Steelers’ Hines Ward Gets Exposed For Hilarious Fears Off The Field: “He Brought His Own Life Raft”

Pittsburgh Steelers fans remember former wide receiver Hines Ward as a fearless athlete who never hesitated to go across the middle of the field and challenge defenders. Ward’s tenacity struck fear into his opponents, making them constantly aware of his presence on the field. This also made him a target for defensive enforcers, but Ward never backed down. He was never scared to get in the face of the baddest defensive players in the league.

Former Steelers offensive lineman, Tunch Ilkin got to know Ward well during their time together after his playing days. They co-hosted a broadcast show and developed a strong friendship. In Ilkin's book, In the Locker Room: Tales of the Pittsburgh Steelers from the Playing Field to the Broadcast Booth, he shares a humorous story revealing Ward's off-field fears.

Ward and Ilkin once went on a Steelers cruise together. Ilkin found it amusing that Ward brought his own personal life raft, a precaution inspired by his extensive movie-watching history.

“The funny thing about Hines is, as fearless as he was on the football field, he is afraid of just about anything off the football field. We were on the first Steelers cruise together, and he brought his own life raft in a suitcase. He said, ‘Hey, I saw the Titanic. If this thing goes down, I am going to have my own life raft.’”

Ward had many fears off the field, with one of his biggest being a fear of the ocean due to sharks. This might seem ironic, considering Ward's fearless approach on the football field where he faced some of the toughest "sharks" in the NFL. However, real-life sharks terrified him.

“I asked him once, ‘Do you ever go in the ocean?’ He said, ‘No, man, there’s sharks in there. I saw Jaws.’ He also didn’t want to go skiing because he saw a movie where these kids got caught on the ski lift and were left up there.”

All of Ward's fears seemed to stem from movies he had watched. However, on the football field, there was no one more fearless than Ward. Ilkin recalled a shocking story Ward shared involving Bart Scott. Scott was so enraged with Ward that he expressed a desire to kill him. While Scott was fuming, Ward simply laughed it off.

“He projected these catastrophes onto himself, but he was totally fearless on the field. He wasn’t afraid to go over the middle and he wasn’t afraid of retaliation. He told me this story where Bart Scott said one time, ‘I'm gonna kill you.’ Hines said, ‘Oh, come on. You really want to kill me?’ Scott said, ‘Oh yeah, I wanna kill you.’ Hines said, ‘I don’t want to kill you.’”

Ilkin’s recollections of Ward are an integral part of iconic Steelers history. Many fans would have assumed Ward was fearless both on and off the field. However, in reality, he was just like most people with normal fears. Yet, bringing a personal life raft in his suitcase on a cruise was a bit much, reflecting Ward's unique mentality. On the field, he was a fearless competitor, while off the field, he had his vulnerabilities.

Ward is one of the best wide receivers in Steelers history, having played 14 seasons in Pittsburgh. During his time with the Steelers, he amassed 1,000 receptions for 12,083 receiving yards and scored 86 touchdowns. Ward's accolades include a Super Bowl MVP Award, two Super Bowl titles, and four Pro Bowl invitations. His stats were impressive, but they don't capture the full extent of Ward's greatness.

His impact on the football field was not able to be fully measured through stats alone. Ward epitomized what it meant to be a Steeler. He wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty, serving as an enforcer on offense who wouldn't let anything slide. If someone said something to him or one of his teammates, they had to watch out because number 86 would be coming for them. 

Steelers' Hines Ward Struggling To Make The Hall Of Fame

Despite his impressive resume, Ward has yet to make it to the Hall of Fame, a fact many believe is an oversight. The problem with Ward's case is that his numerous team plays and effort plays don't always show up in the statistics that voters consider. Steelers fans remain hopeful that one day Ward will earn his rightful place in the Hall of Fame. However, it seems as if Ward getting into the Hall of Fame at this point may be not likely.

Ward's remarkable career will always hold a special place in the hearts of Steelers fans. 

Although his presence on the field is sorely missed, the captivating tales from his playing days and his personal life continue to enthrall Steeler Nation. The stark contrast between his off-field persona and his ferocious playing style further enriches the captivating narrative of Ward's enduring legacy. Ward is now working to regain momentum in his coaching career as the Arizona State wide receivers coach. 

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