Tag: Steelers

First, can you let readers know about your post-NFL coaching career – how you got started and what you enjoy most about it? 

I am currently the Head Football Coach at Lincoln University.  Lincoln University is a Historical Black Institution in Jefferson City, MO.  I began coaching at the high school level, at Hazelwood East High School in 2004.  My best friend in high, (Jim Collins) was the assistant Head Coach at East.  I attended a Semi-Final playoff game in the fall of 2003.  After the game I told him, I enjoyed the game and if a coaching position came available, I would be interested in coaching.  The spring of 2004, the defensive coordinator at East, stepped down, and Head Coach Corey Johnson offered me the job.  My first year we went to the state championship.  I became the head coach in 2008 and we won the state championship that same year.  We won the state championship on a Hail Mary.  Two years later I was coaching at the collegiate level, at Southern University.  I applied and received the job as  Head Football Coach at Lincoln University in 2011.

What I love about coaching is the ability to make an impact in young men’s lives.  Teaching the game of football is a lot like teaching young men about life.  The good the bad and the ugly, the opportunity to see a young kid grow into a man.

Continue reading “Michael Jones, Steelers Linebacker, 2001-2002”

First, can you let readers know about your post-NFL life. What have you been doing since the NFL and how you got started?

Football seems like a million years ago now. I went into business for myself – I own a car wash – have for three years now and plan to open up three more in the next few years.

How hard was it for you to adjust to life after the NFL and how did you do so? What about your time it he NFL helped you?

Being a part of a team was the most important thing I’ve ever done. Playing organized sports, you learn how to lead and when to lead. From my experiences, I learned from the good and the bad. Learning from the bad is sometimes the most important part, too. People forget that.

The adjustment was extremely difficult. I wasn’t the person who loved football the most out of everyone I played with. There were guys that would play for free – I wasn’t one of those guys, so I can only imagine how hard it was for them. It is a difficult adjustment – no practices. Less income. It’s a difficult thing to do, and the league doesn’t do a good job helping players to make the transition. I know they do some things but there are a lot of improvements needed there.

Continue reading “Craig Keith, Steelers Tight End, 1993-1994”

First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself since you’ve retired from the NFL, and how you got started doing so?

I currently co-own a food  brokerage company. I have been managing and selling for our company since I stopped playing football. Rasmussen and Associates was started in 1979. I have been  married to my wife Dana for over 30 years and we have raised two wonderful daughters. We spent many days watching the girls play soccer & hockey.

How did the NFL help you prepare for post-NFL life, and how hard of an adjustment was that for you?

The NFL taught me to be persistent and work hard. I learned about teamwork and respect.  I use all of these things daily.  It was hard to change from a physical job to a sales job but after time, it became easy.

Continue reading “Randy Rasmussen, Steelers Offensive Lineman, 1984-1986”

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing since being with the Steelers?

After leaving Pittsburgh I returned home and worked for my brother in law at Bell Brothers Moving, I continued doing that until August of last year when I became a Police Officer in Austin, Texas. You can now find me running “Code 3” chasing bad guys and playing Defensive end for the Central Texas Wolf Pack Football Organization.  (First responders football league).

Continue reading “Jared Retkofsky, Steelers Long Snapper, 2007-2009”

First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself now – how life is in the CFL and how you got there?

Life is great. Anytime you’re able to play at a professional level and get paid to do what you love is a blessing. My CFL team has had an eye on me since college and contacted me after my last year with the Dolphins after I was cut. They told me if I don’t make an NFL team the following training camp then I would have a home up in Montreal. After I was released by the Steelers, I jumped on the opportunity.

Continue reading “Brandon London, Steelers Wide Receiver, 2010”

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing since you’ve retired from the NFL and how you got started in these new ventures?  

After I retired I jumped right into coaching high school football and teaching physical education at Rock Bridge HS in Columbia, MO. I’ve been the Head Coach since the 2003 season. My son Alex just completed his senior season and signed to play collegiately at the University of Oregon

How did you prepare for life after the NFL and how hard was that adjustment for you?

Because I was an early entry into the draft (primarily due to a coaching change) I hadn’t completed my degree program when I left school. I committed to taking classes every off season. I got my degree prior to completing my playing career so I was in pretty good position to make a seamless transition into coaching/teaching which is what I always wanted to do long term

Continue reading “A.J. Ofodile, Steelers Tight End, 1995-1996”

First, can you let us know about your path to becoming a coach – how did you become QB coach of Steelers – who asked and how did it start?

Well, I spent sixteen years as a player. It was in my seventeenth year. I retired then went back to New York when I was 39. I was playing behind Joe Namath and he was doing pretty well physically – he was fit at that point. He was going to play the whole year so I retired.

They told me to go home – back then they could call you back from retirement, but that never happened. I didn’t care anyway, I had other businesses – a golf course and other things and was working at that.

So I took that year off. The next year I ran into Chuck Noll at the Super Bowl in Miami. Chuck asked me how it was going and I told him I wasn’t doing much. He said he wanted to talk to me and had me come to Pittsburgh. We watched film for three hours and he asked me what was wrong with his offense. I told him they didn’t throw enough short passes – they threw deep passes all of the time. After that he told me he wanted to hire me. I told him I could only do six months a year – I had to get back to my other things at home. He said that was fine, and he hired me.

Continue reading “Babe Parilli, Steelers Quarterback Coach, 1970-1973”

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself since the NFL?

Let’s see – after the Steelers, I played in Kansas City and Green Bay. I started a business with Reggie White in Green Bay –  a jersey store. I had that fir fifteen years. But I got sick and had a lot of medical bills. I had to sell the business.

What was the issue?

I had heart and other issues related to the NFL. So I floated around – coached Arena Football for a while and had the top rated defense there. I wanted to get into the NFL again but it’s hard to do that  when you’re part of the NFL concussion lawsuit. Back then, you really had to choose – either try to be a coach or scout – or be a part of the lawsuit. Who knew the lawsuit would take so long.

Continue reading “Sammy Walker, Steelers Cornerback, 1991-1992”

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing since you’ve retired from the NFL and how you got started in this venture?

I started working at an ad agency in 1985 and loved it. Thirty years later—the last 20 at Perich Advertising + Design in Ann Arbor—I’m still loving it.

I’d planned to go to law school and had never considered the ad business until my senior year at Michigan. A former Michigan athlete by the name of Pete Dow (he was president of a big ad agency in the area) came to Ann Arbor that winter and asked the coaches for the names of some athletes with pretty good grades. His thoughts were that someone getting A’s and B’s while also competing in major college athletics would be pretty well equipped to handle the unique demands of an advertising career. So I guess you could say advertising found me.

Continue reading “Craig Dunaway, Steelers Tight End, 1983”