OFF. LINE Podcast

Sports agent and attorney Richard Katz joins us on the podcast this week. He was our host's main agent over his career. Rich is the founder of Katz Management Group (www.kmgsports.com) based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rich and John share stories of negotiations with NFL teams and more...

Bubby Bister joins us on the podcast this week. He's a 2 time Super Bowl champion with the Broncos, drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Quarterback position. Brister speaks on backing up John Elway in Denver. Bubby and John talk about playing together, relationships with coaches and players, College years, Bubby's TV show, and more...

David Fulcher joins us this week on the podcast. Fulcher will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this year (2021) for his stat performance at ASU. David and John help remind you that the Bengals use to beat the Steelers... Well in the late 80's. John and David speak on their worst playoff game inspired by a question sent in by a listener (SUL) and how they both felt about the Steelers-Browns playoff game this year. Fulcher shares what he's been working on recently from charity to fitness supplements and more...

Alan Faneca joins us this week on the podcast. Alan is on the 2021 ballot for the Pro Football Hall Of Fame and his legacy says it all. John and Alan tell stories about mentors, coaches, and family. Alan shares his first year with the Steelers, meeting the Rooney's, his first playoff game, and more...

Author Steve Massey joins us this week on the podcast to share his book and talk Steeler history. Steve's book is called "Starless: The 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers" and is available on Amazon for digital and physical purchase.

Butch Carter joins us on the podcast this week sharing his life and career. Butch is a former NBA shooting guard and coach, playing for the Lakers, Pacers, Knicks, 76ers, Cincinnati Slammers (1980-86) telling us story about Magic Johnson, Bobby Knight and Pat Riley. Coaching for the Toronto Raptors in 1998-2000 with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. Butch now works with the NBA coaching assistant helping shape the structor of coaching around the league and reenforcing the importance of practice and more...

The Great Joe Greene joins us this holiday week on the podcast, sharing his journey into the league and into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. John asks how he got the name Mean Joe Greene and Joe gives the story from the top to bottom along with many others. Joe explains what it means to be the 2nd number in Steeler's history to be retired and more.

Mark Bruener joins us on the podcast this week, bringing story's and insights of his career as a player to now as a NFL scout for the Pittsburg Steelers. A former teammate of the host, Mark tells his story of entering the league and taking a trip to Super Bowl 30.  John asks Mark about scouting in the NFL and more...  

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Long time teammate and friend Levon Kirkland joins us on the podcast this week. Levon speaks on his career in the NFL as an Outside Linebacker for 10 seasons. Kirkland played for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 8 seasons from 1992-2000, then played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles ending his professional career in 2002. Levon and John exchange stories and provide some answers for each other and more...

Kevin Greene joins us this week on the podcast, he's a 15 year Hall Of Fame NFL veteran. Greene played for the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the North Carolina Panthers from 1985 to 1999. Kevin and John speak on his career in the league but also his career in the WCW wrestling alone side and against the most famous wrestlers in the 90's. Greene speaks on what it means to be in the NFL Hall of Fame and to coach the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl victory more...

Mike Bass joins us on the podcast this week bringing memories and insights from football in the '60s and '70s. Bass speaks on playing under the great Vince Lombardi on the Green Bay Packers. John asks Mike about scoring the only touchdown in Super Bowl VII the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever versus the Miami Dolphins. Bass and John touch on the importance of the mental part of the game, holding it higher than most other elements of the game and more...

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Coach Kent Stephenson joins us on the podcast this week sharing his memories collected over a 16-year coaching career. Coach Kent is the longest coach John has had in his career for 6 seasons. Stephenson was the Offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1991-2000 after coaching in Seattle for the Seahawks from 1985-1991. Starting his professional career in USFL for the Michigan Panthers, Coach Kent began coaching for Wayne State which he graduated with a master's in History and Physical Education in 1965 the year our host John was born. He then moved on to North Dakota from 1969-1971 to Southern Methodist from 1972-1973 to Iowa from 1974-76, Oklahoma State from 1977-1978, and to Kansas from 1979-1982. John and Coach Kent speak on many shared memories from the games and practices in Pittsburgh and more.

Dermontti Dawson joins us on the podcast this week bringing laughs and memories from his 13 year Hall Of Fame NFL career. Dermontti played in Pittsburgh for the Steelers for his entire career, going to 7 Pro Bowls and started in 13 playoff games alongside our host John. Dawson was a center coming from the University of Kentucky drafted in 1988, John and himself built a life long friendship in the lockerroom of three rivers stadium. Jackson and Dawson talk practice, coaches, teammates, and more. 

Greg Lloyd joins us this week on the podcast bringing great stories from when he and John shared the same sideline. Lloyd is an 11 year NFL veteran playing the Right Linebacker position. Greg suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers the first 10 years of his career and spent his last season with the Carolina Panthers. John and Greg speak on the injuries that could have claimed his career earlier than expected. Greg gives us two stories of his biggest hits with unexpected outcomes in both. John and Greg talk friends, golf, cigars, and more...

Darryl Ledbetter joins us on the podcast this week, he's an award-winning Sports Writer for Atlanta Falcons in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and teaches law at the University of Georgia Grady College. Darryl and John speak on Atlanta as a team and what has changed since their last run to Super Bowl. John asks Darryl about the evolution of sports journalism in today's internet age and more...

