Tunch Ilkin
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| Tunch Ilkin | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | September 23, 1957 (age 49) |
| Place of birth |  Istanbul, Turkey |
| Position(s) | OT |
| College | Indiana State |
| NFL Draft | 1980 / Round 6 / Pick 165 |
| Pro Bowls | 2 |
| Stats | |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1980-1992 1993 |
Pittsburgh Steelers Green Bay Packers |
Tunch Ilkin (Turkish Tunç Ali İlkin) (born September 23, 1957 in Istanbul, Turkey) is a sports broadcaster and a former American football player. He currently serves as a television and radio analyst for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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. He was chosen by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 1980 NFL Draft.[1]
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 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 and Bill Hillgrove as an analyst. He worked alongside sideline reporter and former team mate 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 (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 marries with three children: Tanner, Natalie, and Clay. The Ilkins still reside in Upper St. Clair. Tunch Ilkin is also the Director Of Men's Ministries for South Hills Bible Chapel.[2]
[edit] Trivia
- In addition to Ilkin and Craig Wolfley, the 1980 Steelers draft also produced future sports broadcaster Mark Malone.
- Tunch's mother was Miss Turkey in 1950.[3]
- Tunch Ilkin has a fifteen year old son Clay Ilkin, who attends Upper St. Clair High School and plays on the football team.
- Originally, he was a Muslim, but then converted to Christianity.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.hickoksports.com/history/nfldraft1980.shtml#round6 accessed 17 Feb 2007
- ^ http://biblechapel.org/bi_clss_Current.htm
- ^ http://experts.about.com/q/Pittsburgh-Steelers-291/Help.htm
- ^ http://www.onmission.com/site/c.cnKHIPNuEoG/b.830611/k.9EEC/Faith_In_Sports.htm
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | İlkin, Tunç Ali |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ilkin, Tunch |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Sports broadcaster, former American football player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 23, 1957 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Istanbul, Turkey |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
Categories: 1957 births | Living people | American sports announcers | American football offensive linemen | Sportspeople from Pittsburgh | American Conference Pro Bowl players | Pittsburgh Steelers players | Green Bay Packers players | Turkish-Americans | Former Muslims | Converts to Christianity | National Football League announcers | Indiana State Sycamores football players
