Former Steelers Tackle and former color man for the Steelers Radio Network Tunch Ilkin passed away Saturday morning at the age of 63.
Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Ilkin immigrated to the U.S. with his parents when he was two years old and graduated from Indiana State University in 1980. He was the sixth-round pick of the Steelers in the NFL Draft in that same year, and played 13 seasons with the black and gold, playing in 177 games and being named to the Pro Bowl twice. After retiring in 1994, Ilkin started to work in broadcasting, and four years after his retirement, became the “third man in the booth” alongside Bill Hillgrove and Myron Cope on the Steelers Radio Network and a part of the Steelers TV analysis team, where he worked for 23 years.
Ilkin announced in October of 2020 that he was diagnosed with ALS and in June of 2021, he announced his retirement from the broadcast world to focus on his treatment. The Steelers were set to induct Ilkin into their Hall of Honor on November 13.
Photo credit, Pittsburgh Steelers
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