Tag: Steelers

First, what have you been up to since your playing days?

I’m getting into the investment space now. While I was in the NFL I did some internships and networked with private equity and venture investment funds. It’s relationship driven and opportunistic and I like that – it changes the world in a very unique way. The skills required to be a football player translate well in this space. And once I’m in a good place financially I can grow my firm and use it as a way to help my former teammates and family set up their own futures.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver DeAndre Thompkins, 2020”

First off, I know you coached after you were done playing – how did you get started with that?

After the Steelers I went and played for the USFL but I tore my ACL. I had a lot of teams invite me to camp after that – Washington, Tampa – but I couldn’t pass their physicals – my knee wasn’t stable enough.

My high school coach from Hampton, Mike Smith, asked me in 1988 if I could help him coach. I did then stayed on another year then got another job. But that’s when my coaching career began.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Cornerback Woodrow Wilson, 1980, 1982”

First, your dad said the team was showing clear interest in you early- what were they saying to you and your agent?

I didn’t have much of a connection with them before the draft really. I had a conversation with one of the scouts at the Hula Bowl but they mostly communicated with my agent. They told him they were high on me – that they liked what they saw.

What have you learned from your dad’s experience in the NFL and how surreal is it to go to the next team?

It is surreal – he was drafted around the same position I was but was traded to San Francisco. He taught me a lot about technique – and how to play violently with maximum effort.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Lineman Gabe Rubio”

First of all, what have you been up to since your time playing ball? ive

When I retired in 2007 I got into fire service. I entered into the EMS and fire academy right after I retired -that was my plan – I was planning to do that the entire time. My dad was a firefighter – it was something I always wanted to pursue after football.

The great thing about football was the locker room mentality, and you have that in the firehouse too. You miss that as a player. The games and plays you make you get over, but you miss that comradery and ability to be with like-minded people. I’ve been fortunate to get into a second field that has that.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Angel Rubio, 1998”

First off, how has the UFL been going for you?

Since I was out of college in 2018 my goal was to play in the NFL. I was hesitant at first to play in sub-NFL leagues – I didn’t want to kick in the CFL. But in 2020 my agent presented me with the opportunity to kick in the UFL for the New York team and I took that, and it enabled me to get a job afterwards to kick for the Browns.

Playing in the UFL can help you get an NFL opportunity – it did again when I kicked for Detroit in 2024.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Kicker Matt McCrane, 2018”

First off, what have you been up to since your playing career?

I didn’t play football until I was a Senior in high school. After the Steelers I became a graduate assistant for Tom Osborne at Nebraska for two years. It’s a funny fork-in-the-road story – after that second year Coach Osborne told me he liked the work I was doing with the tight ends and wingbacks and said he wanted me to stay on and coach more and start recruiting.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End Mark Dufresne, 1978”

First off, what are you up to now?

I work for a company called 3S – we handle fire suppression safety for companies who make high hazard materials. We provide equipment for companies who make things like aluminum foil where the processes are highly flammable.

I’ve bene here for seven years now and am working on becoming a certified engineer as well.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Brian Rolle, 2013”

First off, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your playing days?

I’m an educator now at a private institution here in Atlanta. I’m the Student Success Coordinator for kids K-12.

After I stopped playing I became a restauranteur. I did that for five years. After that I moved to Atlanta and settled there with my college sweetheart. Life after football was challenging – I was lucky to find that next thing quickly. I took that love of football and redirected that. I was able to do that and work with youth to help them navigate this world.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers (2006), Browns and Bengals Defensive Lineman Orien Harris”

First off, what have you been up to since playing for the Steelers?

I’ve been doing a lot. I’ve been coaching, doing payroll sales, training people full-time with Grind U and building homes.

I did a lot of college and high school coaching – I coached at Arkansas State which is funny because I just heard Mike Tomlin talk about his first coaching job being at Arkansas State as a special teams coach. He said his first game as coach the other team ran a kickoff against his unit for a touchdown – it’s one of those things he remembers most!

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Matt Galambos, 2018-2019”

First, can you tell me about your scooting work and how you got started with PrimeTime Scouting?

I was technically a teacher for 25 years – I taught PE but I helped kids understand how to go to college when I did that. I wanted them to have the same opportunity I did – I was the first in my family to graduate from college.

I was a six-time All American hurdler at Pitt and was at the national championship in my hometown of Durham – my college roommate then was Lee McCrae. Our godmothers were sisters and he told me Mark Everett happened to be at his godmother’s house and I should go over there to meet him. Everett was on the Olympic track team.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Elbert Ellis, 1994”