Craig Wolfley, former offensive lineman, Steelers radio personality, dies at 66

Craig Wolfley, the affable color commentator on Pittsburgh Steelers broadcasts and former offensive lineman for the organization, died Monday at age 66.

Wolfley died following a short battle with cancer.

Wolfley parlayed his 10-year run as a guard/tackle for the Steelers into a lengthy run as an announcer on their radio broadcasts. He was a sideline reporter for 19 seasons until replacing his best friend, Tunch Ilkin, in the booth as color commentator following Ilkin’s death in 2021. He mixed in humor and a self-deprecating style with a keen knowledge of football gleaned from his time in the trenches.

“He had a gift looking at the world through rose-colored glasses,” said Bill Hillgrove, the long-time play-by-play voice of the Steelers who retired before the 2024 season. “Tunch had it. Myron (Cope) had it. They see the lightness, they see the positive, they see the humor in life. He was a very funny man, and he didn’t try to be funny.”

Wolfley was known for mangling the English language, coining terms such as “trickeration” and referring to Ilkin affectionately as “Chalooch.”

“He was one of those rare people that really brought joy with him everywhere he went,” said Rob King, who spent about a decade broadcasting high school games with Wolfley before replacing Hillgrove in 2024. “He always lifted up a room, a person, everyone he was around. He was a man of faith, had many friends, loved the Steelers. He was an absolute joy to work with.”

Wolfley also was a co-host of a daily radio show during the football season, first with Ilkin and later Max Starks, that focused on the Steelers. Wolfley injected humor into his broadcasts and often recited playing for legendary coach Chuck Noll during the 1980s when the Steelers were coming off their run of four Super Bowl championships in the previous decade.

Wolfley regaled listeners of tales from his time with the Steelers in the lean years when they unsuccessfully chased the “One for the Thumb” fifth Super Bowl championship.

“He and Tunch brought their references to Chuck and what he would have to say, and you’re going back to the standard,” Hillgrove said. “That was the gift he brought. He had an unbelievable recall and could recall instances and stories and humorous things that the audience just loved. Having played the game at a high level, when he talked about pad level and overshift, he and Tunch knew what they were talking about. He knew the game. I think the listeners really fed on that.”

A fifth-round draft pick out of Syracuse in 1980, Wolfley spent his first 10 seasons with the Steelers before ending his career in Minnesota, where he spent two seasons. He started his career at guard but switched to tackle in his final years.

Wolfley started in 102 games and appeared in 129 during his decade with the Steelers. He returned to the organization as sideline reporter in 2002 at the urging of Ilkin.

“He’d come by my gym and say, ‘Come on, you’ve got to try this. We need someone on the sideline,’ ” Wolfley said in 2021 when Ilkin announced his retirement. “Next thing you know, here we are.”

King said Wolfey made everyone he worked with in broadcasting at ease with his jovial personality

“It didn’t matter if you were the play-by-play guy, the sideline person, the producer or the audio guy — it didn’t matter,” King said. “Wolf made you feel better.”

Wolfley also competed in weight lifting, finishing in fifth place in the 1981 World’s Strongest Man competition. He also boxed and did sumo wrestling, holding a black belt in jiu jitsu. In 2002, Wolfley lost a four-round boxing match to Eric Esch, more commonly known as Butterbean.

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• Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope dies at 79

His brother Ron spent nine seasons in the NFL and was a color analyst on Arizona Cardinals broadcasts for 20 years until leaving that post in February.

Although Wolfley never made it to the Super Bowl as a player, he did so three times as a broadcaster. He was part of a crew that called the Super Bowl XL and XLIII victories, the latter coming against his younger brother’s Cardinals. He also was on the sideline for the Super Bowl XLV loss to Green Bay.

In a statement, Steelers president Art Rooney II called Wolfley a “beloved member of the Pittsburgh Steelers family.”

“Craig was an outstanding player who brought both toughness and heart to the field during his 10 seasons with the Steelers,” Rooney said. “As an offensive lineman, his grit and dedication were essential to our success, contributing to the solid foundation of the Steelers’ offensive line in the 1980s and 1990s. His work ethic and commitment to excellence were felt both in the locker room and on the field, and his leadership was always evident.

“His passionate voice and deep understanding of the game made him a trusted figure for Steelers fans, and his humor, warmth, and enthusiasm left a lasting impact on our community.”

Wolfley is survived by his wife Faith and six children.