First, can you tell us how you got into coaching and some of the guys that influenced you as a coach?
I was fortunate to have played and coached for a lot of great coaches. Of course, football was a lot different then.
As an assistant coach, I was always involved in a lot of different things. But, I always watched how the head coach did things – how they handled things. I learned a lot that way – watching Hank Stram, Sam Rutilgliano and Buddy Ryan.
How were those guys to coach for?
Buddy was unique. His focus was on defense but I still learned some things from him. When I became head coach, I learned more things came into play. It’s not about just X’s and O’s. The players are people with their own problems and a lot of the things that came across my desk then had nothing to do with playing football. So learning how to handle those things was important. I’m thankful to all of the coaches that helped me with that.
I didn’t try to be someone else as a coach. The things I did – I did being me. I learned things that I did and didn’t want to do. Sam Rutligliano was the receivers coach in New Orleans in 1971 when I was the special teams coach there. I watched him because that’s how he was as a coach. He had his own ideas on right and wrong.
And I would never lambast an assistant coach in public. I made sure of that. If I had an issue I’d always do it behind closed doors.
Any other influences?
I played for Joe Walton – he was my position coach, And Buddy Ryan – he never really talked to me when I coached for him. It was just his style. The thing with him was, he never won a playoff game. He was a straight shooter though. He told me our offense wasn’t very good but the defense was excellent in Philadelphia. But it turned out our offense ended up being third in the NFL and the defense was back in the pack. After back-to-back poor seasons they fired Buddy. I remember seeing the owner Norman Braman walk by us slowly as Buddy was at the coffee maker. An hour later I learned Buddy was fired.
I told Norman I was thankful for the opportunity to coach there and he told me I wasn’t going anywhere. Six hours later I learned he was offering me the head coaching job. It was the last thing I expected at the time.
How did you end up in Pittsburgh as a player when you started off your career in New York?
I was originally drafted by both the AFL and NFL coming out of Wagner College – by the Vikings and Jets. I chose the Vikings but I suffered a partial tear of my Achilles tendon in camp, and in those days they just cut you.
So I went back to Wagner to get my Masters in business. The following season I became a free agent.
Now stepping back some, I had developed a reputation as a guy who fought a lot in camp. If you hit me from behind or something I would take a swing at you. I didn’t take any shit if you know what I mean. I was a boxing champion the one year I went to the University of Miami. That all started when I was 13 – my dad had interests in a couple of boxers in New York and I’d go to the gym wth him. I was heavy and a bit lethargic – the trainer there would work wth me sometimes. I did that for quite a long time and became a good boxer. My dad knew Angelo Dundee and I wound up sparring for Muhammad Ali for four months. That ended up following me wherever I went. In Miami I was 206 pounds and knocked out guys 230 to 250 pounds.
So, back to New York. Allie Sherman was the coach there and he loved boxing and signed me. They lost their starting middle linebacker to injury – Costello – so Sherman made me the backup middle linebacker and tight end. Talk about getting thrown to the wolves!
The next year though he cut me, We laugh about it now – it was a day after he told me if I kept working hard I could make the team. But Pittsburgh picked me up after that.
How was that time in Pittsburgh?
I loved that year in Pittsburgh. We didn’t win that many games but it was the most physical team I ever played for. Austin was the head coach but he got fired after that year and Noll took over and cut a lot of guys, and so I went back to the Giants. I became the player rep in New York – Mara didn’t want me to retire but I had two serious head injuries and had no choice.
I had a bad brain tumor after my third year coaching actually. I was on the table for 9 1/2 hours. Art Modell was on the board of the Cleveland Clinic and got me the finest doctor he could find. I went back to coaching after 10 days – I couldn’t drive that year. It was a real scary time.
I learned later that Mara called Modell every day after the surgery to see how was doing. Mara, Hess, Modell – they were all like brothers.
Any other good memories of your time in Pittsburgh?
The people there were some of the finest I’ve been around. There were great fans – it was a great city to be in. The interesting thing is a lot of those veteran players stayed there in Pittsburgh. It shows you how they feel about the city.
I just enjoyed my time there. I remember playing the 49ers at Pitt Stadium – it was the last season that the Steelers played there. I caught two touchdowns that game.
My dad met Art Rooney once a long time ago – they talked for maybe 15 minutes, But you know what? Art sent him a Christmas card every year after that. And I remember when there was a lot going on in Philly over ownership issues – Dan called me and told me he just thought I would want to hear a friendly voice!
I’m thankful to all the teammates and coaches and owners I worked with. Now I take things one day at a time. I was fortunate to have been in the NFL. In fact, I’d say it was an honor to be in the NFL.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
