Tag: Steelers

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

Well, I joined civilian life after playing.  I went into business for myself – I got into mortgage banking, but in the mortgage crisis of 2008 I lost it all. I started over again and now I own Prantl’s Bakery and run that. I accumulated a number of properties that I manage as well – I have a portfolio of those I represent and manage those as well.

How did you get involved in all of that?

My major in college was in Business Administration. When I was handling commercial loans I noticed a lot of the calls I was getting were due to people mismanaging businesses. Over time I became as much of a business consultant as a lender – I helped out people in the position to get the loans by helping them fix their businesses.

I purchased and sold a few companies over the years – the bakery was one I bought and sold though because I enjoy the business.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Joe Cugliari, 1991”

First off, how did you get into scouting?

It started with Kevin Colbert in Detroit when I was playing. We developed a friendship and after I was done playing I started coaching high school football. He and Ron Hughes then offered me a part-time job scouting there with the Lions and I did that for three years.

Why did you come on board with Pittsburgh?

When Kevin left for Pittsburgh he brought me with him. I think he liked that I offered my honest opinions and I liked that they accepted those, right or wrong. I knew what kind of person he was after being around him for so long.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Scout Bruce McNorton, 2000-2022”

First, can you let me know how you got started with Nehemiah Builders, Inc. and the Ram Athletic Foundation, Inc. – including your contributions to youth sports after your NFL career? What prompted you to start those endeavors?

After retiring from the NFL, I moved back to my hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. My twin brother Ronald was in the construction business and a few of my family members were licensed general contractors. After working with family and learning the business, I decided to take classes to prepare for licensing.

After successfully becoming licensed, I started my own plan, design-build and renovation company. Coming from humble beginnings, my twin brother Ronald and I were the youngest of 18 children and my father passed when we were a year old. The poverty we endured compelled me to do better and be better. It is fulfilling to help others and give them an opportunity to excel and become their best self.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Donald Evans, 1990-1993”

First, can you let me know what you got into after football? Was the transition difficult?

I got into developing real estate – subdivisions and that kind of thing. My brother was involved in it and we both decided to form a company together.

I don’t remember the transition being difficult – it was seamless for me. After that first season with the Steelers I had to do my military service obligation and went into the Air Force. I was assigned to the Hamilton Air Force Base in San Francisco and ended up playing for their football team as well. Guys like Frank Speno, Bob McElwee and Charles Eckerly were all good players there too.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Lou Baldacci, 1956”

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

I work for a pharmaceutical company – Merck – as their operations manager. I’ve really been managing people since I stopped playing ball. I supervised group homes for kids and spent years in security first, since I had a criminal justice degree. I’ve been at Merck now for 19 years.

Was the post-NFL adjustment difficult?

After I was released in my second year in Pittsburgh I started working in the criminal justice system, so I was able to transition in the offseason. I worked with court-adjudicated delinquents. That made the transition easy for me before I started getting into other things.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Tight End Michael Hinnant, 1988-1989”

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

After football, I moved to Michigan and got married and had a son. We bought some property here and built a house. We’re on 20 acres of land here.

My old roommate at Wayne State – he worked at Enterprise Rent-a-Car and helped get me a job there. I started off as a trainee and went on to manage their vehicle repair and maintenance for Southeast Michigan for three years.

Now, I just recently took a job with Amazon working in their fulfillment center in Detroit.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Joe Long, 2012-2103”

First – seems like you have a ton going on. Coaching, podcasts… What have been some of the key things you’ve found interest in post-NFL?

The biggest thing is getting to explore the different schemes that people run now on Pat McAfee’s show. I was in a Bruce Arians scheme for much of my career – now I can dive into other schemes and watch film as a coach and see the creative and different things others are doing. It’s fun to learn all of that and go talk about it.

Pat McAfee and I have been friends for years – we went to each other’s weddings. He asked me to come on and talk about offensive line stuff – to break down what was going on around the league on camera and show what I know and what allowed me to be successful over the years.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Center A.Q. Shipley, 2009”

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

I played in the XFL and Canada for a while, but by the time I got to Canada my knees were shot. I coached high school after that for four years then got into personal training. But the bottom fell out of the economy so I got into construction. Now I’m the GM of  a construction staffing company here in Alabama.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers LInebacker Reggie Lowe, 1999”

First, can you let me know what you’re up to now, including your time playing in the CFL with Hamilton?

The most important thing is that I’m a relatively new father – I have a nine-month old daughter who’s growing every day. She’s teaching me a lot about life – what’s important. That’s my main focus – the biggest thing. Taking care of her and spending time with my girlfriend.

As for football, I’m working with my agent to get me back in the NFL. All I need is an opportunity – to get to a camp and make a name for myself and show I can play.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Safety Kameron Kelly, 2019”

First off, what’s the offseason looking like for you – what’s the plan?

Just staying in shape – that’s key for me. I don’t want to go back to camp out of shape. Just working on getting stronger and faster. And seeing my family – that’s important for the mental side of it. Just enjoying my time and getting my body ready.

This is your “second signing” with Pittsburgh – the first being last December. Why sign with Pittsburgh this time? What did they tell you?

With five weeks left in the season they signed me up. Two weeks before that they had me in for a tryout and it went well, but you know how that goes. They tell you they’ll let you know when you’re needed. Well, two weeks later I got a call from my agent saying the Steelers wanted to sign me to the practice squad.

It was all really nice – the coaches, players – the whole organization. It all just felt like a great fit. I’m excited to do something great there – it was fun going there and seeing them go on a roll to end the season.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Linebacker Emeke Egbule”