'Hall of Fans' contestant gets to meet childhood idol: Terry Bradshaw

Brighton Township resident Rick Holman’s world has been flipped upside down over the past month.

Holman, 39, is a lifelong Steelers fan, but he never dreamed his loyalty to the team would land him in the running to become the first fan inducted into the Ford Hall of Fans and a chance meet a childhood idol.

“I’m just some dude,” he said. “(A) normal loyal, guy.”

It all started last year when Holman was selected to participate in a video for the Steelers website about being a fan who never has missed a home game in nearly 20 years.

“Any time the doors have been open, I’ve been (at the stadium),” Holman said.

That video caught the eye of Ford, which reached out to Holman to see if he’d be willing to participate in the contest for the Hall of Fans.

After checking to make sure the offer wasn’t a scam, Holman agreed to have Ford bring in a camera crew to film a video at the end of November.

“I didn’t know how big of a thing it was until they pulled in my driveway,” he said. “My entire house was like a Hollywood studio.”

An even bigger surprise was waiting for him the next day.

“I’m in the interview and then there’s a knock at the door,” he said.

On the other side was Terry Bradshaw, former Steelers quarterback and NFL Hall of Fame player.

“As a little kid watching him my whole life, and there he is,” Holman said. “I was so blown away.”

Holman, a teacher with PA Cyber Charter School, said he loves the Steelers so much he sold everything he owned in his early 20s to get season tickets. It was his senior year of college and he just wanted to be able to attend every home game in the new stadium.

“I’m not kidding you — my car, my clothes, loose change,” he said of what he sold.

He finally saved around $6,000 to get the licenses to two stadium seats, which gives you priority to season tickets for those seats. Through the years, he’s saved and bargained to get four seats together since he has a family now and wants to take his kids.

The public can vote for Holman through Jan. 27 on the Ford Hall of Fans website.

Even with all of the fanfare and the potential to get into the Hall of Fans, which also comes with a trip to this year’s Super Bowl, he’s still just that regular guy looking to support his team.

“If I get it, I get it,” he said. “If not, I’m happy.”

Emily Balser is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Emily at 724-226-4680, emilybalser@tribweb.com or via Twitter @emilybalser.