Sarah Parkins-Pyles wanted to share a very special Christmas Day story with the rest of Steeler Nation:

As Christmas was approaching, and the seasons were changing, I was dreading it all and did not want any part of it this year.

You see, in July 2017 my beautiful 20-year old daughter Taylor, was killed in a horrible drunk driving accident. The car hit so hard that it burst into flames. Taylor and another friend could not get out and were killed. At about 8:30 am, two Washington State Police chaplains and the local Sheriff came to notify us of the accident. As soon as I opened the door, the mother instinct hit me, and I knew it was about Taylor. Just like in the movies, I collapsed and my 15-year old son, Carson, came running to my aid. He was so confused and upset that his sister was gone and I was hysterical. He just held me and rocked me, and kept telling me it was going to be ok. It was such a horrible event for all of us, especially for a 15-year old to endure.

Carson has been so strong and brave and honestly, I’m not even sure he has shed a tear yet, or been able to grieve the loss of his sister. We were never able to say goodbye, or see Taylor due to the circumstances of the accident, and I was only able to get a button from her jeans, and a ring from the medical examiner.

Our family has been lost and stuck for the past few months and just completely devastated from our loss. Taylor was so amazing and had so much to offer the world. She was a HUGE supporter of our Military, Veterans, and First Responders. In fact she was a first responder in the making, and was to continue on to nursing school this past September. The amount of people and lives Taylor touched has been overwhelming, and I realized her legacy should live on and continue to touch lives and give back to America’s finest. In her honor I have started the Taylor Strong Project, a foundation that will give back to those that serve our […]

From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:


On whether he should play this Sunday’s game against the Browns –

“I love being out here with the guys, kind of like preseason games it’s hard to not play. It’s one of those things where it’s not my call.”


On if he was disappointed with the entire Harrison situation –

“I have been blessed to play with one of the best guys, defensive football players, a friend, for a long time. We’ve played in a lot of games together. The biggest games. He has one of the biggest plays in Super Bowl history. It’s truly been an honor to call him a friend and a teammate. I’ll miss him. I’ve only had to go against him when he was in Cincinnati. It won’t be the same in here without him especially because he was the oldest and now I am the oldest. I count my blessing for all of times I got to share with him.”


On what he will miss most –

“How good of a player he was. He truly is one of the best to play this game at the outside linebacker position. Just really struck fear in quarterback’s eyes and you can see it.”


On his reaction when Harrison signed to the Patriots –

“James has to do what James has to do. It’s not like he called and asked me if he should or not. James was out there and he was a free agent. He’s going to do what he needs to do that is best for his family. I wish him the best. I had a lot of good years with him.”


On if he worries about players sharing information when they leave –

“I think the first time we played Cleveland I think Sammie Coates had just got picked up by them. That was obviously a big concern of ours, knowing our offense. That’s on James, if they want to ask him every single piece of information he has then that’s what this league I guess and other people do that, too. So, I’m not worried about it. We don’t play them this week and we don’t play them next week so we’ll see. My wife and I were talking last night and she asked if he knew much of our […]

Today, [Santa] Ben announced the 13th and 14th grant awards of the 2017 season from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.

The Foundation will be distributing grants to the Houston Fire Department and League City Police Department, near NRG Stadium where the Steelers will play the Texans on Christmas Day.

The Houston Fire Department will use the grant to purchase training and safety equipment for their K-9 arson unit.

“The Houston Fire Department’s Arson Bureau is extremely grateful to the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. This grant will help ensure our canines can effectively serve the citizens of Houston. This grant will guarantee that our training continues to be above average and that our canines have the best safety equipment available. Because of our high call volume, the Houston Arson Bureau is the only city in the United States with two Accelerant Detection Canines provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF). “Humphrey” and “Lux” are an integral part of the Houston Arson Bureau and we honor their service to the City of Houston and thank the Roethlisberger foundation for their support.” — Houston Fire Department Deputy Chief Investigator Alison Stein.

The League City Police will use the funds to replace a soon-to-be-retired dual purpose police K-9.

“10-year-old League City Police K-9 Officer Chico will be retiring soon. Chico is one of four League City Police Department K-9 officers and is the most successful canine in the unit. The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation will be providing funding to purchase a new K-9, assuring a seamless transition and allowing us to maintain K-9 coverage across all four patrol shifts. Upon certification of the new K-9, Chico will be able to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.” –League City Police Chief Michael Kramm.

During the 2017 NFL season, the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation has been distributing grants to K-9 units of police and fire departments in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers. The Foundation will also distribute several grants to the Pittsburgh area and will consider a grant to a non-NFL market city in the United States if the Steelers advance to the playoffs. The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation invited police and fire departments across the country to submit proposals detailing their […]

From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

The Steelers will be without Antonio Brown on Monday when they take on the Houston Texans in a Christmas Day matchup, and Ben Roethlisberger knows it’s going to take more than one player to step in and fill the void.

“I will be honest, you can’t replace him with one man,” said Roethlisberger. “AB is not human. We will have multiple guys trying to fill that spot. We have guys that are excited, willing to try and fill those shoes. I think Justin (Hunter) is going to be one, Martavis (Bryant) will do some stuff, and JuJu (Smith-Schuster). Everyone really is going to have to step their game up, that includes me. I am going to have to be better.”

Roethlisberger said everyone stepped up big against the Patriots when Brown went down in the second quarter with a lower leg injury, and he is expecting more of the same this week.

“Guys stepped up and played different positions JuJu, Hey-Bey (Darrius Heyward-Bey), Eli (Rogers), Martavis,” said Roethlisberger. “I am really proud of the way those guys played.

“It’s tough. He is a special football player. He brings a lot of energy, a lot of smiles and laughs. We’ll just keep encouraging him to get back to us as soon as he can.”

While getting Brown rest is a key, there is still a lot at stake on Monday. A win, on Monday combined with a Jacksonville loss on Sunday, would give the Steelers a first-round playoff bye, something that can give everyone rest.

“It’s huge,” said Roethlisberger. “It always is for rest and it’s one less game you have to win in the playoffs.”

It’s going to be a challenge though. While the Texans might have a 4-10 record, they have a defense led by Jadeveon Clowney and Roethlisberger knows he is someone they have to be alert of all day.

“They are good,” said Roethlisberger. “Obviously when you’ve got Clowney running all over the field you are going to have to have eyes and understand where he is all of the time. He is a very, very special football player.”

And while looking out for Clowney is a key, Roethlisberger admits he doesn’t mind that he won’t see J.J. Watt on the field, and he said it with […]