Pittsburgh Steelers 4-time Super Bowl Champion and Hall of Fame Linebacker, Jack Ham, recently sat down  for an interview about his life before, during, and after his NFL years.

 

What do you remember most about your hometown of Johnstown, PA.?

I remember the people. Even when I moved on to Penn State and then Pittsburgh, they supported me. Johnstown cares about their homegrown guys. In my senior year of college, a dinner honoring me was held in Johnstown which only strengthened and resonated the deep genuineness of the city’s people.

 

Before going to the NFL, you played for Penn State. What was your favorite moment from there?

My favorite moment was during my sophomore and junior year when we went 11-0. During both of  those seasons, we went to the Orange Bowl and won.

 

After playing three years for Penn State, you were drafted into the NFL. Is there any other career you would have pursued if you weren’t a professional athlete?

If I didn’t go into the NFL, I really think I would have joined the Air Force. I always wanted to be a pilot, but I really don’t know if I fit the height requirements.

 

While in the NFL, who was the toughest tackle you faced?

Eric Campbell of the Houston Oilers because they were in our division; we played them twice every season and in the playoffs. Campbell was about 5'10,” 240 lbs, and if I have any concussions, they are all because of him. He was an amazing player. He had speed, power, and he was very difficult to handle. He was number one and there would be a huge gap between who would be the number two toughest tackle for me. He was the guy.

 

The Rooney family has owned the Steelers for the past eight decades. What is your best memory of the family or one of the family members?

My best memory of Art Rooney Sr. is after we won our first Super Bowl and we got our checks. Art wrote personal letters on the stubs of the checks to all forty-five players--not just Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and me. It is something nobody does anymore. He thanked every player for their contribution for helping with the Super Bowl. I still have mine with everything else I have kept over the years.

 

Like your best memory with Mr. Rooney, do you have a best memory of your at the time coach, Chuck Noll?

My best memory of Chuck was after winning that same Super Bowl. The first training camp leading up to the next season you could not even get into St. Vincent. The fans were the whole way down Route 30. After camp, we had our first meeting. We felt good about ourselves, as defending Super Bowl Champions, and then, Chuck spoke. He said and I quote, “You can take your Super Bowl rings, but there is not a damn thing you did last year that is going to win you a spot on this football team this year. You can forget about last year, you can forget about the championship, it is now a new year.” We then won the Super Bowl again that season going back-to-back. That speech by Chuck set the tone. We bought into what he was preaching.

 

Looking at today’s NFL, which current player most resembles your play of the game?

I’m not saying this because he is a Penn State guy, but Dallas Cowboys’ Sean Lee. His instincts are good. He’s not the biggest or strongest guy in the world, but I’ve watched him play through his college years and with the Cowboys. His style of game is like mine.

 

After retiring from the NFL, you went back to Penn State as part of their radio network. What was your favorite part of working there?

My favorite part is the play-by-play guy, Steve Jones. Steve Jones, unlike some broadcasters who have big egos, cares about the broadcast. He doesn’t care if I speak more than him. He has no ego; all he cares about is the broadcast being the best it can be. He’s a pleasure to work with.  He made my transition back to Penn State easier and he is a special man.

 

In some ways, your career has become full circle now that you’ve become a co-owner of your hometown’s North American Hockey Team, The Johnstown Tomahawks. What piqued your interest in doing so?

My friend in Pittsburgh was already a majority owner of the Tomahawks, and he was looking for an arena to bring the team to. I mentioned Johnstown because I really believe anything we can bring into Johnstown can only be a benefit. Looking at now, I know the Tomahawks have been a benefit to the great people of the city.