On The Football Field

He returned to football, playing for Eagle Rock Athletic Club, a semi pro unit. During a game played at the Rose Bowl, Keys captured the attention of Fido Murphy, a Pittsburgh Steelers scout. Murphy offered Keys a contract to be a member of the taxi squad. Keys, insulted by the offer, rejected it. Murphy later offered him a chance to attend Colorado State University until he could legally be drafted as a free agent.

Keys attended Colorado State and his football prowess on the Colorado State team was impressive. In his third year at Colorado State , he was drafted

by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Keys played six productive years for the Steelers and was chosen to start in the 1967 Pro Bowl. It was during this year, he began seriously to consider his dream of becoming a businessman.