Steelers Running Backs Coach Kirby Wilson Remains Hospitalized, Family Releases Statement

by Neal Coolong on Jan 17, 2012 5:30 PM EST

The Steelers released a statement on running backs coach Kirby Wilson, who was badly burned in a house fire before Pittsburgh's 29-23 (OT) loss at Denver in the Wild Card round of the AFC Playoffs.

Wilson remains in the hospital, and the injury will require further surgical procedures in the future.

The statement reads:

Mr. Kirby Wilson remains in critical condition in the Trauma Burn Center at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh. In addition to burns sustained over 45 percent of his body, he has suffered a smoke inhalation injury and will require multiple operative procedures in the future.

The Steelers web site also added:

The 50-year-old Wilson, in his fifth season with the Steelers is an original member of Mike Tomlin's inaugural coaching staff.

Wilson is from Los Angeles, and he played running back and wide receiver at Illinois before playing briefly in the Canadian Football League. He had coached running backs with four different NFL teams - New England, Washington, Arizona and Tampa Bay - before coming to the Steelers when Tomlin hired him in 2007.

Wilson is known by all who work for the Steelers as a man with a ready smile and a pleasant demeanor regardless of the circumstances. As a coach, he is known to his players as a tireless worker and a high-energy guy who is demanding yet fair.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | Add comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

My prayers and thoughts are with Kirby and his family

hopefully his recovery process is successful and he can return to his normal life in due time.

draftdatabase.wordpress.com
Follow @steelersrule124

by seton hall and steelers on Jan 17, 2012 5:45 PM EST reply actions

Hopes and prayers for a complete recovery to the Wilson family

and the Steelers organization

by Ivan Cole (RickVa) on Jan 17, 2012 6:16 PM EST reply actions

hoping for a complete recovery

Can’t imagine. Not that it really matters, but has anyone heard how he was caught in the fire?

"I think the beard will decide when the time is right to come back. It will know when the time is right and all of a sudden appear." -The Deisel

by count'em_six on Jan 17, 2012 7:10 PM EST reply actions

Not sure

I had a house fire before and it all depends on the house and where it started. You’d be surprised but people don’t notice immediately.

I was in the shower upstairs while my sister was playing video games in the basement, that fire was probably going for 10 minutes. By the time I realized it probably another 5 minutes. At that point smoke was pouring into the house but I hadn’t seen it.

Fortunately it was in the garage so it was isolated and we got out just fine. But if it had been the kitchen we might have been trapped in the basement when we realized it.

by Mechem on Jan 17, 2012 10:13 PM EST up reply actions

Long battle ahead

Continued prayers for Coach Kirby and his family.

HERE WE GO STEELERS!
"Our Father, who art in Pittsburgh, Football be thy game. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, at Heinz Field as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, a stellar D and forgive us our bogus fines, as we (sorta) forgive Goodell who trespasses against us. And lead us not into defeat, but deliver us a Victory. For thine is The Steelers, the power and glory of climbing the STAIRWAY TO 7."

by 1BlkGldFan on Jan 17, 2012 11:42 PM EST reply actions

If he has 45% burns to his body, and an Inhalation injury

Then he is going to be in the hospital for months, including rehab. And I hate to say it, but is not guaranteed to make it. Not to be a downer, just a realist from experience.

by SteelersJazz on Jan 18, 2012 6:05 AM EST reply actions

My thoughts

and those of my family are with Kirby and his family.

anyone trying to contact me via my yahoo account should be aware it has been hacked

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Jan 18, 2012 8:53 AM EST reply actions

thoughts and prayers from Raymond and Amy

by rainman d on Jan 18, 2012 1:14 PM EST reply actions

Hope and Prayers also....

…from the PaVaSteeler family

United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.

by PaVaSteeler on Jan 18, 2012 1:41 PM EST reply actions

Best wishes......

to Coach Kirby Wilson for as full a recovery as possible. God speed…

by havildar on Jan 18, 2012 2:03 PM EST reply actions

Best wishes for Coach Wilson and family

Self included, we as fans only worry about firing BA and what’s wrong with the O.

Self check, rethink priorities.

"you will hardly know who I am or what I mean"-Walt Whitman

by Pittsblitz56 on Jan 18, 2012 10:48 PM EST reply actions

Excellent point

"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin

by Rebecca Rollett on Jan 19, 2012 6:52 AM EST up reply actions