Former Steelers OL David DeCastro Enjoying Retirement But Not Ready To Discuss Football During Surprise Radio Appearance

The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers selected an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft was David DeCastro from the Stanford University in 2012. He was a fixture at guard for the organization for nine seasons, starting 124 of 125 games played in his career. His career was cut short by an ankle injury that forced the franchise to cut him before the 2021 season. He retired shortly after.

DeCastro made the Pro Bowl six times and was named to the All-Pro team twice at guard when playing for Pittsburgh. Maurkice Pouncey and DeCastro provided a devastatingly effective tandem on the interior offensive line. They protected Ben Roethlisberger and opened holes for Le’Veon Bell, but unlike Pouncey, DeCastro did not get an opportunity to know he was playing his final game in order to retire on his own terms.

The Steelers legend sent a text after the roster move in 2021 to Joe Starkey, who hosts the Cook and Joe show on 93.7 The Fan, confirming he was injured and that the ankle was not responding.

"I have to get surgery on my ankle a third time," DeCastro told Starkey. "I tried to fix it last year, but the bone spurs kept coming back. It nagged me pretty bad all last year. Gotta see how the surgery goes. But I'd have no problem calling it a day and moving on with my life."

Steelers Interior Offensive Line Still Reeling From Loss Of David DeCastro Years Later

The surgery did not go well and DeCastro retired without ever playing another down for the Steelers. The running game suffered without DeCastro, who could still be playing if he had not endured the ankle injury. It is worth pondering how different the last two seasons would have looked on offense with DeCastro anchoring the line. The beginning of Najee Harris’ career could look very different. 

DeCastro has been intensely private since he left football two seasons ago but on Friday, he briefly joined The Cook & Joe Show. The show was on airing at Shooters Golf in Wexford when the former All-Pro popped by for an impromptu appearance. DeCastro did not sit for a full interview, but he filled in the hosts on how his post-football life was going. 

“I started hiking and I’m really into disc golf," DeCastro told Ron Cook and Starkey. "I’m playing disc golf and working on my golf swing and raising four kids. I love snorkeling and spearfishing is fun. Fishing is great but spearfishing is a lot of fun. Florida is pretty nice.”

DeCastro has avoided the limelight in retirement and has stayed away from commenting on the Steelers and the NFL since he left the sport. During the appearance, he enlightened the radio hosts as to why that has been his approach.

“I haven’t watched much at all,” DeCastro said about football. “We had a special crew. It’s weird, it’s a weird transition. It’s your whole life and then it’s done. Once you’ve done it for so long and it’s your livelihood and you are out it's kind of like, what’s next?”

The former Pro Bowl guard had a good relationship with both hosts during his playing career and they knew that DeCastro was reluctant to discuss football. He may open up at some point about his time with the black and gold, but it was not going to be in Wexford on that day. It may take a former teammate like Roethlisberger to lure him into opening up further about his playing days. Until that point, he will likely remain tight-lipped about his career and how it ended.

The Steelers sorely miss his leadership on offense and for such a young group, his presence would be a welcome voice in Kenny Pickett’s ear. DeCastro, for the most part, seems content to spend time with his family and pursue his hobbies. Football is a weird business and he has a lifetime to find his next challenge. The 33-year-old DeCastro will be remembered for a legendary career that may see him in Canton someday.