Former WVU football player pens autobiography

After playing football at West Virginia University and going on to play in the National Football League, Wesley Lyons just tackled his biggest accomplishment yet – publishing his autobiography.

Lyons graduated from West Virginia University in December 2009 and was eventually picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers. His book, "The Pursuit with Patience," as well as his motivational speaking, has landed him a spot on Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest in 2013, named by the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

After going undrafted in the 2010 NFL draft, Lyons continued to work out with teams and eventually landed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"The Pursuit with Patience" is the story of Lyons’ experiences through youth, college and professional football, as well as the challenges he faced on his way.

"I wrote the book while I was working with the Steelers. I was going to practice and learning plays during the day, then I would come home and write," Lyons said.

"It’s about my journey and some of the obstacles I had to overcome and the stuff a lot of [athletes] go through," he said. "It also talks about the business side of the NFL and about the ups and downs – it’s not what people think it is."

Lyons said people won’t really know what it’s like to be a player in the National Football League unless they follow him through his personal journey in his book.

He also said he turned some of the frustration he felt during those times into positive energy in his book, hopefully inspiring others, especially youth.

"I hope readers get inspired to move forward. I’m a very religious guy, and it talks about my strength and how my faith got me through obstacles. If one person gets inspired by it, then that’s all I need," Lyons said.

Lyons was just recently named one of Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest in 2013 for his hard work on his book and his involvement in the community.

People don’t play in the National Football League forever, said Lyon, which is why he feels optimistic about getting a head start on life after football.

Currently, Lyons is presenting motivational speeches at schools in the Pittsburgh area, where about 12 schools have begun
using his book in their curriculum.

"It’s really inspiring people, so I’d like to continue to do that…it’s crazy to me," Lyons said.

Although Lyons was recently offered contracts with a couple other teams, he says he’s waiting to see what happens in the off-season before he decides.

For more information on Wesley Lyons or his book, visit wesleylyons.com. His book is available at The Book Exchange and on Amazon.com.