000-20007

First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since you retired?

I’m just being a dad. Going back and forth between Pittsburgh, Vegas and splitting time with the kids with their mother in Denver. I’m also doing some real estate and just being a dad and chilling out.

I do some volunteer work at my former high school and help with the boosters at Colorado State too. I’m just happy and blessed to have put enough money away to be able to support my kids so they can do what makes them happy.

How hard was that post-NFL transition for you?

I’m good. It’s hard when you don’t hear your named called sometimes. That’s why they say the transition can be hard. That and it was so regimented. Everything was on a schedule – especially during football season. Everything was consumed by practices, film study, workouts, obligations on and off the field… So adjusting from that is hard.

When I grew up my mom and dad raised me and exposed me to a lot of things. We grew up on the beach. So when I stopped playing I still hung out at the beach with friends and worked out – took my kids to the beach. I’m happy now being able to mentor guys and give back. That’s occupied my time. That time I missed with my kids and mother and sister – I’m catching up with them all now.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Clark Haggans, 2000-20007”

Exclusive with Gregg Carr, Steelers Linebacker, 1985-1988

First, can you let us know about your post-NFL career?

Well, I have a career in medicine now as an orthopedic surgeon here in Birmingham, Alabama. I actually chose my career path while I was a rookie in Latrobe, during training camp. I was an inside linebacker in college and in Pittsburgh they moved me to outside linebacker which was an entirely different position for me. I put a lot of pressure on myself – I was hard on myself. I didn’t think I’d make the team.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Gregg Carr, Steelers Linebacker, 1985-1988”

Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Coach Marvin Lewis, 1990-1995/Former Bengals Head Coach

First, can you let us know what you are doing now and how you got started in this new coaching venture?

The opportunity came up when Herman Edwards reached out to me – we talked about what I wanted to do in the future. I did some TV work and enjoyed it and committed myself to that, but no one offered my something substantial for the rest of this year.

So, when Herm offered me the chance to help work with the coaches at Arizona State, it was a very exciting opportunity for me. Herm and I worked together before and we have a good relationship..

What is the major difference for you in coaching at the college and professional levels?

I haven’t coached at the college level since back when I was at Pitt in ’90 and ’91. At that time, everyone expected to go to the NFL, but no one really talked about it. We didn’t talk about it as openly as we do today. It’s more acceptable – more open to discuss it now – so it’s different. That is a change for me. The model here still is to first promote the opportunity to get a degree, then if you’re good enough, then you can get a chance at the NFL too. That’s the setup here, but I know it’s not the same everywhere.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Coach Marvin Lewis, 1990-1995/Former Bengals Head Coach”

Exclusive with Former Ravens Linebacker Jarret Johnson

First, let us know what you’re up to these days since you retired?

Well I’m living now in Denton, Florida – my wife and I both have family close to here. I’m still doing radio for the Ravens too so I’m traveling a lot with the team and am in Baltimore quite a bit.

I’ve been doing a bit of everything outside of that. I’ve done some real estate and got my captain’s license too. I own a charter fishing boat but have backed off of that a bit lately.

I also coach some middle school football and am a soccer dad – my daughter plays soccer so I travel a lot for that too.

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Exclusive with Former Ravens Linebacker Jamie Sharper

First, let me know what you’re doing with yourself these days?

Well, I’m now coaching linebackers and Georgetown University in DC – this I my second year here. My family and I moved here from Louisiana back last April. I’m also getting my Masters here in Sports Industry Administration.

Who helped you as a coach to develop that coaching style – who influenced you and how?

Marvin Lewis was the first guy. When I first got to the NFL he showed me what to do on a personal and professional level. Professionally, what techniques I needed to develop to get better. Later on Jack Del Rio helped me – he played linebacker too. He showed me techniques and the skillsets I needed too – many of the smaller things that made me better. I’d day Jack was more macro and Marvin was more micro in what they taught me.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Ravens Linebacker Jamie Sharper”

Exclusive with Former Browns and Ravens Cornerback Antonio Langham

First, tell me a bit about coach and who influenced you as a coach, and how?

Well, I’m back in Alabama, coaching high school football.

I played for quite a few coaches. Bill Oliver was my secondary coach in Alabama and I enjoyed playing for him. Of course I played for Bill Belichick and Nick Sabam too.

I liked the fact that all three coaches were meticulous about the small things. The fundamentals, techniques, and assignments. They’d stress playing at eight, not 10 yards off, or five, not three – to be precise. Those small things that made a big difference.

They also weren’t yellers. I like to coach and teach – I don’t like to yell. Especially with high school kids- they clam up when you start yelling at them. So I related to that too.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Browns and Ravens Cornerback Antonio Langham”

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Centennial Slate Finalists includes Buddy Parker

Who was Buddy Parker. Here are some stories from former Steelers on Buddy:

Pete Brewster: “Brown and Parker were both teachers of the game. It’s funny. When I was traded to Cleveland I thought I was on the team. I didn’t realize I still had to make the team!”

Frank Varrichione: “Parker – he changed everything. He slowed practices down. We’d do more walk-throughs and less hitting. It was a big welcome for players. He was tough and demanded perfection. But he took it much easier on us.

When Parker got there in ’56, on his first day he looked at this huge blocking sled we had to use, made out of real heavy lumber. It took seven guys to move it with their shoulders. The first thing Parker said was, he wanted seven of us to push the sled way off the field. He never wanted to see it again.”

Continue reading “The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Centennial Slate Finalists includes Buddy Parker”