First, let me know what you’ve been up to since retirement – I know Hidden Meadow Retreat is a big focus.
Yeah. The retreat was always a big focus since I thought about what I would do post-football. In 2017 my wife and I started praying and asking God how to use us. I knew football was a means to an end – it wouldn’t last forever. When football ended I didn’t just want to sit around and be a consumer. I wanted to give back in a unique way.
I thought about it – reflected and prayed on it. I realized after speaking to pastors and Christian leaders that they were getting burned out. There are so many incredible people doing great things but they weren’t getting enough support.
What brought up the idea for the retreat?
In reading about Jesus, I realized that he rested and reflected often before doing major things. That was an eye-opener for me. The idea of resting – it’s so contradictory to today’s lifestyle and way we live. But then we wonder why we are all so anxious and stressed.
And as a football player, rest and recovery is such a major part of what we do. You have to be intentional – to provide that space and opportunity to do so. That’s what brought out the idea.
My wife and I first looked at California and Texas as locations for the idea – then I was traded to Pittsburgh. That was a shock, but I knew that was part of football. We ended up falling in love with Pittsburgh – we love the four seasons. The property we got – it was like God delivered to us in a major way. It was 20 cents on the dollar – we can’t wait to show people.
What is the setup of the retreat?
Jason Spence – a former hockey player – he was the caretaker of the farm before we bought it and we fell in love with him. He’s been an incredible asset. The three of us now run the administration of the farm.
We kept the foundation of the farm up on our own dollars. We knew that was what we had in store. But now the foundation is growing and with it the need for support. We’re asking people to come alongside of us and to start something that is bigger than all of us. To create something that is bigger than what we could manage on our own.
Who does the retreat serve?
We start in April and will support anyone who serves in a Christian capacity – pastors, non-profit workers… All those who work so hard to serve others but don’t have the means to go and reflect on their own. Churches often don’t have the budgets for that and people often can’t afford to do it on their own. That’s why we need help and partners to keep this mobilized with donations and other support.
Faith is clearly such a big part of who you are. How did it affect how you approached football?
Appreciation comes to mind. I am so appreciative of being in a position of influence and being on such a broad stage to connect with people. I never saw football as my ultimate source of fulfillment. It wasn’t my main source of happiness.
God has always been there for me. I went to a small high school and I looked at the odds once. One kid every 96 graduating class got drafted in the NFL. I thought, wow, just the percentages of being that one. It is crazy.
Then at Rice, they don’t have a lot of football traction there. I had a ton of major injuries in high school – I played less than half of my games. My scholarship to Rice was actually for basketball and that was as a gray shirt.
And then in the NFL, it’s a slippery slope. 3.3 years is the average NFL tenure. You played four years in college and high school, but in the NFL it’s all an unknown. Even if you sign a long-term contract you can still not be with the team the next season. I was fortunate to have played for only two franchises in my career. But with the injuries and the trade – it all would have been much harder without my faith.
And even when you think about life as a rookie. It’s tough sledding – you have a whole new learning curve plus it’s a major transition from college life to being on your own. It’s all new. So leaning on your teammates – going to chapel and Bible study together – that helped. And having people who really cared about you – who looked out for your soul. That helped me to deal with all of that too.
You were also responsible in part for bringing Kent Chevalier in as the new Steelers Chaplain right?
I always had an inkling that Ken would fit so well as the Steelers Chaplain. I listened to him preach at Northway in Wexford and one time he invited me in for coffee. He asked me about the Chaplain job – he was just interested in knowing more about it. He was clear he didn’t want anything from me. At the time the Steelers didn’t have a Chaplain. At the time he was feeling called to do something new. So I called the Steelers and got an interview set up for him. He’s been serving with the Steelers since.
It’s one thing to be sitting on the couch talking about how much money guys make. But there is a lot of hard work that is asked of a player as well. It takes it’s toll emotionally and physically. Without a solid core of people like Kent looking out for you it can be so much harder.
I wanted to ask you about the trade. How difficult was that for you – what did they tell you and how did you adjust so quickly considering how late in the preseason you were traded to the Steelers?
Yeah. I got a call from the GM of the 49ers – John Lynch. This was two days before the last preseason game. He told me “It’s John Lynch. I’m letting you know we’re trading you to the Steelers.” He told me it was a great opportunity to play for a championship caliber team and to play with Ben. He thanked me and that was it.
I just thought to myself “Oh my gosh, this is really happening.”
At first I was angry – I wanted to prove my value in San Francisco. Part of me was bitter, but there was really no time for that. I spoke with Mike Tomlin and he told me I was going to suit up and play the next day against Carolina! It was crazy – I read the playbook all night – and at the same time a hurricane was blowing towards my hometown so I was worried about that too. All that, and not being with my family. My wife was pregnant and at home with our one-year old in Los Angeles. We had no idea where we were going to live. So it was a lot going on at once.
How do you navigate all of that?
A lot of it has to do with having perspective. I told myself I was wanted by the Steelers and that I had a duty to get ready for the first game of the season against Cleveland.
