PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Pittsburgh Steelers have packed up their gear and are already looking ahead to next year.

Rick Dayton recently sat down with one of people behind the scenes who made game day a bit more enjoyable at Heinz Field this year.

People of Pittsburgh know Larry Richert as the morning man at NewsRadio 1020 KDKA. However, before that, he was on KDKA-TV.

Fans at Heinz Field recognize his voice for a different reason.

Richert just wrapped up his first season as public address announcer for the Steelers at Heinz Field, which is an honor for him. He remembers the call from the Steelers last summer.

“I wanted to say ‘Really?’ I think I did say ‘really?’ and he said, ‘Think about it and talk to your family,’ because it’s a commitment, and I get that so I call him back the next day and say ‘I’m in.’

And he was up for the challenge.

“I joked to someone it’s a little like being the long-snapper. If you are doing a great job, nobody should notice, but if you snap one over someone’s head everybody is like ‘Hey?!’ Richert said.

Richert said it’s different from being a radio personality. The game is not about him. He tries to be a part of the game without getting in the way because if it’s a really big play, you may never hear his voice at all.

“It’s fun to watch the crowd react because being on TV and radio for so many years we don’t get to see the audience. In this case, 65,000 people screaming for the Steelers and you are part of that and you get excited too,” Richert said.

Like all Steeler fans, he’s already looking forward to next year.

“I appreciate the Rooney family giving me the opportunity to do it and as my rookie year ended, I’m hoping I get the call up to camp,” Richert said.

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