Tunch Ilkin obit

Former Steelers broadcaster Tunch Ilkin dies

 

He was not on the list.

Longtime Steelers broadcaster and former player Tunch Ilkin died on Saturday, WPXI’s Alby Oxenreiter has confirmed with three sources.

Alby Oxenreiter tweeted Very sad news. A great man and a great friend to many, Tunch Ilkin, has passed away. Thoughts and prayers are with the Ilkin family.

Ilkin was diagnosed with ALS, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease, in October 2020. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease which attacks motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in the wasting away of muscle and loss of movement.

He announced his retirement from Steelers broadcasting duties in June.

The team released a statement from Steelers President Art Rooney II: “We are heartbroken by the passing of Tunch Ilkin. He was a man of faith who dedicated his entire life to being a devout Christian and family man. His passion for the game of football was evident in his everyday life. As a player, he fought his way through tough times of being cut and injured, but continued to make an impact as a leader of our offensive line and made two Pro Bowls.

After his playing career, Tunch continued to make an impact in our community in so many ways. His efforts and dedication to the light of Life was unparalleled, and his desire to always help others made everyone appreciate him. He was loved by his family, teammates, and friends. We were fortunate to have Tunch as a player and broadcaster for so many years. Our condolences to his entire family during this difficult time.”

According to the Steelers, Ilkin was a two-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle and played 14 seasons in the NFL. He spent the last 23 years behind the radio microphone.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald issued a statement Saturday afternoon, saying: “It is a sad day for Pittsburgh with the passing of Tunch Ilkin. When the Steelers drafted him four decades ago, they brought to Pittsburgh a great football player, but also someone who contributed much more to our community than his athletic talents. His work with Light of Life and other initiatives in helping the homeless and others in need was tremendous. While he did not grow up here, he embraced our town, raised his family here and continued to make Pittsburgh a better place. His contributions to our community will be missed. I hope it is a comfort to his family, what a great legacy he left. My deepest condolences to his family.”

Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert has released the following statement on the passing of former Pittsburgh Steelers player and broadcaster, Tunch Ilkin:

“I am completely heartbroken and numb at the passing of Tunch Ilkin. I consider myself blessed to call him a friend and mentor. I’m a better cop and human being because of his unconditional love, faith, and guidance.

My prayers are with the family and all who had the pleasure of knowing Tunch. He’s made an impact on the lives of so many people and Pittsburgh is a better place because of his love for humanity. I will forever remember how he lived his life and how he courageously battled ALS with hope, faith, love, and compassion.

He never gave up and always put his faith in his savior the Lord. I take solace in knowing that he is finally at peace and his legacy will continue to make a difference in the lives of others.

God bless, Tunch. You are loved and missed.” --- Chief Scott Schubert, PIttsburgh Bureau of Police.

Ilkin was married on April 24, 1982, to Sharon Senefeld, and they had three children: Tanner, Natalie, and Clay. The Ilkins resided in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania. On February 6, 2012, Sharon Ilkin died following a lengthy battle with cancer. In 2013, Ilkin remarried, to Karen Rafferty. A convert from Islam to Christianity, Ilkin was the Pastor of Men's Ministry for The Bible Chapel, a multi-site church in the south hills of Pittsburgh.

During a November 2013 visit to Turkey, he took part at the activities of the Istanbul Cavaliers, and was interviewed by the sports newspaper Fanatik. Ilkin said in that interview that he would have liked to coach an American football team in Turkey.

After retiring from football, Ilkin began appearing as a commentator and sports reporter on sports broadcasts in the Pittsburgh market and, nationally, worked as a game analyst for NBC during the 1995 NFL season. He was paired with either Dan Hicks or Jim Donovan.

In 1998, he joined the official Steelers broadcasting team of Myron Cope and Bill Hillgrove as an analyst. After Cope's retirement following the 2004 season, the team decided not to replace Cope, and Ilkin took on the color-commentary duties once carried by Cope. He worked alongside sideline reporter and former teammate Craig Wolfley, who, like Ilkin, joined the Steelers via the 1980 draft. Ilkin and Wolfley hosted a morning radio show called In The Locker Room with Tunch and Wolf on WBGG. After 2006, “In The Locker Room” was broadcast daily during the football season: locally on 970 ESPN in Pittsburgh, and nationally on Steelers Nation Radio (SNR).

Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Ilkin's parents Mehmet and Ayten Ilkin emigrated to the United States when he was two years old and settled in the Chicago area. He attended Highland Park High School in Highland Park, Illinois where he won All Conference and All County honors as a football player. In 1975, he was granted an athletic scholarship to Indiana State University, where he played for Head Coach Tom Harp (1975-77) and Head Coach 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.

He 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. He served as vice president of the NFL Players' Association from 1989 to 1994.

The popular Ilkin was a fixture on the Steelers’ offensive line after being taken in the sixth round of the 1980 draft. He played 13 of his 14 seasons in the NFL in Pittsburgh, making the Pro Bowl in 1988 and 1989 as an athletic right tackle under Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll. He appeared in 176 games for the Steelers, making 143 starts.

“We are heartbroken by the passing of Tunch Ilkin,” Steelers owner Art Rooney II said in a statement. “He was a man of faith who dedicated his entire life to being a devout Christian and family man. His passion for the game of football was evident in his everyday life.”

“Today we lost a heck of a person but God gained an unbelievable angel,” current Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward posted on Instagram. “Your love, faith, candor, and strength will be remembered forever. I’m lucky enough to have talked and got to know you. May you be at peace brother.”

He is part of the 2021 class into the team’s Hall of Honor, joined by fellow tackle Jon Kolb, defensive back Carnell Lake, and wide receiver Louis Lipps.

He also co-authored two books, titled "In the Locker Room" and "Forged In Steel," and Mr. Ilkin often joked that the title of the never-written story of his NFL career would be: "Too Late for the Super Bowl Wins, and Too Early for Free Agency."

"I love Art Rooney II, and I love Dan, and I love the coaching staff, especially Mike Tomlin," said Mr. Ilkin. "I'm friends with Mike, and I'd love to play for him, because he's so good at coaching up guys. At training camp, I would watch him working with guys, coaching them, and just by standing there and watching him and listening to him, I learned defensive back techniques. One time when I was watching film in the Bill Nunn Draft Room with Ryan Shazier (after his spinal injury), Mike came into the room and said to us, 'Don't watch the same play over and over again, let (the game) wash over you.' Even at that stage of my career in football, after decades and decades of watching film, that taught me something and ended up helping me.

“Watching Tunch live out his Christian faith in front of Steelers Nation has been inspiring to say the least,” Steelers team chaplain Kent Chevalier told Sports Spectrum. “It’s been a privilege to learn the importance of faith, family and football, in that order.”

Ben Roethlisberger tweeted - Rest In Peace, Tunch. We will miss you.

Jerome Bettis - I am heartbroken to hear the news about Tunch Illkin. He was an amazing person with a huge heart and will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his entire family and Steelers Nation. We lost an inspiration to all of us today