Bill Cowher and the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Superbowl to conclude the 2005 NFL season, and much of that squad still remains intact. Star players like Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, and Hines Ward are all still performing at a high level for the black and gold. But there are 33 players that were in Detroit that Sunday, celebrating a Superbowl championship, who didn’t remain with the team through this past season. 36 if you count free agent defections and returns by Bryant McFadden, Larry Foote, and Antwaan Randle El.
Those three players returned to the Steelers. The remaining 33, though? Well, they’ve found a variety of things to do. Six former Steelers are currently playing elsewhere in the NFL, a handful are playing football outside the NFL, and many have either retired or gone unsigned for a few years now.
This will be a series of six posts each about 5 or 6 former Steelers and what they’ve done with their time since Superbowl XL. We’ll headline each post with an active NFL player from 2010 and add a handful players that might have slipped through the cracks in your memory.
Major props to pro-football-reference.com for tracking players’ NFL action. Jump for Part 2.
Clark Haggans
2005: The left outside linebacker (or LOL backer) in Dick LeBeau’s defense, he spent the season rushing quarterbacks behind Aaron Smith.
Since: Hung around for a couple years before defecting to the Arizona Cardinals in 2008.
Now: Still backing lines in Pittsburgh West.
Ricardo Colclough
2005: Special teams DB, and also the Steelers’ default punt returner in Madden ’07.
Since: Eventually went to Kansas City and spent two years there after being released in 2007.
Now: Currently playing for Omaha of the United Football League.
Mike Logan
2005: Special teamer and backup safety.
Since: Nothing exciting, but fun fact: Since Donnie Shell retired, only Mike Logan has worn #31 for the Steelers. It’s sort of unofficially retired, but it was given to Logan likely because he grew up in McKeesport, idolizing Donnie Shell.
Now: Pittsburgh radio personality.
Travis Kirschke
2005: He and Brett Keisel backed up Aaron Smith and Kimo von Oelhoffen and kept them fresh to keep eating up blockers.
Since: Stuck around with the Steelers until being released in 2009, getting his second Superbowl ring along the way.
Now: Assistant coach at some high school in Colorado.
Duce Staley
2005: Wore a lot of sweatpants.
Since: Wore more sweatpants for a season and retired as a Philadelphia Eagle.
Now: Special Teams Quality Control coach for the Eagles, presumably wearing sweatpants.
