Ex-Steeler Ilkin loses ALS battle

Tunch Ilkin, a Turkishborn, two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman with the Pittsburgh Steelers who went on to become a beloved member of the organization’s broadcast team, died Saturday at 63.

He revealed last fall he was fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease), and he announced in July that he was stepping away from his radio analyst duties to focus on his treatment.

The right tackle played 13 of his 14 seasons in the NFL in Pittsburgh and made the Pro Bowl in 1988 and 1989.