320-pound Pittsburgh Steelers lineman is also a ballet dancer

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Steve McLendon uses ballet to stay quick on his feet.
(Photo: AP/Keith Srakocic)

When you’re trying to replace a potential future Hall of Famer, you’ll need all the training advantages you can get.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette told the story of 320 pound nose tackle Steve McLendon, who will take over for Casey Hampton in the team’s starting lineup, and how the ballet dance class he took as a senior in college led him to continue the practice to help with football once he made it to the NFL.

Via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

He has been taking lessons, on and off, ever since, pirouetting to the Adrenaline Barre Fitness studio on Mount Washington as often as twice a week. His instructor the past four years has been Stephanie Kibler.

“I work him harder than the majority of women will ever work in a ballet setting,” Kibler said. “He does it well. He might have sweat dripping off him and looking at me like I’m crazy, but he does it. He really works hard. It’s almost like he’s mastering the craft of ballet. He’s not in there just for football.”

The big man isn’t the first Steeler to take up the dance practice, as this classic clip of Lynn Swann on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood demonstrates.