The year of 2021 has not been exceptionally well to professional athletes. For whatever reason, it seems like we have seen more athletes die in 2021 than ever before. Every week it seems like we are reporting on the loss of an athlete, whether it bein the NFL, NHL, NBA or MLB.
Unfortunately, some of the most recent bad news comes out of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. It was announced on September 4th that former pro bowler and offensive tackle Tunch Ilkin has passed away.
In 1975, he was granted an athletic scholarship to Indiana State University, where he played for head coaches Tom Harp (1975–77) and Dick Jamieson; a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference pick, he was chosen by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 1980 NFL Draft. Ilkin played offensive tackle for the Steelers from 1980 to 1992, earning two Pro Bowl appearance honors (1988 and 1989). He played for the Green Bay Packers in 1993 before retiring from football. Ilkin served as vice president of the NFL Players’ Association from 1989 to 1994. He was named to the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team in 2007.
In other Pittsburgh Steelers, four time Super Bowl Champion Terry Bradshaw recently discussed what his rookie year contract was like in relation to what NFL players make nowadays. See what he had to say on the subject below:
“I signed with Pittsburgh for $25,000 rookie year, $5,000 raise next year, and $100,000 signing bonus spread out over 10 years. Compare that to today, and you say to yourself, ‘They’re paying that guy $135 million, and he ain’t worth three and a half!’”
credit: parade magazine