It didn’t matter what I felt. I had a responsibility to learn the playbook and bring my best performance forward. I committed to that and was so busy really learning the playbook – spending an obscene amount of hours studying and learning the facility and organization and culture.
And I was fortunate to have my wife handle the whole move – to do that. It was a whirlwind.
Who helped you to make that quick adjustment to the Steelers and how?
James Daniel – the tight ends coach then. He was masterful at coaching tight ends. He coached Heath and I watched Heath play. He was a tremendous player. I knew Coach Daniel knew what it took to be a Pro Bowl caliber tight end. He was ready to spend all the time I needed with me. I knew Ben and Heath had such a great chemistry. I wanted to fill that gap. Coach Daniel helped me to believe in myself and reassured me. I spent so many hours with him and he’d ask me what I needed – to help me understand the nuances of the offense and even to help with things like the move.
How were you able to get on the same page with Ben – especially with such a late arrival?
Ben is such a fantastic quarterback. He and I got an extended workout in together in Carolina before the game. He wasn’t playing but we worked out on the field together for an hour and he asked me what we did in San Francisco, what routes I liked to run. We tried to speed up that chemistry since we didn’t have a training camp together.
My locker was about 50 feet away from Ben’s when I got there. I felt compelled to ask Coach Tomlin if I could trade lockers to be closer to Ben since the one next to him was open at the time anyway. I thought that would help increase the dialogue and help me learn the nuances of the offense better. We could interact a lot more. That helped.
We were also invited to Ben and Ashley’s house and we did Bible study together and became friends. It was great – when I got there I could really see him grow as a leader – it was cool to see. It spoke volumes to his character. Everyone knows what a competitor he is. But it really shows his character – he went above and beyond with his kind of leadership.
What stood out most to you when you got there about the team?
What you know first is based off of the assumptions you get from the stories you hear. The championships and culture. It all plays out in the locker room dynamic – down to the staff and players. I can’t emphasize how fortunate I was to be a part of those San Francisco and Pittsburgh teams. They won multiple championships – they knew what it takes to go all the way. Those championships echo in the culture of the teams – from the business staff and players down to the cafeteria and janitorial staff. It’s everyone – a collective. I’ve never known what it’s like to play for a different kind of organization.
In Pittsburgh demanding excellence wasn’t a rule. It was just what they were all about. It was immediately recognizable. I walked in and saw Heyward and the defense and Ben and Pouncey on offense and listened to them. The way they spoke about work ethic.
And Tomlin. My gosh. He is such a fantastic coach. In my exit interview when I knew I was retiring I asked him how he could show up and do it every day and be the same person every day. He told me it was about intentional thought. That he reminded himself that this is who he wanted to be every day. That he wanted to be that battery – to have that drive to help others be great.
I tell people who ask me what he’s like – to go watch an interview of his on ESPN. He’s the same person. He’s extremely consistent. He cares about the players and dynamics of the team.
Any examples?
In the start of the day and team meetings. He’s the last to walk in. If you walk in behind him you were late. And when he walked in it was all business. It wasn’t about distancing himself from players though. It was just intentional and intimate. And so transparent.
After those meetings we’d go into our position meetings and Coach Daniel would look at us and tell us that he wanted to highlight what Tomlin said and talk through it. There were no secrets. It helped build the trust and respect we had with him.
Any fun memories or stories you can share of your time there?
Dude. Spike ball became such a big thing in the locker room. It was the same individuals every day – JuJu, Chase, Villinueva. Washington, Hodges and some of the defensive linemen would join in sometimes like Tuitt and Tyson.
It was so funny watching them. They got so animated and competitive. They’d get all sweaty before practice they played so hard. They’d wear socks and slide on the carpet like Tom Cruise in Risky Business, diving for balls. Tomlin would come in some times and watch and laugh. They’d be yelling at each other and we’d just laugh so hard watching them.
Also – during practice between periods I’d see Ramon, Al, Pouncey, DeCastro and Foster all sitting on their helmets with Ben next to them. It took me a while to realize I could be a part of that. I’d see them laughing and telling stories and just cutting it up and building those friendships.
How did you join the group. Just every day inch a foot closer and closer?
Ha! I just eased into it. I didn’t want to interrupt it – I thought maybe it was a superstition or something too. But I just watched them at first and eventually tiptoed closer and starting adding my two cents to the conversations. I can’t emphasize how funny some of those moments were.
Any examples of some funny conversations?
Al could get so fired up with almost any topic. He and Dave were good friends but would argue about everything. Then Pounce would join in and throw fuel into the fire and get Al worked up. You’d think Pouncey was heated about the topic too, then he’d look at you and give you that signature wink and you knew he was just getting a rise out of Al!
They’d argue then go into the next practice period, then right after Al would start yelling again about what they were talking about before. It was funny to watch.
Any last thoughts you wanted to share?
Yeah. I’m just so grateful to the Steelers and to San Francisco for taking a chance on me. They really invested in me. I really felt in love with Pittsburgh – such genuine people. It made an impression on us – now we call it home. I’m so appreciative.
And if people want to get involved with the Hidden Meadow Retreat – to help support us or just to reach out with questions or information – they can do that through the website. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re passionate about helping people who are making an impact today.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
