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Pittsburgh West: Steelers, Cards Share Local Super Bowl Ties

Ex-Steelers, Pittsburgh-Area High School Players On Cardinals Roster

POSTED: 5:21 pm EST January 19, 2009
UPDATED: 11:14 am EST January 20, 2009

For Mike Tomlin and Ken Whisenhunt, the road to Super Bowl XLIII began more than two years ago on Jan. 5, 2007.

That was the day Bill Cowher retired as head coach of the Steelers, leaving the franchise searching for a new leader for the first time in 15 seasons.

Whisenhunt, an offensive coordinator and tight ends coach during his six years with the Steelers, was considered as a successor. So was assistant head coach and offensive line coach Russ Grimm.

But Tomlin, then a defensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings, was chosen to be the Steelers' third head coach since 1969.

Whisenhunt was hired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, guiding the team to its first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history this season.

While Whisenhunt prepares to spoil his former employers' chance to collect a record sixth Lombardi Trophy, he remains thankful for his time with the Steelers.

"The reason that I'm here is because of my time with Pittsburgh and I'm very grateful for that," said Whisenhunt.

Billed as "Pittsburgh West," the Cardinals have a roster composed of players and coaches with ties to the Pittsburgh area -- including wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy at Pitt in 2004.

"Larry Fitzgerald -- he's a guy I've texted a couple of times and he's just a phenomenal wideout, probably one of the best wideouts in the league today," Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said. "And it will be a chance to see him, being that he played at Pitt and he watched me play when he was here at Pitt, so I'm a big fan, so hopefully we can contain him so he don't go crazy on us."

Players


Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver
  • Caught 161 passes for 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns in 26 games at the University of Pittsburgh
  • First player in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons


    Gerald Hayes, Linebacker
  • Played linebacker at University of Pittsburgh
  • Three-time All-Big East Conference selection


    Steve Breaston, Wide Receiver
  • Native of North Braddock, Allegheny County
  • Woodland Hills High School graduate


    Reggie Wells, Offensive Guard
  • South Park High School graduate
  • Attended Clarion University


    Clark Haggans, Linebacker
  • Played for Steelers from 2000-07
  • Member of Super XL team


    Jerame Tuman, Tight End
  • Played for Steelers from 1999-2007
  • Member of Super Bowl XL team


    Sean Morey, Wide Receiver/Special Teams
  • Played for Steelers from 2004-06
  • Member of Super Bowl XL team


    Brian St. Pierre, Quarterback
  • Played for Steelers from 2003-04, 06-07

    Coaches


    Russ Grimm, Assistant Head Coach/Offense Line
  • Steelers Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line, 2000-06
  • Native of Scottdale, Westmoreland County
  • Played football at Southmoreland High School


    Mike Miller, Wide Receivers Coach
  • Native of Plum, Allegheny County
  • Attended Clarion University
  • Coached at Robert Morris (1997-98, 2006) and Steelers (1999-2003)


    Matt Raich, Defensive Assistant
  • Native of Monaca, Beaver County
  • Played middle linebacker at Westminster College
  • Coached at Westminster (1993-94), Robert Morris (1996-98, 2000-02) and Steelers (2004-06)


    Kevin Spencer, Special Teams
  • Coached special teams with Steelers from 2002-06


    Teryl Austin, Defensive Backs
  • Native of Sharon, Mercer County
  • Defensive back at University of Pittsburgh from 1984-87


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