Tag: Steelers

First, can you tell me about the AAF – why you wanted to get involved in it?

First of all, the Alliance of American Football is all about creating opportunities for guys to begin, extend, or revitalize their careers. To become an executive for the league was an awesome opportunity for me. I was always a leader on my team and liked to help the younger guys. Now I want to help these guys make it to the NFL.

I jumped on board to be a part of the league. Collectively as a group, with the coaches we have in the league like Mike Singletary, Steve Spurrier and others, it gives us credibility. There are a lot of great football minds here, including Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Hines Ward on the Alliance of American Football”

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

I’m the head football coach now for a Georgia high school – it’s my second year as head coach there. I was the defensive backs coach there before that and was a coach also at Limestone college for a year before that. I coached for a guy I played with in Detroit.

Any coaches or coaching influences help shape your coaching style today?

There were a few coaches. James Stallings at Alabama was a strict disciplinarian – a tough coach. And Tom Coughlin in Jacksonville was in the same vein. Run the ball and stop the run. Hard-nosed…

Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Cornerback Fernando Bryant, 2008”

First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your playing days?

Well, I really don’t have a plan yet. I guess I need to get one soon. I’m enjoying my family – spending time with them. I’ve delved into a few small business ventures, but mostly I’m just enjoying my life and family

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Alan Faneca, 1998-2007”

First, can you let readers know what you’re doing now – what foundations or work we should be paying attention to?

Well, I’m living in Atlanta with my beautiful wife and two great kids. That’s about it for me. My foundation is The Bus Stops Here . It’s for underprivileged, at-risk kids. I’ve been involved with that for over twenty years.

The whole idea is to impact change in the community where I grew up. I benefited from that when I was a kid and my goal now is to help other at-risk kids now in Detroit. I got help from Reggie McKenzie when I was a kid and it hanged my life. I wanted to do the same thing for others now that I can. Continue reading “Exclusive with former Steelers Running Back Jerome Bettis, 1996-2005”

As a ten-year NFL veteran, I have been through a lot, and I have seen a lot, especially what takes place behind the scenes that most individuals are unaware of. I was not a multi-million-dollar superstar. I was a “journeyman,” and I am okay with that label. I did not leave the game with millions of dollars in an account. I was a “blue collar player” that fought every year to make a roster. I feel as if the NFL got everything that they could out of me, only to be left to fend for myself with no assistance from neither the league nor the teams that I played for. Due to this lack of help, I believe that is why there are so many lawsuits against the league and its teams.

Continue reading “In His Own Words: Troy Sadowski”

First, can you let us know a but about your post-NFL life?

When I retired from the NFL it took a few years before I got settled in. I worked for General Electric in their appliance division, selling TVs to retail customers.

After several years GE sold their appliances division to Thomson/RCA and I worked for them until I retired. After that I decided to move to Texorama area where I used to  fish. My wife and I are now in Meade, Oklahoma in  small subdivision here. with a fifteen-acre lake in our backyard. We’ve been here for twelve years now.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Johnny Burrell, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1962-1964”

First, can you let readers know what you did with yourself after the NFL and how hard that adjustment was for you?

Well I got my degree in education so went into teaching and did a little coaching as well. After that I retired.

I wasn’t hard at all for me. I knew what I wanted to do before I became a football player, so I was fine.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Linebacker Dick Lasse, 1958-1959”

First, tell me what you’re doing with yourself now? I know you’re involved in a number of things.

As far as professionally, I’m predominantly working with two organizations. I volunteer at CASA – a child advocacy organization here in San Antonio. We help children who have been displaced or abused and advocate for their needs. There are chapters throughout the United States – I work with the one here in San Antonio. We’re state sanctioned court appointed volunteers. We try to speak to the needs of these children. Whether they should be placed back home, in adoption, whatever the need is.

So often, kids need help that get forgotten – things like eye exams when they struggle n school. The focus is often so much on the adults. But there are 8,000 displaced kids in my county in San Antonio alone.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Line Coach Irv Eatman, 2000”

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

When I left Pittsburgh I went on to coach high school a little bit at North Allegheny in Pittsburgh. I coached football and wrestling. I also had the thrill of coaching for Marty Schottenheimer in the UFL. I never coached against him in the NFL but he coached after he retired from the NFL in the UFL. Coach Cowher hooked me up with him and I could see why he was a Hall of Fame coach.

I was blessed to work with great coaches. My high school coach Coach Minnick, Joe Paterno at Penn State, Cowher, and then to work with Marty. It was a big thrill. It was a great season for me. I coached tight ends and strength and conditioning. If I closed my eyes I wouldn’t have known if it were Marty or Coach Cowher talking. They both gave great talks. There were so many things Bill said that emulated Marty. And I can see why now.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Chet Fuhrman, Steelers Conditioning Coordinator, 1992-2007”

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

I’ve been retired from working in the public school system in Jackson, Michigan since 2010. I was the Athletic Director and Principal when I left.

Since then I’ve been a granddad. That’s my role now in the family, to babysit my five grand babies. They are all here in Michigan so I get to see them weekly. Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Running Back Russell Davis, 1979-1983”