Longtime play-by-play man Bill Hillgrove retires from Steelers

A man known for exquisite preparation in his professional dealings, Bill Hillgrove didn’t necessarily plan for Thursday to play out the way it did. But it was impossible not to recognize how perfectly fitting the way the day in which Hillgrove announced his partial retirement was going to end.

“I’m headed up to Conneaut Lake as we speak,” Hillgrove said early Thursday evening with palpable eagerness in his voice.

That same smooth, calm baritone provided the soundtrack for three decades’ worth of Pittsburgh Steelers games.

But, for the first time since 1994, the Steelers are looking for a new play-by-play broadcaster.

Though the 83-year-old Hillgrove will continue broadcasting for Pitt football and basketball — he was prepared for a Friday flight to Boston with the Panthers’ hoops team — Hillgrove is retiring after 30 seasons as the Voice of the Steelers.

“I thought about it a lot this past season,” Hillgrove said during a phone interview late Thursday, “and, as (former Steelers coach) Chuck Noll said, ‘If you’re thinking about it, maybe it’s time.’

“My days of running through airports trying to catch a commercial flight are over. But it’s not as if I’m shutting it down entirely. I’m just going from 100 mph down to 50. And that will be comfortable.”

Nothing is more comfortable to Hillgrove than a family getaway at Conneaut Lake in Crawford County. Thursday, Hillgrove’s wife and daughter were there as the family patriarch did the rounds of media interviews in recognition of his announcement.

Hillgrove said his wife of more than 58 years, Rosette, suffers from depression.

“She needs me more at home now than I was ever needed before,” Hillgrove said.

“I can spend more time at home. I’ll have half my fall weekends available, which is something I haven’t had in ages. I’ll have all of July and August to appreciate. I’m excited to be able to get out onto the lake and see the leaves change on an October Sunday.”

A native of Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood who grew up in nearby Garfield, Hillgrove first was partnered with legendary Myron Cope for Steelers broadcasts. He’s also worked in the booth with Merril Hoge, the late Tunch Ilkin and, most recently, Craig Wolfley. Missi Matthews and Max Starks serve as sideline reporters.

“He is a Pittsburgh icon,” Wolfley said. “Billy has always been that steadying influence. He’s combined sharp skills of his preparation and ability to provide the perfect description of what’s happening in real time with an enthusiasm and joy that connects with fans.”

An alumnus of Central Catholic High School and Duquesne University whose current full-time residence is in Murrysville, Hillgrove, well into his 80s, endured frenzied fall weekends. It was not atypical for him to travel by car for hours or hurry to catch a flight to get from a college game Saturday to wherever the Steelers were playing the next day.

“I had a meeting with Art Rooney II last week,” Hillgrove said while making his announcement on WDVE-FM, “and I said, ‘Art, do you recall how 30 years ago when you hired me, the last question you asked me in the interview process was, ‘You think you have the energy to do both?’ I said, ‘I was born with an abundance of energy.’

“Well, that was energy from 30 years ago — and the energy (now) is a little bit different.”

Rooney II’s father and predecessor as Steelers president, Dan, handpicked Hillgrove as Jack Fleming’s replacement in 1994. Hillgrove said Thursday he did not even send an audition tape.

“He has played a major role in broadcasting to our amazing fans on our radio network, but he also found time to be part of so many special events,” Rooney II said in a prepared statement.

“Bill will truly be missed by Steelers Nation, but we are excited for him and his family to enjoy his retirement.”

Several high-profile Steelers figures posted messages of congratulations to Hillgrove on social media.

“You are a legend in Pittsburgh sports broadcasting and a legend in life,” read, in part, a post on the X account of coach Mike Tomlin.

“You will certainly be missed,” read, in part, a message authored by Ben Roethlisberger. “It was an honor to have you call my games.”

According to Sports Broadcast Journal, Hillgrove, in 2023, was the third-longest continuously tenured play-by-play announcer with one team in the NFL.

“He’s just the nicest guy you’d meet, and the amount of charities he helps out with or has run himself speaks volumes about the kind of person he is,” said Matthews, who has known Hillgrove since her days traveling with Pitt’s basketball and football teams as part of the school’s dance team.

“When (with the Steelers) we went to the team hotel, yeah, people recognize the players — but you’d always hear, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s Bill Hillgrove!’ He’s beloved, but then you hear him talk to the fans, (and) you realize how nice he is and how he treats everyone like a friend.”

For each of the games he’s broadcast, Hillgrove created an expansive, handwritten and well-organized piece of posterboard.

“The ‘big board,’ ” Matthews said, “was definitely impressive. All the different pins and colors he used. Just the very minute details he had to pay attention to. He couldn’t possibly know any more about each of those players.

“And then knowing he was coming from a Pitt football game and to a Steelers game? (Sideline reporters) are normally focused on our one team, and that’s hard enough. To be able to keep four teams straight in his head over one weekend is impressive to say the least.”

Hillgrove worked for TribLive news partner WTAE for 22 years. He’s in the midst of his 57^th season calling Pitt basketball games, and this fall will be Hillgrove’s 52^nd as the voice of Panthers football.

But, after more than 600 games that made him synonymous with one of the NFL’s most recognizable franchises, Hillgrove’s time describing Steelers games is over.

“It’s been a great ride,” Hillgrove said, “a great run. But it’s time to move on.”