Joe Lafferty: Carrying on in Tunch’s memory
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On Saturday, we, as the proud, loving and awesome city of Pittsburgh and internationally reaching Steeler Nation, lost a titan.
Tunch Ilkin was born in Istanbul, Turkey. He was the first Turk to play in the National Football League. His family immigrated to America, and he played football at Indiana State. He played 13 seasons (1980-92) in the NFL as an offensive tackle, including the first 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tunch was a two-time Pro Bowl selection as an offensive tackle before joining the Steelers Radio Network as a color analyst in 1998.
For honesty purposes, at best I was “Tunch adjacent,” which means I’d met him a dozen or so times, had his phone number, and even sat with Tunch and Craig Wolfley at a lunch once. Just myself and another young guy who wanted to have a radio show like them. My Pittsburgh “Christian” contacts facilitated the meeting, so Tunch’s longtime broadcasting partner said, “Let’s meet over lunch.” At an all-you-can-eat buffet, of course.
But this isn’t about lunch, prayer groups or my access to former Steelers. It’s about Tunch and God.
We know playing in the NFL is something that few get to do, and even fewer get to play for our Steelers. Had Tunch played his entire career in Buffalo or Cleveland or Miami, he would have been bold, capitalized and underlined in that team’s lexicon of legends.
And Tunch is a Steelers legend. But in my opinion, that’s more for the man he is rather than the player he was. And I say the “man he is” because he is just not with us here anymore. Tunch is in another place now, aware and well. So the sadness is ours. People will miss him. My prayers to his entire family.
All that said, Tunch produced a lion’s share of kindness and love via “servant leadership.” And this is how I first met Tunch via my life mentor, John Stahl-Wert. That’s not a misspelled Steelers name; that’s the name of the internationally known reverend and doctor whose teaching how to be a leader is framed by the truth that every high-impact leader serves a great purpose that matters more than serving self, and that to accomplish something great demands giving your life to the people and the principles worth dying for.
And this is how Tunch chose to live and to lead. After all, the greatest “serving leader” who made the ultimate sacrifice was Jesus Christ, who said that he didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life for us all..
The Rev. Dr. John Stahl-Wert taught me about another Pittsburgh “serving leader” from decades ago, the late Rev. Dr. Sam Shoemaker. “Dr. Sam” accomplished many things for our city, but he may be best known for his quote in a 1960 TIME magazine article titled “God and Steel in Pittsburgh.” He said, “The backlog of Christian conviction and belief in this city means more to it than all the coal in the hills and all the steel in the mills. If these forces can be trained and mobilized, Pittsburgh might become a spiritual pilot plant for America … .”
Tunch saw this too, and was what he worked toward every day to bring to the forefront. He had a big voice because he was a Steeler. Thanks to that, he was able to spread his message. He wasn’t shy or reserved about loving God. He couldn’t be with his size and loud voice of kindness. Tunch knew the 12th chapter of Luke’s gospel. Tunch knew “to whom much is given, much is expected,” and this is why he was a Pittsburgh legend.
Back in the day, old number 62 had camps teaching young offensive lineman good technique called “Tunch’s Punches.”
So it’s up to us to carry the load. We need to make up what Tunch is no longer doing for God in Pittsburgh: punch through division with kindness and understanding. Punch through weakness with strength laced with love. Punch through doubt with the sureness and absolute knowledge that Jesus saved every one of us whether we follow him or not.
Those traits represent the best of Tunch. So let’s all #PunchLikeTunch.
Joe Lafferty is a proud Pittsburgh son and author of “Justin Time: A Memoir of Faith and the Fight for Life.”