ATLANTA, Ga. (KDKA) — After 14 seasons with the Steelers and a potentially “Hall of Fame” worthy career Hines Ward now has a lot of free time on his hands.

He’s spending his retirement at his palatial home outside of Atlanta, Ga., where he recently took KDKA’s Bob Pompeani on an exclusive tour.

Ward says he designed the 13,000 square foot house himself, clipping pictures from magazines for years before he actually built the place.

“I just put a lot into it,” said Ward, who revealed that his mother will be moving in with him next month now that she’s retiring. “Crazy we’re retiring the same year. We’re going to take a vacation to Hawaii and just sit back and reflect and enjoy life.”

While the house is filled with memories, the trophy room is where Hines displays his most prized possessions in a case that’s built into the wall. Inside he displays the two replica Lombardi trophies and representing the Steelers two Super Bowl victories he was a part of, along with the MVP trophy from Super Bowl XL, and the mirror ball trophy he won on Dancing With the Stars. Also on display are his two Super Bowl rings, and in the corner, son Jaden’s first t-ball trophy.

“He puts his own trophies in here,” laughed Hines.

The other room that would be the envy of any football fan: the TV room with its 100-inch flat screen TV surrounded by four 42 inch flat screens. “I look forward to having the guys over on Sunday and watching the game. It’s the Jerry Jones of man caves,” joked Hines.

When Hines and his friends aren’t making use of the TV room, you might find them in the billiard room, or the poker room, or whipping up a snack in the gourmet kitchen. Of course he also has a workout room, which still contains the hyperbaric chamber that he used to recover from injury to be able to play in the Super Bowl in 2005.

“I’m still gonna use it. I paid a lot of money for it.”

The room is painted Georgia Bulldog red, in salute to his college alma mater, with the team’s logo superimposed on the floor. The room also sports a sauna and massage tables.

The outdoor space of the home is as spectacular as the interior, with a huge pool and a full sized basketball court that also gives a nod to the Bulldogs. The court features the team logo, and Hines planted hedges all around.

“I made the hedges because Georgia is known for between the hedges. I try to bring the stadium here. It gets competitive. We play basketball and then go hop in the pool. We have some good games out here.”

Also in the backyard is a stone grotto with a hot tub and small niches for dozens of candles. “It’s nice when you light it up at night.”

Hines says he spared no expense with this house because he wanted get it just right. “(Everything I wanted) I put it in. I wanted it all,” Hines told Bob.

That includes 28 flat screen TVs that will all be tuned to one channel come fall.

“When football season comes around it’s going to be Steelers on every TV,” vows Hines.

“We’re going to be cheering them on.”

RELATED LINKS
More Hines Ward News
More Sports News