Hoge, Merril: - Merril Hoge is a former NFL running back who played eight seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears. Following his football career, he worked as an analyst at ESPN for twenty-one years, helping launch ESPN2, NFL Live, and Fantasy Football. Merril has overcome career-ending head trauma, depression, cancer, open heart surgery, and used those experiences to help others facing similar challenges through inspirational speaking and various business ventures. But none of these things are more important than the thing he cherishes most in his life"€"being a dad.