Merril Hoge

To be an All Madden player was the standard when John Madden was in the booth. If he recognized you, you needed NO other recognition. My heart and prayers go out to his family and all that loved John Madden along with Raider nation. RIP Coach Madden🙏
📸: Pro Football HOF

The very first day I got to Pittsburgh after being drafted by the Steelers, we were taken to the locker room to find where our lockers would be. I walked over to my locker, which was all the way to the right as soon as you entered the locker room, and sat down in my chair in front of my locker. As I was sitting there, the head equipment director (Tony Parisi) came over to me and said “do you know whose locker this is?” For a second I thought it was a trick question. Then, I thought I had sat down at the wrong locker, so I looked up and saw my name plate right above me, so I said “mine?”. He said, “No, this is Franco Harris' locker. This is where he lockered.”

Everyday I got to my locker I thought of that. Over time I would get to know Franco. As great of a player he was and making the greatest play in NFL History, he was a better human--and that is what I will miss.

He is the centerpiece of a city and a franchise that will never forget him. He brought hope to so many that needed it on that playoff day in 1972. He is a woven part of the fabric of Pittsburgh and Steelers Nation forever. Love you Franco, RIP!

Throwback with two of the best to ever do it.

To harbor ill will against somebody or something is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. It is a destructive thought process. That’s why it’s important we control our minds and feed our minds with productive thought processes not negative ones.
#Findawayeveryday

When I received the call that my time on ESPN's “NFL Matchup Show“ had come to an end, I was with my granddaughter, Essie, about to go shopping.

We’d heard rumors about layoffs, but I knew I was bringing my best to the network every single time I was on TV. There wasn’t a day I stepped into that studio unprepared.

As I processed the news, I looked down at Essie in her stroller, gazing up at me with that innocent look of “Are we going to get moving now?“

In that moment, my 60-second pity party quickly dissipated. Prioritizing became simple—my focus needed to shift to the next chapter.

I’ve faced my share of hardships, and this was another challenge to navigate.

What I’ve learned over the years is that you can either control your mind or let it control you.

The key is learning how to program your mind to work for you, not against you. It’s about finding a new way forward, no matter what life throws at you.

#Resilience #Mindset #Growth #NewBeginnings #FindAWay