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Jerome "The Bus" Bettis joins us on the podcast this week bringing stories from his career as a Hall Of Fame running back in the NFL. The Bus and John break down his journey into the league from his career at Notre Dame, to his last game, a Super Bowl 40 victory in his hometown of Detroit. Jerome and his foundation "The Bus Stops Here" are focusing on closing the digital divide in the schools giving over 100 laptops to kids in the inner city of Pittsburgh. Then the Bus takes us on a ride through his highlights of the past week in the league.

Jonathan Hayes, 12 year NFL tight-end vet joins us this week on the podcast. Hayes was drafted in 1985 to the Kansas City Chiefs and play for the Pittsburgh Steelers with our host John Jackson from 1994-1996. Hayes tells stories of his experiences playing in the game of football and coaching. Jonathan has been coaching for the past 21 years for the Oklahoma Sooners (3 years), Cincinnati Bengals (16 years), and St. Louis BattleHawks (2020-present) of the XFL. Hayes speaks on his daughter and son's athletic pursuits, with details of his oldest son Jaxson Hayes starting as a center in the NBA for the New Orleans Pelicans. Jonathan then tells us how the future of the XFL is shaping up as head coach of their BattleHawks.  

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 Wayne Box Miller joins us on the podcast this week. Miller is a veteran in media on Cincinnati Bengals Radio hosting the pre-game, halftime and post game of the Primetime Sports Show. John and Box speak on Joe Burrow quarterback of the Bengals and the cities reaction to his arrival. Wayne tells us about his current role at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. John then speaks with Wayne on the homelessness at Woodward High School, a school they both attended, and their efforts to participate in a solution...  

This Podcast is in memory of the Great Joe Morgan former second baseman of Cincinnati Reds' Big Red Machine.

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Barry Larkin a long time friend of host John Jackson, joins the podcast this week and speaks about his time in college choosing a sport. Larkin also goes through his Hall of Fame 19 year career in the MLB and talks about what he is doing now to make a difference with his website headlandunite.com ...  

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Solomon Wilcots join us this week, he is a former teammate of our host in 1992 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Willcots played as a free-safety in the NFL drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals and also played for the Minnesota Vikings. Solomon speaks on his experience in the league and as a sportcaster for CBS, ESPN and the NFL Network. Winning an Emmy for sideline reporting in 2000, Wilcots tells us about his new pursuit of football data analytics with Cris Collinsworth called Pro Football Focus. PFF is a football data company that provides data analytics for the every team in the NFL....     

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Merril Hoge joins us on the podcast, he is a former teammate of our hosts on the Steelers in 88'-93'. Merril played as a Tail Back (FB, RB), for the Steelers and the Bears. Merril is also an author of two books we discuss.  John and Merril talk about old times, concussions, team culture, football IQ and more...  

This episode of the OFF. LINE Podcast we are joined by our first guest Richmond Webb a former Miami Dolphin offensive tackle and former Bengal teammate of our host John Jackson. (01:45) John does the 1st Down segment with Richmond, starting off by asking him to recall his first fumble recovery. (03:35) Next John and Richmond talk about their 1st playoff game. (06:20) Richmond talks about being drafted 9th overall to block for Dan Marino. (08:00) John and Richmond discuss the times they would play during the season and before on the field find each other to catch up. (10:06) John talks about the coldest game they’ve both played in. (16:37) Richmond speaks on transitioning from the Dolphins to the Bengals where John was glad to have an old friend on the team. (21:54) Both speak on blocking for running back Corey Dillon.(23:55) John brings up the Hall Of Fame, mentioning that he believes Richmond should already be in. (26:39) Richmond speaks on his life after football and how he didn’t even watch the game for 5 years after retirement. (29:28) John asks Richmond how it was to go back to that first game after retirement.

In this first episode of the OFF. LINE Podcast we listen and watch (00:45) the “1st Down” segment where we asker and tell stories about the firsts in the league. John answers 2 questions this episode: 1st day in the league in the 80’s? & 1st fight in a game or locker room? (03:40) John talks about Justin Herberts breakout performance against the Chiefs Sunday Week 2. (06:14) We discuss the Cam Vs. Russell match up in week 2. (08:36) Tom Brady week 2 bounce back in Tampa Bay. (12:54) Saquon Barkley torn ACL we discuss and what this means for the Giants season. (14:23) Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears showing promise early in the season, this is our O-LINE Highlight of the week. (16:22) Broncos losing their seventh starting quarterback Drew Lock since 2015 with Payton Manning and now on to their eighth QB Jeff Driskel. (17:24) 49ers suffering 5 injuries, QB Jimmy Garoppolo, DE Nick Bosa, RBs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman, & DE Solomon Thomas all suffering a low body injury in victory against the New York Jets. (23:18) Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones has a breakout game against the Detroit Lions. (24:56) We discuss the effects of COVID-19 on the NFL. (30:19) Deon Sanders now head coach of Jackson State an HBCU. (34:24) Jordan ask John to share insights on mobile quarterbacks, Kordell Stewart was one of the first mobile QBs in the game that John blocked for, listen as he brings the conversation to the present with the new mobile QBs.

In this pre-episode of the OFF. LINE Podcast we listen and watch (00:44) Pro Bowler Duval Love scramble to set up his mic while John Jackson provides color commentary. (2:40) Both Love and Jackson continue to argue about accomplishments old age, mic placement, and gradit counters. (7:16) Former Pro Bowler Duval Love tells a recent story about him falling in the parking lot. (12:22) Pro Bowler Duval Love changes hit shirt and continues to trash talk John Jackson’s NFL Alumni shirt. Jackson explain where the shirt came from. (13:30) Both Jackson & Love gives an insight on weight restrictions they had to deal with in the league as lineman. (15:05) Love tells a story of short practices due to the staff being fired.

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