Tunch Ilkin became a Steeler in 1980 and will never stop being one. His playing days ended in 1993, and he just retired from broadcasting, but Ilkin is as black and gold as any Rooney.
Ilkin has been a faithful servant and supporter of the cause. More important, he is a thoroughly decent man who provides inspiration to anyone he comes in contact with.
But with Ilkin having left the Steelers radio broadcast team, he must be replaced (although metaphorically, that will never happen).
The answer is obvious: Promote Missi Matthews.
Matthews has been a sideline reporter on the broadcasts since 2019, sharing those duties with ex-Steeler Craig Wolfley.
Wolfley is more than your typical sideline microphone jockey, as he adds running commentary throughout broadcasts. Like Ilkin and play-by-play man Bill Hillgrove, Wolfley is identified with the team. That’s a preferred component of his job, and a difficult one.
Leave Wolfley where he is. That’s a compliment, not a slight.
Putting Matthews in the booth as the color analyst alongside Hillgrove would make a statement.
Matthews is knowledgeable enough, professional enough and good enough to make that statement mean something. The Steelers could blaze a trail in gender equity, just like the Rooney Rule does (or is supposed to do) for minority hiring among coaches.
It’s a golden opportunity, and an obvious choice.
It also defies the notion of just about every analyst job going to an ex-player.
No offense to Ilkin or Wolfley, but it would be great to hear a different perspective. Not necessarily better or worse, but different.
I enjoyed Tony Kornheiser and Dennis Miller on “Monday Night Football,” and the late Howard Cosell remains the undisputed king to this day. Those three didn’t play the game.
Promoting Matthews says something.
Not promoting her would say something, too.
