19 Facts About Tunch Ilkin

Tunch Ilkin was a Turkish-American professional football player and sports broadcaster.

Tunch Ilkin was voted to the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team.

Ilkin was born in Istanbul, Turkey; his parents Mehmet and Ayten Ilkin emigrated to the United States when he was two years old and settled in the Chicago area.

Tunch Ilkin attended Highland Park High School in Highland Park, Illinois, where he won All Conference and All County honors as a football player.

Tunch Ilkin played offensive tackle for the Steelers from 1980 to 1992, earning two Pro Bowl appearance honors.

Tunch Ilkin played for the Green Bay Packers in 1993 before retiring from football.

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

Tunch Ilkin was named to the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team in 2007.

Tunch Ilkin was paired with either Dan Hicks or Jim Donovan.

Tunch Ilkin worked alongside sideline reporter and former teammate Craig Wolfley, who, like Ilkin, joined the Steelers via the 1980 draft.

Tunch Ilkin was the senior vice president of the Athletic Training Network, a company that provides athletic training and program material to coaches and players.

Tunch Ilkin co-authored two books during his broadcasting career: In the Locker Room, and Forged In Steel.

Tunch Ilkin was an active supporter of the nonprofit organization Light of Life Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter and addiction recovery ministry on Pittsburgh's North Side for over 30 years.

Tunch Ilkin was married on April 24,1982, to Sharon Senefeld, and they had three children: Tanner, Natalie, and Clay.

Tunch Ilkin said in that interview that he would have liked to coach an American football team in Turkey.

On October 9,2020, Tunch Ilkin announced that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Tunch Ilkin made the announcement six months before one of his contemporaries, former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Steve McMichael, announced his own ALS diagnosis.

On June 3,2021, Tunch Ilkin announced his retirement from broadcasting so he could focus on his treatment.

Tunch Ilkin died of ALS complications on September 4,2021, at the age of 63.