Tag: Steelers

First, let me know what you are doing with yourself now?

I’m in the car business now – I started about seven years ago. I was with Homeland Security  when my buddy told me that he thought I’d be great as a car salesman. I told him no way – I was used to carrying a gun and badge – no way I was going to go sell cars.

But my buddy had me visit him at the dealership and it got so busy there I ended up helping him sell three cars, The next day the manager called me and I thought he was going to tell me to stop hanging out at the dealership.  But he asked if I would like to sell cars and told me I could double my current salary.

I had some vacation time so he asked me to come in then and sell during that time to see how it goes. I sold a bunch of cars and enjoyed it. I love working with people and really love it.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Israel Raybon, 1996”

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

I work for Stryker now, selling joint replacements as a sales rep. Mostly knee and hip replacements. When I was done playing I shot my resume out to companies in Philly and Pittsburgh and got a job in Pittsburgh – that’s how I stayed out here.

And as a former offensive lineman, I can tell you I’ll probably need one when I’m older. That’s the nature of being an offensive lineman. Your knees and hips get shot.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Kyle Friend, 2017”

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

I’m working at Carnegie Mellon University now on their communications and marketing team. My job is to tell the stories of alumni, students and staff and promote the university’s endeavors.

I started here last June and love it here. Carnegie Mellon has always been at the forefront of innovation and research – artificial intelligence, space-related work, robotics, business, fine arts…. It’s been great hopping on this moving train!

When I left football I went into local government and that was a complete 180 degree turn. I’ve found a happy medium in academia.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Public Relations Specialist Ryan Scarpino, 2010-2017”

First, tell me about your post-NFL career and how you got started – it’s a fascinating career?

I knew even in college that I wanted to pursue a legal career. After the NFL I went to law school at Fordham.

After law school I became a prosecutor with the Manhattan D.A.’s office. I always had a childhood dream of serving in the military as well. So, I joined the Army Reserves in ’97 – I planned to do a few years in the reserve to feel like I did what I wanted to do for the military. Then 9-11 happened.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Rob McGovern, 1991”

First, I know it’s been a while since you played, but let me know what has been going on lately with you?

Well, when I retired from the NFL I moved to North Carolina. But recently my body has broken down. My back and leg have gone out. I moved now to Ohio and live with my daughter in her condo. I have trouble walking and have been here the past three-to-four years.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Dick Modzelewski, Steelers Defensive Lineman, 1955”

First, can you let me know what you got into after football?

After I left Pittsburgh I finally finished my undergraduate degree at NC State. While I was there I became a Graduate Assistant under Coach Keane. That was his last season there and when he left I moved over to the Wolfpack Club to handle fundraising for a year. I enjoyed it but I missed working with kids. I loved working with the donors but I felt I had more to give to kids.

So after that I started coaching high school football, then took that experience to go work in the mental health field in 2002-2003 working with at-risk boys. I saw a lot of them as a coach and really wanted to work more to help them. I opened up two group homes afterwards, which was a different kind of coaching, helping them with life skills.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Charles Davenport, 1992-1994”

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

I’ve been doing air duct work now for 17 years. I started with a company in New Jersey after I retired from football then moved to Raleigh, North Carolina and started my own business there. It’s a lucrative business – everyone needs duct cleaning at some point.

I also just started picking up golf – I started that about four years ago. I should have started picking that up sooner.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Fullback Carlos King, 1998-1989”

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

Well, after the Super Bowl in ’94, I decided to walk away from the game. I decided to raise my kids while my wife did her residency in pediatric oncology. My kids are now in college and I’m back to working part-time as an NFL uniform inspector on gamedays. I’m also doing some auctioneering and fundraising in Florida. And I’m still working out and staying fit.

That’s the big picture in the sky right now.

Was the post-NFL adjustment difficult for you?

I think it was easier only because of my wife’s path to becoming a physician – we had a clear picture of her path – so my taking care of the kids was the right thing to do. If we didn’t have that path it would have been more difficult. I didn’t have a clear vision of my plan either after football so it worked out well for us.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Linebacker Darin Jordan, 1988”

First, can you let me know what you’re been up to since your playing days – and how difficult was the post-NFL adjustment for you?

I’m here in Houston working for Coca Cola as their Sales Manager. Learning what to do next after football was difficult at first. I knew the life skills and strengths that I had from playing football would help me afterwards, but I had to put it all together. I didn’t have those business skills.

I built my resume. The toughest part was that when you’re in the NFL you don’t get much of an opportunity to get those business skills. There aren’t any job fairs. It’s great you were an NFL player but even though I knew I had some of those skills they looked for in interviews I didn’t have the experience behind them.

But the NFLPA helped me out. I went through their programs and they put me through some work coops and helped me with the skills and experience I needed.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Defensive Back Walter McFadden, 2012”

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

Initially, I went into banking after football. It was a nice thing to start with. Then I got into marketing, and after that I got into the import-export business, bringing in Mercedes, Porsches – German cars. What we called grey market cars – ones modified to pass the EPA and DOT standards. Then we sold that off.  I went into the insurance business afterwards but got bored with that.

I just tried to live my best life – I tried different things. It wasn’t an either-or thing. I just wanted to have fun. I had a passion to help people – I had a teacher certification so helped with kids and adults too.

Continue reading “Excusive with Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Charles Davis, 1974”