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 3.
Chris Hope
2005: The thunder to Troy Polamalu’s lightning, Chris Hope was the responsible safety that played back and let Troy Polamalu roam the field and tackle everything.
Since: Signed with the Tennessee Titans the following offseason, being replaced in Pittsburgh by Ryan Clark.
Now: Still defending passes with the Titans.
Alan Faneca
2005: All-Pro left guard that blocked for one of the toughest running games in the league.
Since: Signed with the New york Jets for infinite money and then joined his former coaches in Arizona.
Now: Retired last week. Should be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the next ten years.
Cedrick Wilson
2005: Third receiver on the depth chart; wore a black mouth guard so it looked like he didn’t have any teeth. Had a few big games in the ’05 playoffs.
Since: Punched his ex-girlfriend in the face and got cut.
Now: Offensive coordinator for some high school in Tennessee.
Jeff Hartings
2005: Just another center in a line of great ones.
Since: Retired after the 2006 season because of chronic knee problems.
Now: Does missionary work and opened a non-denominational church with his wife.
Willie Williams
2005: A near-fossilized safety originally drafted by the Steelers and latching onto a Superbowl run with the last legs of his long career.
Since: Released and retired a month after winning a Superbowl.
Now: Google-proof.
Jerame Tuman
2005: The tight end on the roster that wasn’t up-and-coming rookie Heath Miller.
Since: Like most blue-collar Steelers under Bill Cowher, Tuman ended up with the Arizona Cardinals in 2008.
Now: Holds the record for touchdown catches from Jerome Bettis with 2. (Hines Ward in in second place with 1.)
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