Matt Galambos Linebacker Pittsburgh Rookie

Who is your football mentor or inspiration?Definitely my grandmother, Virginia Lux. Anything to do with a mentor, or hero, it's always her. I was raised by my grandparents. My grandfather passed away right before my senior year of high school. I was old enough where she didn't need to do as much, but she started me in football. I was a chubby, lazy kid before. I didn't play any sports. She got me in sports, in football. She taught me about commitment, that once you start something, you have to finish it regardless of whether it's sports, in the classroom. She really pushed me and taught me a lot of things, respect, and discipline. She is from South Philadelphia so she is real strict. She doesn't take anything from you.

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How valuable has her input been?* It was different. When I was real young, that transitional period when she started raising me, I was afraid of her, I didn't want to talk to her. I would put my head down and be real quiet. Then she broke me out of the shell. She was my mother figure, my grandfather was my father figure. At times it was weird, different. But then you grow into it and it's normal and I am thankful for growing up with them. I wouldn't want to change it. * What motivates you? I want to give back to my grandmother for what she has put into me for so many years. And down the road, nothing now, but for my kids I want them to have a better upbringing than I did as far as a father-figure role, more of a household. What is your approach to football? **I just go get it. I like to think a lot in a good way. I like to know what's going on. Being able to diagnose a play before it happens and then you move faster, regardless of how fast you actually are. My thing is to 'get some.' I want to go 'get some,' that is my mojo.

Why do you play football?My grandmother got me into it, loving it. It teaches you so many things that you can take into real life, whether it's communication, leadership, skills that you learn working with people together. It's a brotherhood. People only see the finished product, they don't see the work that goes into it. It takes a special group to go through that together. Plus, I want to make my grandmother proud. That is why I keep playing.When did you start to dream about playing in the NFL?When I first started playing at eight. I was a huge fan of the 'team on the other side of the state.' I grew up in Philadelphia. Then you thought it was something unattainable. Then you think, I could do it.* What is your proudest football moment or memory? In high school I played offense and defense. In college it was only defense, but also special teams. My junior year against Syracuse we had a fake punt and Ryan Winslow, the punter, threw me a 12-yard pass. It was awesome and extended a long drive and my roommate, Chris Blewitt kicked the go ahead field goal. That was fun. When you hear Steelers, what do you think? *I think tough, cold weather, rugged. You come out at Heinz Field and the wind is blowing. It's real rugged and tough. That is what I like. No flash, just old school and professional.