Nakia Codie, Steelers Safety, 2000

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

At this time I’m a Loss Mitigation Manager at Ally Financial Service in the auto division.  I also have two other ventures that I do for fun.  One is personal football training.  I coach speed and agility training as well as personal defensive back or wider receiver training. The second is my football camp that I have been organizing for the past four years.  I grew up in a single parent home and couldn’t afford to attend many basketball and football camps that others attended. I wanted to give back to the community that help raise me, and also make it affordable.

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Frank Pollard, Steelers Running Back, 1980-1988

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First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself since you retired from the NFL?

I’m a caseworker at a children’s home here in Waco, Texas. I work with at-risk kids.

What made you decide to get involved in that?

I was just always interested in it. Growing up, a lot of folks helped me as a kid. After I retired from the NFL, I decided to work in the youth home and help other kids. I wanted to help them in some way.

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Former Steelers’ Quotes on Jerome Bettis

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Excerpts from prior interviews on new HOF inductee Jerome Bettis:

Hines Ward:
I would have to say it was Jerome Bettis.  He was like a big brother to me.  He taught me how to deal with the fame that came along with winning and as I started to emerge as a starter and team leader.  He taught me how to handle all the money that came with that fame too.  I am very grateful to Jerome for all his insight.  We had a great ride together which is why I took him to Disney World when I was SB MVP

Jeff Reed:
I will tell you that Josh Miller, Tommy Maddox, Mike Schneck, Joey Porter, Clark Haggans, Hines Ward, and Jerome Bettis were my closest buddies…every single one of them made me feel like I could do no wrong…obviously I had a lot to prove, but they put me at ease with their funny stories about kickers, confident personalities, and the “games” we played throughout practice…it was new to me and of course I was anxious and nervous, but those men are special and always will be!

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Justin Vincent, Steelers Running Back, 2007-2010

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First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself these days, and how you got started in this post- N FL career?

Well I’m the Associate Director of Player Personnel and the Director of Player Development here at LSU. I came back to finish up my degree and ran into Coach Miles and the rest is history.

 How has your time in the NFL helped?

Being in the NFL help me mature and mold me into the man I am today. It makes you grow up fast and hold yourself and other accountable.

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Reggie Barnes, Steelers Linebacker, 1993

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

I’ve been out of the game and was in the car business for twenty years. I was a GM of a car dealership and then life happened. I had a couple of kids, a son who is sixteen and plays football at  Southlake Carroll here in Texas, and a daughter who is a freshman at the University of Oklahoma and is on the rowing team. So, I switched gears. Football and sports can be very demanding. I’m now currently employed at a lumber company in Grand Rapids. I’m the account manager here in Saginaw, TX. I’m enjoying spending time with my children.

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Bryant McFadden, Steelers Cornerback, 2005-2008, 2010-2011

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First, can you let readers know about your new broadcasting career – why you retired from the NFL, how you got started in broadcasting and what specifically you are covering?

My last year in Pittsburgh, I tore my hamstring and I never got 100% healthy. That injury lingered with me after the season so I decided to shut it down and retire.

I actually got started in broadcasting while I was playing in Pittsburgh. I had my own TV show called the BMAC Corner that gave me the opportunity to talk about sports and bring some of my teammates on the show. So, when I retired, I wanted to get involved in sports in some way, so I did an internship at a local station in Miami. I used the reels from that station and sent it to 120 Sports and the rest is history. At 120 Sports, I cover all sports, not just football.

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Steeler Players’ comments on Dick LeBeau

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Darren Perry: “Dick was great. He gave me great advice – to not get caught up in the political stuff – its such an insecure business. I’m so glad he told me that, There’s so much insecurity and self-preservation with these adults in coaching. It helped me to keep above that stuff. It doesn’t matter – just do your job and work to develop the players. I always held on to that.”

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Mortty Ivy, WVU/Steelers Linebacker, 2011-2012

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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?

Well,  I have been trying to do better for my two daughters and family by getting into work that I enjoy – work that involves helping others.

How hard was it for you to adjust to the CFL and to non-NFL-related work? What heaped you make that adjustment?

Playing in the CFL was just a faster paced game but it’s still football. I just strive to be great at everything I do.

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Jeff Reed, Steelers Kicker, 2002-2010

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First, can you let readers know about your post-NFL life. What you’ve been doing since your time with the Steelers and NFL – especially as it relates to the football kicking camps?

Post NFL life has been interesting to say the least…i found myself depressed for nearly 18 months as I loved playing the game and missed it…after I  finally snapped out of the “darkness,” I realized i had a degree from UNC in journalism…why not use it!!! I have not always made the best decisions in my life, as I admit I’m human…I helped so many people whom I crossed paths with and got bit by two of them in a very harsh way…”God forgive them” Ii say on a daily basis…

I have moved on to bigger and better things and have to once again resort back to working my way to the top, creating my own happiness, and praying for my family, which includes my parents, sister, grandmother, girlfriend, two beautiful daughters, and the pets! I have become closer to God in the last six weeks…wow what a smart decision that was…my whole outlook on life has changed…I struggle many times, but i also have realized that money does not solely create my happiness as I once thought…

I am on CBS Sports radio in Charlotte, NC…I have my own website, www.thejeffreedshow.com, which features my funny and sometimes serious podcast “Barely Controlled Radio”…I work with some local high school kickers and watch them succeed through their drive and extreme dedication to learning and mastering fundamentals and “the little things”…I am in the process of doing some radio in Myrtle Beach, SC…i’m working on dedicating lots of time to a charity of choice…hell, maybe I’ll kick a football one more time for someone…I haven’t lost it…and I’ll always give back to Steeler Nation and do as many appearances as possible…motivational speaking makes me “move”…those individuals/fans make me feel rather special!

I will give a special shoutout to Gene Muriaty, the man who taught me how to kick a football properly and the man i work for at National Kicking Service camps along the east coast.

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Jimmy Smith, Steelers Wide Receiver, 1977-1982

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First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself these days and how you got started in this career? 

I am in the automotive business with Group1 publically traded fortune 500 company.  I started in the business over 20 years ago and that transpired to me and my partner owning Saturn dealerships in Texas for 12 years.

What about your  time in the NFL helped you in your post football career, and how hard was it for you to adjust to the post professional football life?

Any business is competitive and obviously so is the NFL.  I found out that the daily repetition – ie practice – will win out at the end of the day in business life as well.  I tell my team we are going to better prepared and outwork the competition every day.

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