First, can you let us know what you’ve been up to since your time in the NFL?
After football I got into real estate at first then got my license as a mortgage loan officer. I focus on mortgages, commercial loans, construction loans, personal loans…anything. That’s what I’ve been doing the past four years. The loans are nationwide too – so I can help anyone out if they need it!
It’s been awesome – I enjoy it. It’s provided an opportunity for me to move forward after football.
Also, I left college as a Junior to declare for the draft, so I recently went back to school to finish my degree. Oh – and I got married last year too!
How difficult was the post-NFL transition for you?
Honestly, it was difficult for a while. I fully expected to continue to play football when I went to the Steelers. I expected to make the team that second season.
The transition was difficult at first. I still wanted to play but after time went by I knew I had to figure something else out. It took some soul-searching to figure out what to do next. I was pretty down.
Imagine your whole life pouring your heart into something and making it to the professional level. Making plays at that level – it’s exhilarating. There’s nothing like it. So after losing that, it was hard to get excited about anything. I had to get that figured out.
How did you adjust?
Just time. Time went by and I was with people I trusted. And I stayed busy – I didn’t keep thinking about it. It just took time to figure it out.
How did you end up in Pittsburgh after starting off in Philadelphia?
I started with the Eagles then went to Green Bay. I got a call then saying that the Steelers wanted me. I was jacked to hear that. The Steelers were one of my favorite teams. If someone told me before I was drafted that I could pick any team to go to, it would have been Pittsburgh.
When I got there I met with Kevin Colbert and he told me he was excited to have me. It was a brief conversation but he told me he wanted to make this a long term deal. They thought I had upside – potential – and thought I played like my brother Paul who they faced a lot.
Did anyone help mentor you a bit in Pittsburgh?
Yes and no. Brett Keisel did that in a way. I didn’t spend time with Brett outside of football but we talked a lot on the field – he was a good dude.
When I was drafted I was the youngest guy in the NFL. I was still very young when I was in Pittsburgh. Keep in mind I was learning a new defense and position – I was used to rushing from the edge not two-gapping.
Well, we’re in practice and we split up into position groups. Brett was hurt that year – that was his last season I think. Well, we’re hitting the bags and Mike Tomlin comes over to watch with Brett. Brett told me to hit the bag differently – to do something different with my hips. I make the adjustment and it all just felt and looked better. Tomlin said “Much better, Joe!” Brett did little things like that that helped a lot.
You and both of you brothers – Paul and Dave – all played at the NFL level. What made all of you so successful?
One thing – everyone is blessed with athletic ability at this level. Everyone is a damn good athlete – but not everyone makes it, you’re right. We just had a great upbringing – good values and a good foundation. We’re all competitive but have been extremely close, to this day. We have a strong bond and have always been there for each other.
And as a defensive lineman, you have a certain mindset. Once the ball is hiked it’s you versus the other guys and you don’t want to lose! That’s one thing we all share – we hate to lose. Especially in one-on-one battles like that.
Any fun experiences during your time in Pittsburgh that stand out?
One funny one was with AB. Camp at St. Vincent was a grind – that was the one thing I heard about Steelers camp. I won’t lie – it was rough.
Well, we had access to the facilities at St. Vincent including the pool. One day I was walking around just getting to know the campus and I saw AB at the pool on his own. Not many guys used the pool. He was there swimming laps, and he’d hold his breath from one side to the other as he did them.
Well, I got there and we started talking. It got to some playful trash talking about who was the better swimmer. So he challenged me to a race. The next day I got there and he thinks he’s going to smoke me. He’s a short, quick guy and I’m a big, longer guy. Well, I end up beating him by 10 feet. He gave me props – he was cool about it.
Anything else stand out to you about that time?
Not something specific so much as just the mindset. It was super intense. Every day in camp was tense – you had to play at a top-notch level – you couldn’t afford mistakes. All the scouts and coaches were there watching you every day.
For two periods during practice we’d get together with the offensive linemen for one-on-ones. All the management, front office, scouts and coaches would watch. It was so tense.
Like an audition every day?
Exactly. You’d have a run blocking session and they’d try to hook you or blow you back, to a pass rushing session protecting a quarterback. You either won or lost every rep. At the end of the day you sit and watch every rep in front of everyone. You want to stand out and look good for the coaches.
Any of those matchups stand out?
Pouncey was rugged and intense. He didn’t lose many one-on-ones. He was solid. And I was with Villanueva when he was with the Eagles – he was a defensive lineman then making the transition to offensive line. He was on the practice squad then too, trying to make the team.
What did he tell you helped him with that transition?
He just put in the work. He put in extra work – stayed late with the coaches and stayed in Pittsburgh during the offseason when everyone else went home to work more with the coaches and watch film.
What happened after that season ended that had you released?
Every player needs an advocate when they first start off – a high-level scout or coach. Mine was Dick LeBeau – he liked me and was a big reason the Steelers brought me back.
Your play is one thing when trying to make a team- maybe 50%. But the rest is political. You need an advocate. But at the end of the season they let Dick go. I was upset – he was a good guy and a big advocate for me. When they decided to release him I was so upset – then they decided to release me – I was devastated. I felt like I was playing my best football. It all clicked for me in Pittsburgh – everyone thought I was going to make the team. I was sure I would.
Paul was playing for Cleveland then. He called to tell me that after they played Pittsburgh a bunch of the offensive linemen told him they were shocked I didn’t make the team. That just made me more upset.
What did they tell you was the reason?
I love the city of Pittsburgh and the people. But it’s a harsh sport. They didn’t tell me anything. They had a low-level scout tell me I was released – not a coach. That was upsetting. I was there for a year-and-a-half and got to know everyone…to get released like that was upsetting.
But I have no regrets. I am glad I got to do what I did. People always say they’d do this or that differently, but I’m grateful now that I’m in control of my future. I don’t have a scout or coach dictating my future. It was rough the way it ended but it was an amazing experience. I loved the people and fans – especially Pittsburgh. I loved the city. But it can be a truly harsh and lonesome sport sometimes.
But to end on a good note. My experience in Pittsburgh – the city and guys and fans there. I got a lot of from the people there and have a lot of love for them as well. It was an incredible city to have played in.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
