Pure Steel
First and 10: Jeff Hartings

Jeff Hartings retired after the 2006 season, his 11th in the NFL, the final six of which he spent with the Steelers. Following his retirement, Hartings moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he and former Detroit Lions teammate Luther Elliss built and started a non-denominational church. Following the church's completion, Hartings, his wife Rebecca and their six-soon to be seven-children returned to Pittsburgh, where Hartings is active in Urban Impact, a youth organization located on Pittsburgh's North Side. PSR's Joe Giardina chatted with Hartings shortly after the former Pro-Bowler's return.

PSR: What do you miss most about playing in the NFL?

Hartings: Just everything that has to do with game day. Even yesterday (Saints vs. Colts 9/6) it was four hours before the game and I was thinking right now I'd be going to the locker room, and I'd be stretching out and getting my mind right for the game. And an hour before the game I remember looking at my watch thinking now I'd be running out on the field. And as the game was ending and it was obvious the Colts were going to win, I was thinking about how happy you are after the game. You're going home with your family or you're getting on the bus or the plane with your team, just the sense of accomplishment and that happiness you feel after you win - and even if you lose the game sometimes the sense of failure. But still it all laps up into competition which is what most guys love the most. And I don't expect to replace that competition with anything. I just look at retirement as another season of my life and I know that this season of life had definitely run its course.

PSR: What is something you won't miss?

JH: I don't miss the aches and the pains and the anxiety of having to get ready to play. And the working out, the intense working out, I don't miss that very much at all. For me, that was totally part of the work. I've already lost 50 pounds. It was a year-round job, and it is for everybody. I think that's what a lot of people don't realize. The NFL today is a complete year-round job and every single one of the guys out on the field, the reason they can give and take the hits and to get up and do it again is because it's a year round job. And that's something that had run its course for me. It's not like I lost my passion and desire to play the game… It just became too hard for me to keep my body to where I can play at that level because of injuries.

PSR: What is your best memory playing in the NFL?

JH: Obviously coming off after winning the Super Bowl. And maybe even almost as much was winning the championship in Denver and being in the locker room and knowing that you're going to the Super Bowl, because that's the first thrill of it. Finally we are going to the Super Bowl and you get to experience that. That was always my goal, just to experience it.