SEVEN FIELDS — As the Terrible Towels come out for another football season, a former Pittsburgh Steelers great is making his mark in the county.

Retired NFL champion and three-time Steelers MVP Hines Ward is visiting Seven Fields this week for his new restaurant, Table 86 on Route 228, which is now open.

Ward and other restaurant personnel are celebrating the restaurant's opening and its Napa Valley-style bar, VINES.

“I feel blessed,” Ward said. “The Seven Fields area is growing, and I want to be a part of that growth.”

Named after Ward's jersey number, Table 86 was five years in the making and features burgers, steak, seafood and pasta. VINES will have tapas and 86 featured wines, including Ward's own wine label soon.

Ward also owns South Side 86, formerly The Locker Room, a sports bar in Pittsburgh's South Side.

However, he along with other restaurant personnel wanted to steer away from the sports bar aspect and create an atmosphere that appeals to customers.

“If you've got a professional athlete who's known for smiling all the time, you can't have a bunch of employees running around here miserable,” general manager Howard Gardner said. “You've got to treat them (customers) right.”

Ward previously visited Napa Valley and said he enjoyed the “rustic feel” and “sophistication” the area offered and has made wine a passion of his in recent years.

“For years it's been beer, fireballs and patrón shots. After a while, you outgrow that and start to mature,” he said.

Ward spent all 14 years of his career with the Steelers, being with the team for two Super Bowl wins. He was also named MVP of Super Bowl XL.

He added more to his resume in 2011 by winning the TV show “Dancing With the Stars” and making a cameo appearance in “The Dark Knight Rises” in 2012.

He is a studio analyst for NBC's “Football Night in America.”

Ward met with co-owner Howard Shiller about five years ago to open a restaurant.

Shiller invested about $1 million in renovations to the former SiBA Cucina and Bohem Bistro & Bar to create Table 86 and VINES. About 75 new jobs were created as a result.

“The one thing that makes a difference from the last time I was in (the restaurant business) is I have a guy like Howard I can trust,” Ward said. “He's an expert in the restaurant business and knows his food.”

Scott Croyle is Table 86's executive chef. He was an executive chef for Atria's in three locations. He also was the general manager of Atria's Mount Lebanon location.

“I did not like the general manager role,” Croyle said. “I wanted to get back into the kitchen.”

The restaurant features a taste of Korea, including Korean BBQ ribs. Ward was born in South Korea and moved to Georgia when he was 1-year-old.

“My mom taught me some of these recipes,” he said.

“I didn't want to be just steak. I wanted to add the Asian flair to it. It's authentic.”

Ward said, “I want to be the Renaissance guy and be known for more than just football. I want to be a great businessman and serve great food.”

Ward will host a private celebration for the restaurant's opening this evening with friends and former Steelers teammates.