Steelers new DL impacting community, learning intensity

LAWRENCEVILLE (93.7 The Fan) – It was the final part of a special visit by new Steelers defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day to the Boys and Girls Club in Lawrenceville Tuesday, he opened it up to a question and answer session.

Joseph-Day said he wanted the kids to not be afraid to ask anything. So, the very first question.

“What was that performance against the Patriots?”

Welcome to Pittsburgh and a town where football isn’t one of the things going on, it’s THE thing going on.

He answered it saying they got to be better and will be this week.

Aaron Rodgers performance was next, he was asked about Joey Porter, Junior. How much money he donates to charity?

“I love that age because it’s authentic and real,” Joseph-Day said, laughing at some of the hardball questions.

“It grounds me and makes me remember, I was once in those chairs. Those kids, I was once in those chairs. Days like this mean the world to me, investing in your time to give back.”

His parents were Haitian immigrants moving to Stroudsburg, PA with nothing, Joseph-Day said he profited from the example his parents set. He said he was thankful to the Boys & Girls Club for allowing him to talk to their student-aged members.

“The most important thing that they take is they truly can be who they want to be,” Joseph-Day said. “There are always going to be people who will always doubt them. There is always going to be adversity as well, you can always persevere through it. You can always find ways to deal with it and overcome that. Life can be hard.”

The 31-year-old said it’s a huge responsibility for athletes to take time to give back in any way they can. Joseph-Day embraces that whether it’s hanging out in Lawrenceville during a day off or some of the other charities he’s been involved with over his nine-year NFL career.

The Steelers are his fourth NFL team and he told the kids there is something different in Pittsburgh.

“Here, you all ride for your team,” Joseph-Day said. “That first game was maxed out, it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Seriously, it was unreal, the energy, Renegade, it was fire, fire.”

Joseph-Day went on about the Steelers connection with the fans as he made connections that could impact lives.