- Tunch Ilkin
NFL player
Color=black
fontcolor=yellow
Caption =
DateOfBirth = Birth date and age|1957|9|23
Birthplace = Istanbul,Turkey
DateOfDeath =
Position = OT
number = 62
College = Indiana State
DraftedYear = 1980
DraftedRound = 6 / Pick 165
Stats = Y
DatabaseFootball = ILKINTUN01
PFR = IlkiTu00
Awards =
Records =
years = 1980-1992
1993
teams =Pittsburgh Steelers Green Bay Packers
ProBowls = 2
HOF =Tunch Ilkin ( _tr. Tunç Ali İlkin) (born
September 23 ,1957 inIstanbul, Turkey ) is a sports broadcaster and a formerAmerican football player. He currently serves as a television and radio analyst for thePittsburgh Steelers .Biography
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 theChicago area. He attended Highland Park High School inHighland Park, Illinois where he won All Conference and All County honors as a football player. In 1975, he was granted anathletic scholarship toIndiana State University . He was chosen by the Steelers in the sixth round of the1980 NFL Draft . [http://www.hickoksports.com/history/nfldraft1980.shtml#round6 accessed 17 Feb 2007]He played
offensive tackle for the Steelers from 1980 to 1992 earning twoPro Bowl appearance honors (1988 and 1989). He played for theGreen Bay Packers in 1993 before retiring from football. He served as Vice-President of the NFL Player's Association from 1989 to 1994.After retiring from football, Ilkin began appearing as a commentator and sports reporter on sports broadcasts in the Pittsburgh market. His popular segment, titled "Lunch with Tunch", featured interviews with Steeler players and coaches.
In 1998, he joined the official Steelers broadcasting team of
Myron Cope andBill 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 team mateCraig 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" onWBGG (AM) . The show was cancelled in the summer of 2006.Ilkin works as an analyst on the Pittsburgh affiliate of
Fox Sports Net and has written articles for NFLHS.com, a website for football fans. He is the Senior Vice President of the Athletic Training Network, a company that provides athletic training and program material to coaches and players.Tunch Ilkin is currently married with three children: Tanner, Natalie, and Clay. The Ilkins still reside in Upper St. Clair. A convert from
Islam toChristianity , Tunch Ilkin is the Director Of Men's Ministries for South Hills Bible Chapel. [http://biblechapel.org/]In 2007, Tunch became a Limited Partner and Spokesperson for LIFExpo, a Health, Sports and Fitness expo started in Pittsburgh by Managing Partners: Ed Foutz, Tim Gerwing, Michael M. Kadrie and Rob Young. [ [http://www.lifexpo.com LIFExpo **HEALTH.SPORTS.FITNESS 4 GENERATIONS** ] ]
In August, 2008 Mr. Ilkin began working with riverset credit union of Pittsburgh, PA. The credit union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative and Mr. Ilkin helps endorse the credit union through various media channels.
References
Persondata
NAME=İlkin, Tunç Ali
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Ilkin, Tunch
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Sports broadcaster, formerAmerican football player
DATE OF BIRTH=September 23 ,1957
PLACE OF BIRTH=Istanbul,Turkey
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=
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