Andy Russell

Andy Russell played his rookie year for the Pittsburgh Steelers as a linebacker in 1963. During 1964 to 1965, Andy was deployed to Germany to serve in the Army as a Lieutenant. He returned to play for the Steelers from 1966 to 1976. Andy graduated from the University of Missouri with a BS in Economics and an MBA. Andy is currently a managing director of Laurel Mountain Partners located in Pittsburgh, PA. He is the founder and former chairman of Russell, Rea and Zappala, an investment banking firm.

NFL Career

All Pro Rookie Team in 1963, All Pro or All Conference 7 years, 7 Pro Bowls, (the only linebacker in the NFL to play six consecutive Pro Bowls between 1971 – 1976), Chosen by the NFL Hall of Fame Selection Committee to the NFL All Pro Squad of the 70’s. Steelers Team Captain for 10 years – received the Byron Whizzer White Award (given annually to the one player in the NFL who did the most for his Team/City; his State and his Country) in 1971, Defensive MVP in 1968 and 1970, Team MVP 1971 Two Winning Super Bowls, 1974 and 1975. One of 33 players named to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2007. Representative to Players Association for 2 years, NFL USO Goodwill Tours – Went on two USO Tours going to Vietnam during the 1968 Tet Offensive and to Italy in the 70's to praise our Navy, chosen Most Outstanding Player of the USAREUR (U.S. Army Europe) Football in 1964, Served on the Board of the NFL Alumni, member of NFL’s “300 Greatest Players”, and inducted into the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, the University of Missouri Hall of Fame, the Missouri State Hall of Fame, and the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame. Never missed a game in his career of 243-games in the NFL, and Military, College or High School.

Charitable and Community Service

1989 Big Brothers and Sisters Man of the Year, 1985 Man of the Year for the Mel Blount Youth Home, Press Old Newsboy for 19 years – raised over $5 million dollars for the Russell Family Foundation, Children’s Hospital, UPMC children’s charities and cancer research, 1992 Bob Prince Award, 1992 Hance Award for St. Barnabas Foundation, 2001 Celebrity Roast Honoree for the Mel Blount Annual Dinner, 2002 Chairman of the American Heart Association Heart Ball, the 2005 Don Faurot Distinguished American Award, the 2005 Economics of Pennsylvania, Adam Smith Distinguished Leadership Award, 2005 Board of Directors for Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, 2008 Myron Cope Legends in Sports Award, 2008 Life’s Works Career Achievement Award, Honorary Chair for the Annual Dapper Dan Ray Mansfield Event for 13 years, serves on the host committee and a major contributor to Animal Friends, and Steelers representative to the annual Super Bowl Taste of the NFL dinner event for the past 20 years.

International

Assembled NFL Alumni USO Tour to US Navy Fleet, Mediterranean, Consultant to international companies on 8 consecutive round the world trips, Westinghouse sponsored trip to Korea, Sony sponsored trip to Japan, Kuwait Oil Company to Kuwait, Aramco to Saudi Arabia, McDermott to Singapore, RRZ&G utilized relationship with Swiss Bank Corp to finance transactions totaling $500 million.

Personal

Married and living in Pittsburgh, two children and seven grandchildren. Has written and published three books: Beyond the Goalpost, A Steelers Odyssey and An Odd Steelers Journey