Tag: Steelers

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”

First off, what are you up to now since your playing days?

I’m working in the sheriff’s office now in Alachua County as the deputy  there- I’m also on the bomb squad there. Besides that I’m enjoying life and watching my son grow up.

What made you decide to go into law enforcement and how did playing ball help you as a deputy?

I got my college degree in Sociology – I always wanted to go into law enforcement. It’s a challenging career and everlasting  learning. I wanted to get my Masters in Criminology in college but I wanted to pursue ball first.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Tony Brooks-James, 2019, 2021”

First off, can you let us know what you got into after your football career ended?

After football I spent a lot of time in Manhattan work in the financial industry. I worked for Reuters, Dow Jones, Thomson Financial then Broadridge Financial. It was a good run until I decided to hang it up and retire a short while ago.

Was the post-football transition difficult?

It worked out ok. I lived in New York for a while – uptown – then moved to New Jersey and took the boat into the city. A lot of my clients were on the boat. I worked with the bankers and brokers in the city.

After a while I just decided that it was time to start working and enjoyed it. It was a good transition.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Quarterback Leo Gasienica, 1974”

Second half of interview continuing from Exclusive with Art Rooney Jr. Part I – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

I know so much is written about Bill Nunn’s impact and the delving into HBCUs when discussing those late 60’s and 70’s drafts. But outside of that, what was really working for you in terms of how you approached the scouting process and what you looked for that was different from others teams? Not every stellar player was an HBCU guy?

We were a losing team – we had early picks and didn’t fuck them up!

But we focused a lot on athleticism – size, speed, quickness, control – and vision too.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Art Rooney Jr. Part 2”

First off, what’s a day in the life look like for you today – what are you up to now and how involved if at all are you with the team?

I still have stock in the team and am on the board. But it’s their team now. Dan and his son and grandson all work for the team now. I pay attention and listen on the board and answer questions when I can – but I won’t make shit up if I don’t have an answer.

On October 18th I’ll turn 90 years old. I never wanted my name on the scoreboard – but this year I want it! I want it to say “Happy 90th Birthday Art Rooney Jr.!” I’ve had a good run – I have good DNA like my mom and dad did!

Continue reading “Exclusive with Art Rooney Jr. Part I”